Racism in Australian Healthcare: A Nurse's Perspective

Running head: RACISM
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Racism
Student by (Name)
Institutions

RACISM
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Description
Key issue: Racism
The issue of cultural disparities in Australia has been a challenge more so about racism. I
approach the issue of racism as a registered nurse having a keen interest in cultural competencies
in healthcare. I am a non-aboriginal citizen who is interested in racism which has over the past
resulted in marginalization and vulnerability of the aboriginal Australians in respect to health
care (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2015). The original Australians community is
one of the community who suffers from marginalization based on racism. Since I got into the
nursing field, I have observed both successful and unsuccessful demonstrations of cultural
competence about racism. With my keen observation and my keen interest in cultural
competence as a nurse, I came to realize that the healthcare system of Australia is currently
influenced by institutional racism as indictedin module.
Based on the observations I have been making in the field of the healthcare system, I can
conclude that there is institutional racism as well as individual ethnocentrism which is embedded
in Australian healthcare institutions (Smith, Fatima & Knight, 2017). There is perpetuated
stereotypes, negative attitudes as well as behaviors related to culturally and vulnerable aboriginal
communities. As non-indigenous Australian, I feel that there are various flavors I enjoy in
comparison to aboriginal Australians based on my skin color. Various aboriginal Australians has
got limited access to healthcare services which puts me in a better place. With the existing

RACISM
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benefits I can get in the healthcare sector compared to the aboriginals, I think that I can live ten
years longer compared to aboriginal Australians.
Feeling
Yes, being a non-indigenous Australian I can statistically live ten to fifteen years longer
compared to aboriginal Australians (Gair, Miles, Savage & Zuchowski, 2015). However, I don’t
have a good feeling towards the existing life gap expectancy among people living within one
nation as a result of racism and ethnocentrism. This is equity which should be eliminated through
implementation of strict healthcare interventional and observation of human right. It is not
appropriate that non-indigenous Australians are being offered various healthcare options and
high level of treatment and appropriate superior healthcare compared to the aboriginals. The
issue of racism affects the healthcare system, and I feel that this issue should change based on the
damaging effects on health. I am not feeling good that production, access, and control of various
resources are directed towards advantaging a specific group of people living in the same country
(Harris, Tobias, Jeffreys, Waldegrave, Karlsen & Nazroo, 2016). The available resources in
healthcare should be used towards the safer of every individual Australian regardless of the race
or ethnic background.
Evaluation
The issue of racial disparity in healthcare should be viewed evaluated in the context of
racial equity and inequalities within the social institutions such as hospitals. Various sources
indicate that majority of aboriginal and non-aboriginals Australians believe that racism has a
great challenge in healthcare and this is not fair. The issue of equity and inequality is also evident