Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Indigenous Australian Children

This essay delves into the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australian children and adolescents, emphasizing the disparities in healthcare and the impact of historical factors. It defines social and emotional wellbeing, highlighting the influence of past experiences and cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The essay analyzes challenges like child abuse, discrimination, and separation from families, which negatively affect mental health. It explores successful community-strengthening approaches, including peer mentoring and government initiatives like the Closing the Gap strategy, and discusses effective practices such as culturally sensitive healthcare and the Family Wellbeing program. The implications for nursing are highlighted, emphasizing the vital roles of nurses in early problem identification, professional development, and supporting community programs to improve health outcomes. The essay concludes by underscoring the importance of addressing the social and emotional needs of Indigenous Australians for future economic growth and wellbeing.

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Mental health-nursing
5/19/2019

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Topic: Social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australian children and adolescents:
Pathways to bridging the gap from a Nursing Viewpoint
The essay brings about the discussion on the aspects of social and emotional
wellbeing of the indigenous population of Australia. The discussion highlights mainly the
children and adolescents and the issues related to their health and wellness. The term social
wellbeing is described as the phenomenon stating the extent to which an individual feels
sense of belongingness. It has been found that an individual’s social and emotional wellbeing
is influenced through their past activities, events or experiences. Social and emotional
wellbeing has been used by the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders to determine the
social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing. Indigenous Australians are the Aboriginals and
Torres Strait Islanders, who focus on different aspects of their health, i.e. physical, mental,
social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural health (Aboriginal Health, 2018). Thus, the essay
will bring an analysis of the social and emotional wellbeing including the pathways to reduce
or bridge the gap from the perspective of nursing. In the later part, the discussion will
mention the implementation of a service program related to the main issue and will determine
the implications for nursing.
The term social and emotional wellbeing outlines the positive sense of wellbeing that
enables an individual to focus upon their needs and function properly in the society. It also
states their ability to meet their demands of daily life, ensuring capability to recover from any
illness or disability influencing their overall being (Hameed & Coade, 2018). The health and
wellbeing of the Indigenous Australians remain below than the non-indigenous Australians.
Child abuse and neglect has been found as one of the major issues determining low levels of
social and emotional wellbeing. A wide range of gap has been observed in the health care
services and wellness between the indigenous population and non-indigenous population of
Australia (Australian Government, 2018).
In context to the children and indigenous adolescents, it has been found that they
experience high levels of discrimination leading to psychological distress and mental health
impact. It further leads to an influence on their social and emotional health and wellbeing.
For an example, the issue of illness from the Rheumatic fever has been mainly recognised to
be present in large numbers in Indigenous children in comparison to non-indigenous.
Besides, the factors of illness, psychological distress, or lack of health care facilities there are
some reasons that also affect their wellbeing. It states that in earlier years, approximately

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54% of the indigenous Australians (children and adolescents) have been separated from their
natural families, which led to a negative impact on their health, and emotional wellbeing. A
high level of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression has been found amongst these
indigenous children and adolescents (Skerrett et al., 2018).
Many of the programmes, and the healthcare service delivery programmes have been
established which would reduce the impact of serious illness on the families and their
children. However, some programmes face challenges and vulnerabilities, which state the
need of a strong and efficient policy especially for the young indigenous Australians, to
ensure their health, growth, and sustainability. I have analysed from the reports regarding the
social and emotional wellbeing of indigenous Australians, that Aboriginal youth participants
in the programmes faced complex challenges (Campbell et al., 2015).
I have understood that the historical experiences of the families, has been
continuously facing problem of discrimination, and other related disadvantages in the
community. It affected the development of youth, and increased the number of removal of the
child, right from the stage of infancy to their teenage years. This has led to the emergence of
a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents (Le Grande et al.,
2017). The issues that have been found relevant influencing the health and wellbeing of
children and adolescents consist of alcohol consumption, drugs, and others. As these issues
are common and most prevalent during the middle age or adulthood, they affect mental and
social health; however, these issues continue to rise over period. In context to the strategies,
or approaches that are used as interventions I have found that a successful implementation of
the community-strengthening approach, has been found (Balaratnasingam et al., 2018).
From the analysis, I came to an understanding about the essential characteristics or
strengths of the indigenous peoples, i.e. children and youth. These strengths include respect
for elders, and cultural aspects, artistic richness, humour, contribution to the environmental
protection. Thus, these strengths can be understood as the base for promoting, and improving
the social and emotional wellbeing of indigenous Australians. Thus, I can mention that
strategies or intervention in earlier years focused on encouraging the development of self-
esteem, cognitive and emotional growth, and resilience of the individuals at the community
level. Peer mentoring strategy has been also found to provide care and treatment to the
adolescents for improving their health condition (Australian Government, 2018). In

