Indigenous Health Disparities in Australia

This assignment delves into the complex issue of health disparities affecting Indigenous Australians. Students are tasked with analyzing a provided body of evidence from various sources, including books, journals, government reports, and online documents. The analysis should focus on identifying the key health issues faced by Indigenous communities, exploring the underlying social determinants of these disparities, examining current government policies and programs aimed at addressing these challenges, and proposing potential future directions for improving Indigenous health outcomes.

CHANGE PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Community facing inequality......................................................................................................1
Responsible bodies addressing disparity.....................................................................................1
Literature to support discussion over inequality and social injustice..........................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Addressing inequality for indigenous society of Australia has become major topic of
concern which needs to managed in order to provide equal living and working status to
aboriginal Torres Islanders. The individuals live in outskirt island of national and are not at all
considered as part of society because of difference in beliefs, values, standards of living, culture,
race, etc. The aim of proposal is to address inequality faced by Torres islander by seeking helps
from governmental bodes, members of parliament and ministry. The study will help in fulfilling
gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
MAIN BODY
Community facing inequality
Aboriginal Torres islander is an indigenous community of Australia which is completely
distinct from Australian society and follows own ancestral beliefs, culture and religion. The
smallest population of indigenous Australians that is 7,500 people live in The Australian Capital
Territory. In 2016, there were three quarters of Torres Islanders who used to reside in Western
Australia, Queensland and New south Wales. The individuals are suffering from various health
concerns because of lack of access to care services, food, education and have no basic necessity.
The islanders are not allowed to work with Australians and are discriminated at every place.
Inequality among people is seen in basic living habits like children lacks education and nutrition
due to many of children die in early age and others are suffering from mal nutrition (Anderson
and et.al., 2016). The women have not knowledge over basic hygiene practices because which
the females are suffering from chronic illness like cancer and in major infections.
However, the proposal is based on addressing inequality faced by Torres islanders of
Australia which is already supported by special governmental and non-governmental schemes
for remote areas and therefore it differs from current policy.
Responsible bodies addressing disparity
As per federal government of Australian aboriginal individual are the individuals who
have their own language and civilizations and have historically lived on mainland Australia and
Tasmania. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was a government agency
which was formally involved in process of governmental affecting their lives. Report of the
Royal Commission notified clear disparity between aboriginal and Australian people which is
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hampering quality of life of indigenous community. As per the report, it is identified that Torres
islander undergo lower living standards, unemployment, discrimination, housing and education.
Federal government enforced bodies to monitor indigenous affairs and to control
inequality. Like, the ministry taskforce on indigenous affairs has set direction to address issue of
Torres islander. In this the focus of people in on determining areas of disparity in order manage
changes and equality for all. However, special treatment is enabled by government to promote
equality of indigenous people and to fill the gap which arise due to lack of income and funds
(Indigenous disadvantage in Australia, 2017). Like, Community Development Employment
Projects Scheme, indigenous Education Strategic Initiatives Programme, employment
programme and special legal and medical services are provided by government to manage cost
free health services, enable financial assistance and for educating youth to have equal growth
opportunity.
Further, federal government enforced new approach of negotiating agreements with
aboriginal community. The aim of negotiation was to promote equal access and delivery of
services to indigenous society. Apart from this, there is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission which comprise regional council and national boards these are the members who
are elected every year to the sake and welfare of Torres Islanders (Marwick and et.al., 2014).
Likewise, improving lives of Aboriginal community of Australia has been a key motive of
government for which jobs, economy and land were considered as key factors of change.
The community development programme (CDP) in Australia targets job seekers of
remote Australia. In this motive of programmers is to build skills and knowledge of people for
enabling equal work opportunities. In addition, there is indigenous procurement policy which
was implemented in 2015, 1st July where Australian government presented award to 1,070
contracts worth 229 million for business of indigenous society (Improving the lives of Indigenous
Australians, 2016). Likewise, employment party initiative was enforced with the aim of enabling
job opportunities to 20000 unemployed Torres islanders by 2020. The success of initiatives for
job, economy and land by Australian government, it is implied that 16053 employment
placements from indigenous community from which 8399 job were acquired by aboriginal
Torres islanders.
On the basis of closing the gap report by department of cabinet and Primary of Australian
government, it is implied that the central system has enforced various schemes and programmes
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to support growth and development of marginalised group for which the bodies handles every
situation with integrity and dignity. For example, there is Disability employment services for the
disabled job seekers (Closing the Gap 2016 - Australian Government programmes and
initiatives, 2016). Likewise, there is special programmes for every health concern like targeted
health activities, governance, improvement in access to primary care and primary care to all.
Literature to support discussion over inequality and social injustice
As per the views of Carey and et.al., 2017, disparity among indigenous and non-indigenous
community of Australia is common because of lack of education and differences is values,
beliefs, norms, customs, etc. Torres islander are neglected and harassed at every place in society.
