Sample Assignment on Trauma PDF

Running head: TRAUMA 1
Trauma as a determinant of health among the Indigenous Australians
Student’s Name
Institution

TRAUMA 2
Trauma as a Social Determinant of Health
Good health is not only limited to adequate healthcare and medical services, it is also
determined by the mental wellbeing of an individual and the factors that influence lives on a day
to day living such as employment conditions, income, and education. In Australia, important
aspects of the lives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have continually been neglected
leading to serious health conditions such as trauma (Smith, 2016). Although the government has
made progresses in the health care sector of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by
providing access to healthcare, there is still a gap in the expectancy of life. Why? The
government therefore, must find ways to address the reasons why this gap still remains and find
proper solutions to the problem.
The mass media ranging from newspapers, televisions, the radio stations in Australia
have highlighted the plight of the indigenous Australians. Various reports on recommendations
suggested by different organizations linked to the wellbeing of the Aboriginal and the Torres
Strait Islander people have been circulated in the media over and over again but the issue of
trauma since remains a reality in the lives of the indigenous Australians. According to Smith
(2016) trauma has affected many indigenous people especially those facing racism, the women
going through domestic violence, those who were forcefully removed from their families, and

TRAUMA 3
those who have been incarcerated. The effects of the trauma have been saddening. Some of the
victims are experiencing mental health problems such as depression because of trauma. With
reference to the issue of trauma of the indigenous Australians and the lower life expectancy, this
essay summaries and analyses four media-based articles that focuses on trauma affecting the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the causes and effects of the trauma.
Media item 1
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/16/we-wont-close-the-gap-if-we-put-an-
indigenous-spin-on-western-approaches
Weston, R. (2017). We won’t close the gap if we put an 'Indigenous spin’ on western
approaches.
Summary of key issues
In this article, Richard Weston, the Chief Executive Officer of the Healing Foundation,
addresses a major issue of trauma affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He
states that colonization has tremendously affected the indigenous people negatively leading to
high cases of trauma. The author further decries that the government has failed to understand the
impacts of the trauma and therefore ways of dealing with the trauma is absent in the efforts to
effect the change in the social determinants of health among the indigenous people. Weston
(2017), states that unresolved effects of trauma affects work, parenting, and participation in the
society activities. He goes on to state that the survivors of trauma may represent symptoms such
as alcoholism, criminal offences, suicide and family violence (Weston, 2018).
Link to unit topics, models and approaches
The course objectives on the concept of colonization is well represented in this article.
The article explains that the effects of colonization has led to trauma thereby affecting the total

TRAUMA 4
health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The trauma has affected work, socializing,
and parenting among others (Weston, 2018). The article also discusses the impact of the political
process whereby the government is not able to recognize trauma as a factor to be considered to
effect change in the social determinants of health among the indigenous people which may lead
to behaviors such as criminal offences, and alcoholism (Weston, 2018).
Effects and contribution to the current debate
Weston (2017), retaliates that trauma is also a social determinant of health and that the
government should look into this area so as to realize the goal of Closing the Gap. The author
contributes that inasmuch as the government is currently putting efforts in closing the gap of the
difference of the expectancy of life between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
the Australians, the issue of trauma should be included in the efforts to effect the social
determinants of health.
Personal reflection
The aspect of trauma is an enormous issue in the well being of the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2014). The government should move with
speed and sort the issue out. The effects of the trauma are proving to be self-harming since the
victims may always resolve to unbecoming behaviors such as criminal activities and suicide
(Calma, Dudgeon and Bray, 2017). The victims of the historical injustices of colonization should
also be helped to heal and their social and economic welfare be looked into. The life expectancy
gap may as well not be closed if the issue of trauma is not addressed.
Media item 2
https://theconversation.com/australia-failing-to-safeguard-cultural-connections-for-aboriginal-
children-in-out-of-home-care-68051