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addition, to these there has been an implementation of the government approach as well as
a life course approach , which involved changes in healthcare policies.
The effective practices state that wellbeing of the indigenous children and adolescent
can be supported effectively using the community approach. The general strategies, which
have been implemented in the modern era or society, include Family Wellbeing program,
courses at high schools, a nutrition program. Moreover, it has been found that recruiting and
maintaining a culturally sensitive health workforce, is an essential intervention. This will
assure support and mentoring roles of the elder workers, and an increase in the indigenous
staff and guides. It will generate and create a better understanding of the cultural groups and
health staff will ensure effective service delivery to every individual, especially indigenous
children (Harfield et al., 2018).
Besides, this it has been found that a National integrated Closing Gap Strategy has
been formulated by the efforts of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The
strategy recognises the aspect that it requires the commitment at all the levels of government
to work together for the betterment of indigenous wellbeing. It includes the commitment or
improvement into certain areas, such as early childhood, schooling, health, economic
participation, healthy homes, and safe communities. These aspects have been focused upon to
increase the access to health care and other resources, in the indigenous families. In addition,
this has further led to the proper care of the children, and adolescents at their homes
(Australian Medical Association, 2018).
The evidences have also mentioned the rising concern of the Australian government,
as they have prioritised the health of indigenous people. The priority to improve and lead
better health has been focused upon the nation’s young aged 12-24 years that constitute one-
fifth of population (Marmor & Harley, 2018). For an example, Indigenous young people, i.e.
being disadvantage, and other people living with any illness within community. It has been
discovered that the health gap has widened, which is largely the result of unequal access to
the healthcare services, resources and opportunities, which are required for good health. The
factors determining gap also include low-income, lack of quality housing, education, and
decreased levels of participation in the community activities (Fisher et al., 2016).
Now, a shift or radical change has been observed in the services, and care programs
for the improvement in the social and emotional wellbeing of indigenous peoples. Supportive

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environment has been created for the young people or adolescents in aboriginal community,
such as council-run or funded sports club. For the children, in earlier years, child-care
centres, and health agencies has been established. Moreover, education information in the
local schools, and community programs has been increased that help them deal with issues
faced either due to lack of facilities or discrimination. Thereupon, it can be stated that the
evidences support the implementation of various strategies, programmes, and policies
related to health and wellbeing of indigenous children and adolescents (Day, Nakata &
Miller, 2016).
From the study conducted on the assessment of the social and emotional wellness of
indigenous people, it has been found that a number of programmes have been implemented
for improvement. SAM our way, and Family Wellbeing program is one of the suitable and
utmost example that can be provided under this section. Along with the mentioned program,
the services included SEWB services, and change or improvement in the health care services
within Australia (Clark, Augoustinos & Malin, 2016). These SEWB programs have been
focused upon children and youth, especially in their earlier years, as well as primary health
care services. The SEWB program aims at ensuring the best health care services to
indigenous people in Australia. It is a broader concept, which reflects aboriginal holistic
understanding of health and wellbeing. The key aspect or role of SEWB programmes is to
support the referral processes, to all agencies, and regular services to health communities. An
aspect of counselling has been emphasized by the service programme of SEWB, to bring
positive change in the life of the adolescents, and enhance their wellbeing (Clark,
Augoustinos & Malin, 2016).
Therefore, the above reasons or aspects have stated the effectiveness of the program
and this is the fact it has been successful. Another vital program, i.e. Family Wellbeing
program has been also implemented which has shown effectiveness in improving the social
and emotional wellbeing of indigenous Australians. A 150-hour based program includes the
elements of empowerment principles, and works to empower the participants through
encouraging them for personal transformation. The program harness physical, mental, social,
spiritual, and emotional aspects of life through the support and care from the family members
and health practitioners. Hence, the Family Wellbeing programme has been successful in
determining the effective services to the people/patients leading positive health outcomes
(McCalman et al., 2018).

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Now, this section of the essay will bring an analysis of the impact or implications of
the issue on the nursing. It has been found that a competent population that has the ability to
cope with the socio-economic issues or change is vital for the economic growth in future.
Thus, it requires the contribution of health care professionals and nurse to improve the state
of health and wellbeing. The role of general practitioners and nurse has been found relevant
and vital in the health care settings (Hinton et al., 2015). The GPs or health professionals
perform their responsibility by early identification of the problems and assessment of the risk
in context to children or adolescents. Thus, it has been understood that they provide valuable
support, and care under this aspect. The screening and treatment of the health issues or
illness amongst children assist with the identification of problems. In the reference to the care
and support, for the indigenous populations in Australia, the role of nurse has been vital in
providing support to general practitioners (Gibson et al., 2015).
Second, important way or aspect that determines the essential role or relevance of the
nurses or nursing in context to given topic includes his or her own professional growth.
Nurses develop their professional or clinical skills and abilities to deal with the patients,
children, and adults and help them overcome their illness (McCalman et al., 2015). This
aspect ensures their own personal development throughout their career, and leads to better
working and provision of better health services. Besides, this it has been found that role of
service providers, and the community programmes are supported from the guidance and help
of the health professionals. Therefore, two aspects or ways through which nursing and the
aspect of social and emotional wellbeing of the indigenous Australians has been presented
well in the above section (Yan et al., 2019).
To conclude the above discussion it has been analysed that the aspect of social and
emotional wellbeing plays a vital role within Australia. It has been found through the
assessment of the research on health, and wellbeing that indigenous Australians suffer and
face more problems than other groups. The essay has represented well the meaning and
significance of the issue, and their impact on their overall development. Moreover, the essay
has also mentioned and described the implementation of the effective programmes and
services to support the wellbeing of children and young people. Hence, government, health
professionals, and the support members must ensure effective services to them to reduce the
gap and attain positive change in wellbeing.

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