Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Diversity

This essay examines the health and cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, focusing on the impact of youth incarceration, historical colonisation, and cultural implications. It compares the experiences of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals, highlighting issues such as unresolved trauma, discrimination, and health inequities. The essay also discusses the negative effects of colonisation, including loss of life, disrupted economies, and increased health problems. Furthermore, it addresses cultural obstacles faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, such as lack of resources and access to justice. The Rolfe reflective cycle is applied to analyse the problem of youth incarceration and propose alternative solutions, such as education, community involvement, and family preservation. The essay concludes by emphasising the importance of addressing these issues to improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar essays and solved assignments.

The Health and Cultural Diversity of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Impact of youth incarceration on Aboriginal and torres strait islander people...........................3
Comparison of Aboriginal people with non- Aboriginal strait islander people..........................4
History of colonisation................................................................................................................4
Cultural implications and obstacles.............................................................................................5
Rolfe reflective cycle...................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The health and cultural diversity of Aboriginal and torres strait islander people are
indigenous people of Australia (Chynoweth and et.al., 2020). They are having different identity,
history, culture and tradition. These people are sea- faring people, they are engaged in trade with
people of Papua New Guinea. Youth incarceration- age of criminal responsibility means children
who are under 18 years are assigned a bed in a Juvenile. The report examines, how youth
incarceration affects Aboriginal and torres strait islander individuals and health of the
community. Burden of age of criminal responsibility for non- aboriginal and torres strait islander
people. Further, history of colonisation impact on development of age for criminal responsibility
for Aboriginal and torres strait islander people. Cultural implications and obstacles to address
issue and Rolfe reflective cycle is discussed.
MAIN BODY
Impact of youth incarceration on Aboriginal and torres strait islander people
Youth incarceration is harmful for children because they are involved in crimes, violence and
drug crimes. Aboriginal and torres strait islander people are having different culture, identity and
traditions. There was issue of inequality, discrimination on the basis of color, race, religion was
done and due to that Aboriginal and torres strait islander people have different culture. Youth
incarceration is affecting aboriginal people because there children will also involve in
committing crimes and violence, drug crimes. Aboriginal and strait islander people are having
family issues and due to this they are involved in wring activities (Jones and et.al., 2018). Issues
like, domestic violence, lack of job, employment opportunities are less. Due to this reason people
are involved in crimes.
It is the responsibility of government to take necessary steps for preventing youth incarceration
because it has negative impact on other people and in different countries people are doing same
thing. It is essential to prevent children from incarceration and proper education should be
provided to children. They are involve in crimes and violence because they are not educated. It is
essential to prevent crimes and youth incarceration so that people can live their life safely. It is
harmful for health of children and it is not good. Government should take necessary steps to
prevent youth incarceration by providing education to children (Uink and et.al., 2020). It is
important to provide good education to children so that they did not involve in wrong activity.

Aboriginal and torres strait islander people are following different culture and tradition, having
different identity. Incarceration is affecting health of aboriginal and torres strait islander people
because it creates mental health problems and substances use disorders (Moodie, Maxwell and
Rudolph, 2019). The major problem for aboriginal people is cancer, chronic kidney disease,
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hearing loss, respiratory, neurological disorder. High
incarceration affects the community due to some factors i.e., loss of working age adults in the
society, infectious disease is increasing, public resources are shifted from health and social
support.
Comparison of Aboriginal people with non- Aboriginal strait islander people
There were major issues which is faced by aboriginal strait islander people like, unresolved
trauma, discrimination was done, inequity, children were having health issues and due to that
many people died. They face widespread loss and grief, removal of children, involve in wrong
activities like, violence, drugs, etc. Aboriginal strait islander people are having separate identity,
culture and tradition. Non- aboriginal strait islander people did not face these type of problem
like, inequity, discrimination etc. Aboriginal people did not face problem and children was less
affected as compared to aboriginal strait islander people (Schultz, 2020). Children of aboriginal
people were having health problems and they were treated badly. So, there were many challenges
and issues which is faced by aboriginal torres strait islander people as compared to non-
aboriginal torres strait islander people. It is essential to remove discrimination and all the people
should get equal treatment. Aboriginal people face many problems and children were affected as
they are having health issues and many people died. Non-aboriginal strait islander people did not
face these problems and their children are not affecting by disease.
History of colonisation
The history of colonisation was Aboriginal people first reached to Australian mainland and
move to different parts of the continent. Firstly, Torres strait islander arrived from Papua New
Guinea and settled in islands of Torres strait. Colonisation severely affect aboriginal society and
economy as disease caused loss of life of people and their health was affected. Occupation of
aboriginal people was affected and their ability to support themselves is disrupted. During
colonisation a wave of epidemic disease come which includes, smallpox, influenza, measles
which was affecting community of aboriginal and torres strait islander people. Colonisation has

