Indigenous Health and Justice Issues

This assignment delves into various aspects of indigenous health and justice in Australia. It covers topics such as suicide prevention programs (Ridani et al., 2015), the First 1000 Days initiative for indigenous families (Ritte et al., 2016), early intervention strategies in remote communities (Robinson et al., 2017), intimate partner violence among Aboriginal women (Spangaro et al., 2016), and the children's court system involving Aboriginal youth (Sprianovic et al., 2014). Additionally, it includes an analysis of the construct validity of assessment tools for Aboriginal children (Williamson et al., 2014) and the development of a culturally appropriate school-based intervention (Wagner et al., 2017). Furthermore, it examines online resources regarding children in care and the removal of Indigenous children to provide a comprehensive understanding of these issues.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................1
Research Methodologies..................................................................................................................3
Research Design..........................................................................................................................3
Sample Size.................................................................................................................................4
Data Collection............................................................................................................................4
Analyses of Data.........................................................................................................................4
Ethical Consideration and Limitations.............................................................................................4
Ethical Consideration..................................................................................................................4
Research Limitation....................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
The research proposal will be based on the topic “Aboriginal families and the process of
removing children to kin or foster families”. The area of research is significant in order to
determine the current position aboriginal children in the country. There are many social workers
who are activity participating in the activities that promote growth and development of
aboriginal children.
Aim of research: “To identify the process of removing aboriginal children of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander community to kin or foster families”
Objectives
 To identify the process of aboriginal families of removing their children to kin or foster
families
 To identify the impact of removing children on their families and aboriginal parents.
 To understand the laws and legislation formulated to protect the indigenous community
 To recommend methods in which growth and development of Aboriginal children can be
done effectively and efficiently.
Literature Review
According to Wagner, Cross and Latimer, (2017), these children referred as “half caste”
were removed mainly in the period approximately between 1905 and 1969. There were multiple
policies and legislation formulated in 19th and 20th century in order to protect the indigenous
children by removing them from their families and transferring them to the foster homes. This
implies that the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children of Australia was to
safeguard them and protect the dying culture. Munns and Walker, (2015), argued that historians
and nationalists were against these policies as foster homes and other families made children of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander slaves and servants. Though the process of removing
children from their own families was to protect the indigenous people of Australia from
extinction.
Ridani Burns and Hunter (2015) contends that in the northern territory, the segregation of
Aboriginal Australians was mixed with full blood aboriginal people. This means that in order to
protect the indigenous civilisation, an indigenous woman marries with non-indigenous man. This
step was a part of church mission, in which the authorities aim to protect the aboriginal
population of Australia effectively and efficiently (Spangaro, Frail and Zwi, 2016). Ritte,
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Panozzo and Arabena (2016) said that under Northern Territory Aboriginal Act of 1906,
appointment of chief protector of Aborigines was made by the government, in which they were
made legal guardian of every indigenous and every half caste child of age 18 years or below.
This implies that the government was focusing on prevention and rehabilitation of the children so
that the national treasure and culture can be protected effectively and efficiently.
From 19th to 20th century many policies and legislation was proposed by the parliament of
the country in order to remove Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and transferring
them to the foster families. Williamson Raphael and Eades (2014) critically analysed the issue
and proposed that The Victoria Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 was the earliest Act and
legislation that was related with the removal of indigenous children from their kin families. He
further stated that through the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century many laws and practices
followed by the authorities and management in order to provide protection to the national culture
and indigenous people of Australia. Sprianovic, Clare and Clare (2014) argued that the
Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the sale of Opium Act 1897, the Aborigines Ordinance,
1918 and Native Administration Act 1936 was proposed by the government in which they stated
that aboriginal children will be removed from their parents and transferred to foster homes. This
process was meant to protect the Aboriginal population which was on verge of extinction. Thus,
from this it can be stated that the process was complex and it was difficult for the government to
remove children from their mothers (Gibberd, Simpson and Eades, 2016).
After the colonisation, aboriginal culture of Australia faced massive devastation and
reduction in their total populations. Europeans who governed and ruled the country, imposed the
policy in which they massively murdered the aboriginal people as an act of ethnocide. Hopkins,
Zubrick, and Taylor (2014) said that after getting independence, total population of the
Aboriginal and Torres Islander people decreased and they were on the verge of extinction. In
order to protect, the natives of Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, government along with
churches formulated and implemented policies and practices in which they aim to remove
children up to age 18 from their kin families and transferred them to foster homes in order to
protect them efficiently. Dudgeon and Hirvonen (2014) said that due to poor economic and
social conditions of the indigenous people, aboriginal parents were unable to take care for their
children efficiently. This impacted on their growth and development and thus resulted in
countless death of children due to malnutrition and diseases.
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Robinson, Mares and Arney (2017) critically argued on the policies and procedures
which the government took in order to protect children of Aboriginal and Torres Islander. They
stated that legislation was meant to provide protection to the children by removing them from
their aboriginal parents and transferring them to the foster homes. The result of the legislation
was negative, as the foster home carer was not properly taking care of the aboriginal children.
The cases of discrimination and racism increased rapidly after the implementation of this policy.
These children had faced many hardships and difficulties as the foster families treated them as
slaves and servants. Thus, it led to the negative impacts on children and aboriginal people
(Denison, Varcoe and Browne, 2014).
