Reflective Journal: Exploring Australian Aboriginal Culture and Health

This reflective journal delves into the complexities of Australian Aboriginal culture, examining its historical context, diversity, and traditions. It highlights the ongoing struggles faced by Aboriginal Australians, including issues of discrimination, health disparities, and unequal access to rights and resources. The journal explores the impact of these factors on the community's well-being, including mental and physical health. It references the Gibbs reflective model to analyze experiences and identify key factors contributing to health inequalities. The journal emphasizes the importance of education, equal treatment, and supportive policies in improving the lives of Aboriginal Australians, while also discussing the role of local government and the interconnectedness of culture, language, and land. This study was useful in enhancing the knowledge upon the aboriginal community and reduce knowledge gaps which could largely affect the quality of life of the community.

Reflective Journal

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

MAIN BODY
I have sought to examine the fact that, Aboriginal Australians are indigenous people of
the Australian mainland. This community mainly comprise of the varied distinct people. The
history of the Aboriginal Australians is a broadly defined group which they include other sub-
group which has been defined by the culture and language (Chan, Skeffington, Reid & Marriott,
2018). Aboriginal people are first known to be as the human inhabitant within the Australian
continent. They have recognized to be arrived between 40000 to 70000 years ago. The culture
and art of the aboriginal group is highly distinct. The aboriginal Australians are indigenous group
of Australia. They struggle to retain their traditional culture and fight for their rights. The
diversity and the culture of the Aboriginal is widely distinct. It also has denial to the citizenship
rights and does not have equal access to the rights when compared with the non- indigenous
group of Australia (UNDERSTANDING ABORIGINAL CULTURES, 2020). The indigenous
people tends to bear greater set of burden associated with disease and has lower life expectancy.
The indigenous group of Australia are subjected to wide degree of discrimination which has
resulted in the dispossession of the land, law, economic system and languages. As per the Gibbs
reflective model, it has been evaluated that, racism is considered to be as the key factor
associated with the health of the aboriginal group of Australia. There seems to be significant
degree of gap associated with the socio- economic outcomes and the health between the non-
indigenous and indigenous Australians. Before British colonisers in the year 1788 has been
arrived. Australia has been inhabited by other indigenous people which has been referred to as
First Australians. Indigenous people mainly account for 2.4% of Australian population. Pama –
Nyungan is one of the most common language among the Australian aboriginal people. The
aboriginal Australians however are split into 2 main groups which mainly comprise of the
aboriginal people and the Torres strait Islander people. Australia and Northern Territory
contributes 22% of the Aboriginal people.
I believe the fact that, the Australian aboriginal culture mainly comprise of the number of
practices and oral tradition has been emphasized. Aboriginal people has wide set of variety of
languages, beliefs, culture, tradition and race (Bennie, Apoifis, Marlin & Caron, 2019). Australia
is considered to be as one of the key significant ethnically diverse society in world. Australian
Aboriginal culture mainly comprise of a number of pattern and ceremonies which has been
centred on the belief in the Dreamtime. Moreover, reverence and respect for the oral traditions

and land has been emphasised. Furthermore, language and other groups tends to exhibit wide set
of individual cultures. The indigenous culture tends to mainly focus on the holistic set of
understanding which has been emerged from the millennium of existence and key experience
(Webb & Williams, 2018). There seems to be wide set of diversity among the non- indigenous
culture and the indigenous culture.
I have sought to examine the fact that, discrimination within the health care system
among the indigenous group tends to impose greater set of negative impact upon the health and
well- being of the community (James, Toombs & Brodribb, 2018). Experience of the
discrimination and inequality is considered to be as the root cause which results in the lack of
quality within the healthcare. The key discrimination sub themes mainly comprise of the stigma,
stereotyping, unwelcoming environment and racism. The problem needs to be significantly
addressed within the health and social care system which is the part of the quality improvement
strategy. As per the Gibbs reflective model, it has been evaluated that, discrimination is
considered to be as one of the main cause which eventually results in the health inequalities.
There seems to be lack of quality care, stereotyping and abusive treatment which in turn largely
affects the health of the individual person within the aboriginal community (Ryan, 2019,
October). There seems to be poor behavioural, physical and mental health where they are mainly
subjected to the racist treatment. Behavioural risk is considered to be as one of the major factor
which in turn results in ill or poor health outcomes. This is mainly because of the poor nutrition,
substance abuse, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, drugs and physical inactivity.
I believe the fact that, providing education and also providing them with the equal
treatment is considered to be as one of the the major measure which is useful in improving the
aboriginal health within Australia. Encouraging aboriginal community to work is also one of the
significant measure to improve the well-being of the community. Also developing as significant
employment strategy is relevant in encouraging the aboriginal people to work and also improve
their quality of life and well being of the individual person. This study was very useful in
enhancing the knowledge upon the aboriginal community and reduce knowledge gaps which
could largely affect the quality of life of the community (Clapham & Kelly, 2019). There is so
much to learn about the aboriginal culture of Australia which will help in evaluating some
interesting facts associated with the study. This is useful in enriching the thinking and knowledge
about the varied culture, belief and understanding associated with the world.