negative impact in Australia as it has resulted in inequity, discrimination and racism of
aboriginal and torres strait islander people (Smith and et.al., 2021). It was not good because there
should be no discrimination among people on the basis of race, gender, caste, religion, or any
other basis. This affects health of aboriginal people. Colonisation was not good for aboriginal
and torres strait islander people and they face many problems due to colonisation. There were
many problems which is faced by aboriginal people like, poorer health, lower levels of
education, lower income levels, unemployment rates were increasing, inadequate housing, higher
levels of incarceration. These are some problems which is faced by community members of
aboriginal and torres strait islander people. Colonisation was not good and it has many harmful
effects on society as well as people living in the community.
Cultural implications and obstacles
There is cultural difference in aboriginal strait islander people because they are having
different culture, tradition and identity. They are not having equal rights and opportunities as
compared to other people. Cultural issue affect aboriginal and torres strait islander people as they
face discrimination, racism and lack of understanding of culture. They are still experiencing this
issue such as, inequality and social injustice. They are treated badly and not getting equal rights
and opportunities as compared to other communities (Leckning and et.al., 2020). Challenges
which is faced by aboriginal strait islander people related to incarceration is lack of financial
resources, lack of access to justice system, inadequate provisions of culture, high unemployment,
lack of proper services, less education. These are some obstacles which is faced by aboriginal
people and they are still experiencing it because no provision is made. This situation can be
improved if government take necessary steps and make provision that there should be no
discrimination and equal right are given to aboriginal strait islander people.
Rolfe reflective cycle
Rolfe reflective model describes about three questions i.e., what, what next and so what.
These are the three question on which this model is based on. What means describe a particular
situation, after that focus on achievements, consequences, result, responses, feelings and
problem. It is important to focus on finding solution of problem so that it can be resolved. Rolfe
reflective model is simple and clear. There are not many steps and it can be applied to identify
problem and solution can be find. Rolfe indicates that it is important to consider reflection in the
moment. Problem should be solved and corrective action should be taken so that people did not

get affected. Rolfe reflective cycle helps in determining what is the problem and how it can be
solved.
Youth incarceration is generally found in young people under 18 years in jails and prison.
Youth incarceration is likely to commit crimes and violence, they are involved in drug crimes
and this affect their life. This is an issue because it affects life of children and they are involved
in bad practices which is not good for their health. Youth incarceration can be prevented by
educating children, community involvement, recreation, prevention programs should be applied
so that children did not involve in crime (Kamp and et.al., 2018).
For preventing youth incarceration parent- children interaction is necessary and training
programs should be arranged so that youth incarceration can be prevented. When parents are
interacting with their children then they will know what their children is doing and it can be
stopped. There are some alternatives of youth incarceration such as, good education to children
should be provided, family preservation, home confinement, mentoring, community services,
counselling opportunities, reporting centre day and evening both (Williams, 2018). These are
some alternative solution which can be used to prevent children from youth incarceration. When
children will get education then they understand things and did not involve in crimes and get jobs
so that they can live happily.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, youth incarceration- age of criminal
responsibility has impact on Aboriginal and torres strait islander people. They are having
different culture, identity and tradition. Youth incarceration affects aboriginal and torres starit
islander individuals and also the health of community has been described. Comparison of
aboriginal and non- aboriginal strait islander people has been discussed. Further, history of
colonisation has been described. Cultural implications and obstacles which is faced by aboriginal
and torres islander people has been discussed. Rolfe reflective cycle which includes three steps
i.e., what, what next and so what has been described.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Chynoweth, J., and et.al., 2020. Optimal Cancer Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
People: a shared approach to system level change. JCO global oncology. 6. pp.108-114.
Jones, R., and et.al., 2018. Associations between participation in a ranger program and health
and wellbeing outcomes among aboriginal and torres strait islander people in Central
Australia: a proof of concept study. International journal of environmental research and
public health. 15(7). p.1478.
Kamp, A., and et.al., 2018. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's attitudes towards
Australian multiculturalism, cultural diversity,'race'and racism, 2015-16. Australian
Aboriginal Studies. (2). pp.50-70.
Leckning, B., and et.al., 2020. Developing best practice guidelines for the psychosocial
assessment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to hospital with
self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Australian & New Zealand Journal of
Psychiatry. 54(9). pp.874-882.
Moodie, N., Maxwell, J. and Rudolph, S., 2019. The impact of racism on the schooling
experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: A systematic review. The
Australian Educational Researcher. 46(2). pp.273-295.
Schultz, R., 2020. Closing the gap and the sustainable development goals: listening to Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. Australian and New Zealand journal of public
health. 44(1). pp.11-13.
Smith, P., and et.al., 2021. Cultural responsiveness for mental health professionals working with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients: a concept analysis. Australian
Psychologist, pp.1-12.
Uink, B., and et.al., 2020. The time for inclusive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
LGBTQ+ young people is now. The Medical Journal of Australia. 213(5). pp.201-204.
Williams, M., 2018. Ngaa-bi-nya Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program evaluation
framework. Evaluation Journal of Australasia. 18(1). pp.6-20.