The individual faces discrimination at workplace because of which the people avoid getting
employee with people of Australian society. In addition, death of aboriginal people is twice in
comparison to Australian people and generally people die because of chronic illness like,
cardiovascular diseases, cancer, acute fever, etc.
According to Funston and Herring, 2016, social injustice with indigenous social of
Queensland is seen in education, employment, income, housing, criminal justice system, etc. As
per human rights of Australia, it analysed that 52% of Aboriginal people aged 15 and were in the
labour force, in comparison to 63% of the total population of same age crowd. Further, 32% of
Torres islanders own or are buying own houses in comparison to 71% of non-Indigenous
Australians. Likewise, 10 to 17 years of teenagers were more likely to be involved in crime.
Further, Azzopardi and et.al., 2018, has discussed abut efforts of Australian community
where the members of parliament and ministry incorporated efforts for training and development
of indigenous community where practical training to 5000 aboriginal people with the help of
employment centres and vocational training was provided with the motive of guaranteed job. The
key performance indicators denote success of governmental support and initiative for aboriginal
community to reduce or eliminate disparity. The indicator signifies that in 2015-2016 working
population of community increased from 47.5 % to 48.4 %. Further the performance implied
minor change in participation rate which is from 60.1 % to 61.1 %.
Marwick and et.al., 2014, has discussed about discrimination at workplace for remote people
as a major factor of disparity among indigenous and non-indigenous people. Scholars discussed
about job role of aboriginal which leads to inequality among people. Unusual working condition
and lack of flexibility in working comparison to Australian society is the major cause of
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inequality in human services. Like, it has been analysed the discrimination and disparity for this
community of Australia is the major cause of increasing mental stress among community. With
regard to this, the people have limited access to health care centre which is another dimension
that implies unequal behaviours of non-indigenous people of Australia with Torres islanders.
According to Browne and et.al., 2017, disparity faced by aboriginal community is
because of gap in health and life expectation like the people have short life expectancy, high
infant mortality rate, poor health and lack of employment and education. Social injustice to this
marginalised group is reflected in high rate of violence where Torres islanders are influenced by
many factors that is drug abuse, violence since childhood, mental distress, etc. In addition, on the
basis of physical and mental health it is been identified that by 2016 aboriginal children
experienced high level of malnutrition in comparison to non-indigenous. Further hospitalisation
for chronic diseases is also high and generally majority of Torres islander suffers from Kidney
failure.
Feasibility of assessment is reflected in socio political working area, where the scholar
explores governmental plan and present condition of remote zone of Australia. Thus, from the
discussion it can be said that the major is criticality of topic with no specific inequality which
denotes that the topic of research is wide. Specification over one inequality driver would have
assisted in specific research and analysing inequality faced by indigenous community in one
area. This weakness of proposal can be addressed by researching one area of inequality like
health, education, unemployment, etc. faced by Aboriginal Torres Islanders.
CONCLUSION
The assessment summarized about way to address inequality faced by marginalised group of
Australia that is Aboriginal Torres Islanders. These are the individual who have own beliefs,
values, cultures, customs and norms of life which differentiate them from non-indigenous society
of Australia. The study outlined different governmental and non-governmental programmes
which are initiated to support employment and education of people living in remote areas. Thus,
the essay concluded with academic literature which denotes feasibility of topic and findings with
the help of evidence.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anderson, I. and et.al., 2016. Indigenous and tribal peoples' health (The Lancet–Lowitja Institute
Global Collaboration): a population study. The Lancet. 388(10040). pp.131-157.
Azzopardi, P.S. and et.al., 2018. Health and wellbeing of Indigenous adolescents in Australia: a
systematic synthesis of population data. The Lancet. 391(10122). pp.766-782.
Browne, J. and et.al., 2017. A network approach to policy framing: A case study of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. Social Science & Medicine. 172.
pp.10-18.
Carey, T.A. and et.al., 2017. The Australian Psychological Society's Apology to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander People. Australian Psychologist. 52(4). pp.261-267.
Funston, L. and Herring, S., 2016. When will the stolen generations end? A qualitative critical
exploration of contemporary'child protection'practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities. Sexual Abuse in Australia and New Zealand. 7(1). p.51.
Online
Closing the Gap 2016 - Australian Government programmes and initiatives. 2016. [Online].
Available through: < https://www.pmc.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/closing-gap/closing-
gap-2016-australian-government-programmes-and-initiatives>.
Improving the lives of Indigenous Australians. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/annual_reports/2015-16-HTML/
results/improving-lives-indigenous-australians.html>.
Indigenous disadvantage in Australia. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.australianstogether.org.au/discover/the-wound/indigenous-disadvantage-
in-australia/>.
Marwick, A. and et.al., 2014. Inequalities in the social determinants of health of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander People: a cross-sectional population-based study in the Australian
state of Victoria. [Online]. Available through:
<https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-014-0091-5>.
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Indigenous policy and programs. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.australia.gov.au/about-government/government-and-parliament/
indigenous-policy-and-programs>.
Face the Facts 2005. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/questions-and-answers-about-aboriginal-
torres-strait-islander-peoples>.
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