Media Portfolio: Indigenous Health and Wellbeing - Domestic Violence

This media portfolio examines the critical issue of domestic violence within Indigenous communities, focusing on Australia. It begins with an introduction highlighting the prevalence of family and domestic violence, particularly among Indigenous women and children, and its impact on health and development. The project employs a quantitative research approach to analyze the statistical data related to domestic violence. Two media articles are analyzed: the first discusses the role of disadvantage and trauma in causing high rates of Indigenous family violence, while the second highlights the number of domestic violence incidents attended by NT police, connecting alcohol consumption to the rise in such cases. The articles are summarized and reflected upon, linking them to the broader unit of study and discussing the contributions to the current debate on domestic violence. The analysis emphasizes the need for government support for organizations working to reduce violence, the impact of violence on public health, and the importance of addressing underlying issues such as alcohol consumption. The project highlights the devastating effects of domestic violence on Indigenous communities, including financial losses, poor child development, and the need for stronger law enforcement and community relationships to combat the issue effectively.

Running Head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
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Media portfolio: Collection and analysis of an Indigenous health and wellbeing issue
Topic: Domestic Violence in Indigenous Communities
By
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Introduction
Family and domestic violence, as well as other forms of violence such as sexual
violence, are the main issues affecting health development. These types of violence happen
across all socioeconomic groups and demographics (Briskman, 2014). The most affected by
violence are women and children. Domestic violence among Indigenous people has been on
the rise in recent times. This is common among Indigenous women, especially women who
are young and those who are expectant (Lonne & Parton, 2014). There are higher chances of
domestic violence happening to the Indigenous community than those that are non-
Indigenous.
Across the world, victims of domestic violence are mostly women; they tend to
experience more severe kinds of violence, for instance, emotional and physical abuse. It is
shocking to see that in some places, domestic violence is regularly perceived as justified and
legally allowed, mostly in situations of real and alleged adultery on the side of the woman.
Domestic violence, however, is amongst the top under-reported crimes globally for both male
and female victims (Sherman, 2014). Because of stigmas in society concerning male
victimization, all of the male victims face an increased probability of being ignored or
disregarded by healthcare givers.
The problems faced due to domestic violence provide the reasons why domestic abuse
needs to be stopped, and those protection laws should be implemented to prevent further
instances of abuse. The design used in this study relied on the quantitative method of
research, as the research is based on the statistical analysis that shows the number of victims
and the amount of money used in respect to domestic violence. The significant findings that

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
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have been similar in most countries are the financial loss, poor child development, and
reduced workforce (Othman, 2014).
Source (Othman, 2014)
Domestic violence in Australia is quite common, since the number of women who
meet the criteria of domestic violence victims makes up over 30 percent of the population of
women in the country. Under the said estimate, these women would have been abused
physically by the spouses or partners at some point in their lives (Kitzmann, 2013). As a

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
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result, it is clear that domestic violence has led to various problems which are being faced by
Australian society. One of the significant issues which have resulted from domestic violence
is the imminent public health problem which exists in the country (Hague, 2015). Domestic
violence is regarded as a crime that will result in public health problems. Most of the victims
of this form of abuse will have a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues, infections
and various diseases since the domestic violence will affect them physically or mentally
(Hague, 2015).
Media article one
Disadvantage, trauma causing high rates of Indigenous family violence
https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2018/02/28/disadvantage-trauma-causing-
high-rates-indigenous-family-violence
Article summary and reflection
The article starts by singling out disadvantage as well as trauma that are
intergenerational, as major factors that contribute to family violence in the communities that
are indigenous at alarming rates. Those that experience rates of family that are high are the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A report by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare indicated that the Indigenous Australians have multiple factors that increase the
risk of family violence. The factors include stressors that are social, overcrowding,
unemployment, poor housing, and financial difficulties.
A group of Indigenous peoples of Australia comprises of the Torres Strait Islander
and the Aboriginals who are original inhabitants of Australia. With the arrival of European
settlers, there emerged several changes in the lifestyle of Indigenous groups. The onset of
these problems started with the displacement of the Indigenous groups from their original
areas of residence and commencement of civilization. Health inequality mainly emerges
when an individual community lacks access to healthcare services, and yet they are availed to

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other groups within a society. This disparity has been evidenced by increased cases of
morbidity and mortality among disadvantaged groups. This section will seek to identify the
causes of health inequality among the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Further, it will
critically discuss the social, economic, biological and environmental factors that have led to
health inequality among the Aboriginal peoples (Press., 2017). The Indigenous peoples have
considerably suffered due to health inequality as a result of inaccessibility to adequate health
services.
The article also gives details about the report on family and domestic violence,
providing detailed statistics. The report does not surprise many as it reflects what continues
to happen in the Indigenous community. Therefore, there is need for the government to put
efforts towards ensuring that family and domestic violence is reduced. Organisations that
work towards the eradication of family violence such as the Aboriginal Community
Controlled Organisations, for instance, Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLSs)
should be supported fully by the government. It has also been noted that most cases of
violence are never reported. Children are most affected, and the violence can have devasting
effects on their lives. Women are also targeted, hence the need to put more efforts into
ensuring their protection.
Link to the unit
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23431441)
The article reflects on the growing domestic violence in Australia. Violence is a
major factor concerning the health of Indigenous Australians (Dillon et al. 2013). Family and
domestic violence affects the health of the Indigenous people negatively and has a damaging
impact on their lives. The violence can also lead to the death of Indigenous people. This
highlights the catastrophic effects of domestic violence on the health and welfare of
Indigenous people.

