The Impacts of Racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This essay examines the pervasive issue of racism and its detrimental effects on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It highlights how racism manifests in reduced access to essential resources like healthcare, housing, and employment, leading to physical injuries, unhealthy behaviors, and disengagement from healthy activities. The essay further explores the impacts of racism on individuals, including depression, psychological distress, substance abuse, and physical health problems. It also addresses the reluctance of Aboriginal people to seek medical care due to negative stereotypes. The essay concludes by suggesting potential solutions, such as culturally safe healthcare, cultural awareness training for health professionals, government intervention, national debates on racism, and comprehensive education for all Australians. Desklib offers a variety of similar resources for students.

RACISM
Aboriginal and Torres Islander people

Racism
Racism is the belief that a particular race is inferior
or superior to another or that their biological
aspects predetermine the moral and social traits of
a person.
Various forms of racism include reduced access to
resources of the society such as medical care,
housing and employment (McBain-Rigg & Veitch,
2011).

Racism that are specific to Aboriginal people
and what happened to them
 The specific racism include reduced and inequitable access to the essential
resources of health such as medical care, housing, education and employment (Li,
2017).
 Some of the Aboriginal people have injured physically through racial motivated
assault.
 Some have engaged in activities that are unhealthy such as drug use, alcohol and
smoking (Marmot, 2018).
 Disengagement from activities that are healthy to the Aboriginal people such as
taking medications, exercise and sleep.
 Some of the Aboriginal people have exposed to factors that are risky related to ill-
health such dangerous goods, toxic substances and junk foods.

Impacts of racism on aboriginal People
 On the basis of an individual , the Aboriginal people who are
exposed to racism undergo depression, psychological distress,
substance abuse and poor quality of life.
 Individuals who undergo stress for a long period may develop
effects on physical health like cardiovascular, endocrine and
immune system.
 Racism makes the Aboriginal people to be reluctant in seeking
medical care, welfare, housing or any other service from those
providers that they feel have negative stereotypes towards them.

What can be done to improve Racism
 Research indicates that providing culturally safe and secure healthcare can
advance the scope of healthcare services to and increase their wellbeing (Phiri,
Dietsch & Bonner, 2010).
 Training on cultural awareness should be provided to health professionals to help
reduce racism incidences.
 The government should be able to comprehend the effects of racism on the health
of Aboriginals and take necessary measures to curb it through ways such as
country wide campaigns.
 The nation should start a debate on racism and its impacts to the Aboriginal
people.
 All Australians should be educated especially the young people about
discriminatory remarks which may have detrimental effects to the health of the
Aboriginal people.

References
 Li, J.-L. (2017). Cultural barriers lead to inequitable healthcare access for
Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. Chinese Nursing
Research, 4, 4, 207-210.
 Marmot, M. (2018). Social determinants and the health of Indigenous Australians.
Retrieved from https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2011/194/10/social-determinants-
and-health-indigenous-australians
 McBain-Rigg, K., & Veitch, C. (2011). Cultural barriers to health care for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Mount Isa. Australian Journal of Rural
Health, 19(2), 70-74.
 Phiri, J., Dietsch, E., & Bonner, A. (2010). Cultural safety and its importance for
Australian midwifery practice. Collegian, 17(3), 105-111.