After the critical research and analysis, the authorities found that children were not safe
in their home and they required immediate shift from their current home families to other foster
care services. After further analysing the activities of foster home and out of home care
providers, the government introduced standards referred as “National Standards for Out-of-
Home Care”. These standards were proposed by the parliament in 2011 in which out of home
care providers were meant responsible to provide effective and efficient care to the children of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community (Children in care, 2017). Further, the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle was developed. It provides a
hierarchy of preferred placement for children placed into care.
(Removal of Indigenous children: facts, figures and terms you need to know, 2016). The
government after analysing gradual decrease in the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander community made numerous policies and procedures that provided effective support and
protection to the indigenous society and population of the country. In this context, Wagner,
Cross and Latimer (2017) said that there were more than 45000 aboriginal children who were
provided out of home care in June 2016.
Research Methodologies
Research Design
The research design which used in this research was descriptive research design as the
proposal was based on case studies, literature articles and reviews and surveys. The design aid in
accomplishment of research effectively and efficiently (Nakata, 2015).
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Sample Size
The sample of reviews of 10 aboriginal children from New South Wales was taken for
generating useful information effectively and efficiently. The participants chosen was aboriginal
children from New South Wales.
Data Collection
The methods used for collection of data was primary and secondary methods. Primary
methods include survey and interviews. Secondary methods include books, journals and online
sources (Christiansen, 2014).
Analyses of Data
The data was analysed with the help of thematic representation of interviews conducted.
It helps in generating precise results and appropriate outcomes which were beneficial for the
research.
Ethical Consideration and Limitations
Ethical Consideration
Ethical considerations could be stated as one of the effective approach which helps
scholar to identify the difference between right and wrong. The research was made effectively
and ethically (Pavan and Kulkarni, 2014). The articles are duly cited according with the name of
authors respectively.
Research Limitation
There are several limitations which needs to be identified by the researcher while
carrying out the research. In formulation of research purpose and motives and selection of data
collection techniques were the key areas where the researcher faced issues and it reduces the
efficiency of the researcher.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Christiansen, O. B. (2014). Research methodology in recurrent pregnancy loss. Obstetrics and
Gynecology Clinics, 41(1), 19-39.
Denison, J., Varcoe, C., & Browne, A. J. (2014). Aboriginal women's experiences of accessing
health care when state apprehension of children is being threatened. Journal of advanced
nursing, 70(5), 1105-1116.
Dudgeon, P. & Hirvonen, T. (2014). Dark chapters in Australian history: Adopted children from
the Stolen Generations. InPsych: The Bulletin of the Australian Psychological Society
Ltd. 36(4). 12.
Gibberd, A. J., Simpson, J. M., & Eades, S. J. (2016). No official identity: a data linkage study of
birth registration of Aboriginal children in Western Australia. Australian and New
Zealand journal of public health, 40(4), 388-394.
Hopkins, K. D., Zubrick, S. R. & Taylor, C. L. (2014). Resilience amongst Australian Aboriginal
youth: an ecological analysis of factors associated with psychosocial functioning in high
and low family risk contexts. PloS one. 9(7). e102820.
Munns, A. & Walker, R. (2015). The Halls Creek Community Families Program: Elements of
the role of the child health nurse in development of a remote Aboriginal home visiting
peer support program for families in the early years. Australian Journal of Rural
Health. 23(6). 322-326.
Nakata, Y. (2015). Insider–outsider perspective: revisiting the conceptual framework of research
methodology in language teacher education. International Journal of Research & Method
in Education, 38(2), 166-183.
Pavan, G. K., & Kulkarni, N. (2014). Research methodology. International Journal of Innovative
Research and Development, 3(7).
Ridani, R., Burns, J. & Hunter, E., (2015). Suicide prevention in Australian Aboriginal
communities: a review of past and present programs. Suicide and life-threatening
behavior. 45(1). pp.111-140.
Ritte, R., Panozzo, S. & Arabena, K. (2016). An Australian model of the First 1000 Days: An
Indigenous-led process to turn an international initiative into an early-life strategy
benefiting indigenous families. Global Health, Epidemiology and Genomics. 1.
Robinson, G., Mares, S. & Arney, F. (2017). Continuity, engagement and integration: Early
intervention in remote Australian aboriginal communities. Australian Social Work. 70(1).
116-124.
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Spangaro, J., Frail, M. A. & Zwi, A. B. (2016). ‘They aren't really black fellas but they are easy
to talk to’: Factors which influence Australian Aboriginal women's decision to disclose
intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Midwifery. 41. 79-88.
Sprianovic, C., Clare, M. & Clare, B. (2014). Aboriginal young people in the children's court of
Western Australia: Findings from the national assessment of Australian children's
courts. UW Austl. L. Rev. 38. 86.
Wagner, B., Cross, D. & Latimer, J. (2017). The development of a culturally appropriate school
based intervention for Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities: A
formative evaluation of the Alert Program® intervention. Australian occupational
therapy journal. 64(3). 243-252.
Williamson, A., Raphael, B. & Eades, S. (2014). The construct validity of the strengths and
difficulties questionnaire for aboriginal children living in Urban New South Wales,
Australia. Australian Psychologist. 49(3). 163-170.
Online
Children in care. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/children-care> [Accessed on 27th October
2017].
Removal of Indigenous children: facts, figures and terms you need to know. 2016. [Online].
Available through:<http://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/explainer/removal-indigenous-
children-facts-figures-and-terms-you-need-know> [Accessed on 27th October 2017].
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