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Contribution to the current debate
The article adds to the current debate of the need to put more effort towards the
reduction of domestic violence. It provides a full account on the most affected and
emphasizes the need for the government to come aboard completely and support the
organisations that work towards the reduction of the violence (García-Moreno et al. 2015).
The victims of domestic violence in the world are mostly women; they tend to
experience more severe kinds of violence, for instance, emotional together with physical
abuse. It is shocking to see that in some places, domestic violence is regularly perceived as
justified and legally allowed, mostly in situations of real and alleged adultery on the side of
the woman. Domestic violence, however, is amongst the top under-reported crimes globally
for both male and female victims (Sherman, 2014). Because of the stigma in the society
concerning male victimization, all of the male victims face an increased probability of being
ignored or disregarded by healthcare givers.
The problems faced due to domestic violence provide the reasons why domestic abuse
has to be stopped, and those protection laws should be implemented to prevent further
instances of abuse. The design used in the study relied on the quantitative method of research
since the research relies on is the statistical analysis that shows the number of victims and the
amount of money used in respect to domestic violence. The significant findings that have
been similar in most countries are the financial loss, poor child development, and reduced
workforce.
Domestic violence in Australia is quite common, since the number of women who are
victims of domestic violence make up over 30 percent of the women for the population
nationwide. Under the said estimate, these women would have been abused physically by the
spouses or partners at some stage in their lives (Kitzmann, 2013). As a result, it is clear that

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
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domestic violence has led to various problems which are being faced by the Australian
Society. One of the significant issues which have resulted from domestic violence would be
the scale of the public health problem which exists in the country (Hague, 2015). Domestic
violence is regarded as a crime that will result in public health problems. Most of the victims
of this form of abuse will have a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues, infections
and various diseases since the domestic violence will affect them physically or
psychologically.
Media article two
NT police attended domestic violence incidents
https://www.news.com.au/national/northern-territory/nt-police-have-attended-27352-alcohol-
related-incidents-and-12192-domestic-violence-incidents-in-this-year-alone/news-story/
9c50bdda240041955699cf72f343ab14
Article summary and reflection
The article highlights the intensity of family and domestic violence. It does this by
giving statistics on the number of cases that are handled by the police involving incidents that
are related to alcohol and those that are related to domestic violence. Alcohol is a strong
contributor in the incidence of domestic violence. Most of the offenders were found to have
consumed alcohol before committing domestic violence. The cases were on the rise, and the
police commissioner indicates the need of incorporating an Aboriginal liaison officer in every
police station. The officer could help in mediating the conflicting sides which could reduce
incidences of domestic violence ("NT cops report 12,192 DV cases this year alone", 2018).
The impact of domestic violence in Australia is quite devastating since the problem is
yet to be addressed. One of the issues that have been linked to domestic violence is the
negative impact on public health. The health of the women of Saudi Arabia has been affected
due to this form of violence with many being hospitalized after an abuse (Statistics., 2017).

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Additionally, another problem which can be noted is the effect of poor child development. A
child who has grown up in a violent environment will likely end up suffering from mental
health issues and may also choose violence as a way to solve the problems he or she has
experienced (Press., 2017).
Additionally, child development has also been affected since the incidence of
domestic violence has led to an increase in the abortion rates in the country. There has also
been a significant rise in crime rates, since domestic violence in Australia has not been
appropriately addressed, and the women who experience the abuse are reluctant to report the
abuse. Last but not least, another problem introduced as a result of domestic violence is the
financial loss that will be ensued to accommodate for the health of the battered victims.
Australia lacks stable laws which will help deter the abusers from participating in
domestic abuse. As a result, the victims have been maltreated since there is a belief that
domestic violence is related to their religion. A substantial number of abusers have not been
held accountable for their crimes, since most of the victims have failed to report the matter.
This has led to the increase in domestic violence, not only in Australia but also in other
countries across the world.
Link to the unit
(https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/97813172218380
This article provides the reasons why incidences of domestic violence are on the rise.
This is helpful in determining ways of reducing domestic violence (Orford et al 2013).
Among the efforts to stop these incidences is the need to have an Indigenous officer
specifically tasked to attending domestic violence cases amongst Indigenous people
(Messerschmidt & Tomsen, 2018). The officer can help in building a good relationship