I have sought to examine the fact that, there seems to be high degree of diversity among
the indigenous and non- indigenous culture, law, family, land, language and ceremony. Local
government of the Australia tends to play one of the key prominent role in supporting the well-
being and health of the aboriginal community. It is of utmost priority to improve the aboriginal
health and well being (Peskoller, 2019). The health gap is considered to be as one of the major
reason which results in the unequal access to the opportunities and resources to the good health.
The gap in quality housing, income, participation, education within the community activities.
The aboriginal people does not receive same set of standards associated with the healthcare when
compared to the non- aboriginal people. The aboriginal people tends to have mental health
problems, respiratory disease, chronic disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic
kidney disease. This is more likely because of the improper health care services system,
discrimination and poor quality of living. Economic issues like financial hardship, family
breakdown homelessness, debt, poverty, crime and social isolation affect the well- being of the
aboriginal community. This study helped me develop my researching skills and understanding
skills to carry out study. This study has severely impacted me as person because it helps in
bridging knowledge gap.
I believe the fact that, indigenous people in Australia tends to have unique set of view
who are highly distinct from mainstream. Law, family, land, language and ceremony are
considered to be as the major interconnected elements associated with the indigenous culture.
The government also discourages aboriginal community from speaking their own languages. As
per the Gibbs reflective model, it has been evaluated that, it is considered to be crucial to
strengthen the policies of the council which in turn helps in providing quality set of care services,
accessible services and respectful programs to the aboriginal people (Chan, Skeffington, Reid &
Marriott, 2018). Addressing issues associated with the security, cultural safety, respect and
security within the council services tends to develop a reconciliation action plan and also focus
on providing cultural competence training. Creating a supportive environment for the aboriginal
community is considered to be relevant in improving the well being and quality of life of the
indigenous group of Australia (Berry, Crowe, Deane & Quinlan, 2020). Development of the
various programs and imparting education is considered to be relevant in improving well- being
and health of the aboriginal people. This unit has helped me significantly in learning abut the
aboriginal community. This study was also useful because it helped me in improving my

personal experience and gain significant degree of knowledge within the health science
profession.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bennie, A., Apoifis, N., Marlin, D., & Caron, J. G. (2019). Cultural connections and cultural
ceilings: exploring the experiences of Aboriginal Australian sport
coaches. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 11(3). 299-315.
Berry, S., Crowe, T., Deane, F. P., & Quinlan, E. (2020). An exploratory study of culture in
treatment for Aboriginal Australian men in residential drug and alcohol
rehabilitation services. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 1-25.
Chan, A. W., Skeffington, P., Reid, C., & Marriott, R. (2018). Research protocol for the
exploration of experiences of Aboriginal Australian mothers and healthcare
professionals when using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: a process-
oriented validation study using triangulated participatory mixed methods. BMJ
open.8(10). e022273.
Clapham, R., & Kelly, B. (2019). “I Got the Mics On, My People Speak”: On the Rise of
Aboriginal Australian Hip Hop. Journal of Hip Hop Studies. 6(2). 18.
James, S., Toombs, M., & Brodribb, W. (2018). Barriers and enablers to postpartum
contraception among Aboriginal Australian women: factors influencing
contraceptive decisions. Australian journal of primary health.24(3). 241-247.
Peskoller, J. (2019). Essential Foundations The Significance Of Aboriginal Australian Students’
Home Language And Culture For Their Learning At School. Dritte „Tagung der
Fachdidaktik “2017, 195.
Ryan, J. C. (2019, October). Literary Ethnobotany: Biocultural Knowledge of Plants in
Contemporary Aboriginal Australian Poetry, 1964–2018. In The 7th LITERARY
STUDIES CONFERENCE (p. 152).
Webb, G. L., & Williams, C. J. (2018). Factors affecting language and literacy development in
Australian Aboriginal children: Considering dialect, culture and health. Journal of
Early Childhood Research.16(1). 104-116.
Online

UNDERSTANDING ABORIGINAL CULTURES. 2020. [ONLINE]. Available
through<https://www.australia.com/en-in/things-to-do/aboriginal-australia/culture.html >