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
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between the police and the people involved so that the Indigenous community can rely on the
police when offenses are reported.
Contribution to current debate
This article contributes to the debate of domestic violence and ways of reducing
domestic violence. This is by ensuring that alcohol consumption is reduced, as it is a key
factor in the incidence of domestic violence (Othman, Goddard & Piterman, 2014). Some of
the domestic violence cases are not reported to the police for proper action. This article
provides a valid solution to the problem. There is need for reliable police and a stronger
relationship between law enforcement and the Indigenous community, so that the local
Indigenous people can trust the police when coming forward to report cases of domestic
violence (Rowan, 2014). The creation of an Aboriginal liaison officer will help in building
strong relationships and in mediating two conflicting parties to avoid domestic violence.
Media article three
Domestic violence prevention brings together Indigenous men and women in an outback
community
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-15/wilcannia-men-and-women-work-together-to-stop-
domestic-violence/9985388
Article summary and reflection
The article starts by showing how domestic violence has brought together men and
women from various backgrounds. This indicates the seriousness of the issue. The article
highlights some of the causes of domestic violence such as oppression, unemployment, and
segregation among others. Low income in families contributes to domestic violence. In
fighting domestic violence, detaining someone may not be effective. Instead, allowing the
person to talk about he or she feels would be more useful. This reduces the psychological
instability.

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Violence against women
Violence has been termed as a global issue that has unceasingly plagued women
throughout the years. The United Nations Declaration on Violence against Women describes
violence against women as: “Any action of gender-centered violence that causes sexual,
physical or psychological impairment or distress to womenfolk, including coercion of such
actions, intimidation or arbitrary dispossession of freedom, whether taking place in civic or
secretive life”. There are various types of terrifying acts committed upon women in the
world, especially in the sporting activities. Some of these actions include athlete domestic
violence, poor team selection, and early marriages, disregarding their career and national
(human) trafficking. These acts are the result of many different issues such as gender
inequality, power struggles, inadequate laws and rights, and cultural beliefs and traditions.
Women are statistically more likely to have these violent acts happen to them (Modi, 2014).
Link to the unit
(http://www.bvs.is/media/radstefnur-malstofur-fraedsla/NS-Iceland-presentation.pdf)
This article contributes to the health and welfare topic. Domestic violence affects the
health and welfare of all people involved, hence there is a need to tackle it in a different way
to reduce the incidence (Stanley & Humphreys, 2014). The factors that cause domestic
violence should be investigated, when questioning a perpetrator. Built-up emotions can lead
a person to resort to domestic violence, if emotional problems are not dealt with. For
instance, frustrations due to lack of employment or segregation can result in domestic
violence. Therefore, these issues need to be addressed.
Contribution to current debate
The article contributes to the topic of reducing domestic violence by giving an
approach on how the problem should be managed. For instance, the offenders should be
encouraged to talk about what is troubling them or the factors that made them resort to

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violence (Wong & Mellor, 2014). The article shows the need of people coming together and
joining forces in tackling the menace of domestic violence.
Media article four
NACCHO Aboriginal Woman’s Health: Silence over Aboriginal violence condones it
https://nacchocommunique.com/2016/10/03/naccho-aboriginal-womans-health-silence-over-
aboriginal-violence-condones-it/
Article summary and reflection
The article starts by giving statistics on how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
women are the most affected when it comes to domestic violence. It gives various accounts
of incidences of women being killed due to violence. This shows the magnitude of domestic
violence amongst Indigenous women in Australia. The article goes on to reveal how
Indigenous women also suffer from sexual violence. However, very few stand up to address
and condemn this issue. The perpetrators are protected as they come from the same
community as the victims.
Causes of health inequalities among Aboriginals
The disparity in providing health care services to the Indigenous and the non-
Indigenous people residing in Australia has escalated over the years due to various reasons.
The Indigenous people of Australia have different health needs compared to non-Indigenous
people. When the Europeans settled in Australia, they were victims of different diseases such
as smallpox, pneumonia, and tuberculosis that were not prevalent among the Aboriginals.
These diseases contradicted their health status as it led to infections and could not be treated
by traditional herbal medicine they effectively used. The Indigenous people were strongly
attached to their traditions and cultural practices. Hence, it was difficult to convince them to
embrace modern health care services (Press., 2017). This conservatism of cultural practices
has left much vulnerability to new diseases that are incurable by traditional cultural practice.

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Furthermore, the Aboriginal people have succumbed to chronic diseases such as cancer,
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases due to lack of appropriate treatment.
Link to the unit
(http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/21394/)
This article relates to the subject of domestic violence by giving the intensity of the
topic. It reveals the lack of effort put towards the reduction of domestic violence among
Indigenous people (Lonne & Parton, 2014). Domestic violence continues because it is not
being reported and this needs to change. Mandatory reporting will help to reduce the threat
of domestic violence.
Contribution to the current debate
The article contributes to the current debate by revealing the importance of addressing
domestic violence. It highlights the importance of everyone in the community to draw
attention to the issue in public places, to resist and condemn domestic violence (Briskman,
2014). This will sensitize people and the affected will in turn report domestic violence cases.
Domestic violence cycle