Reflective Essay: Analyzing the Australian Life Expectancy Gap

This reflective essay delves into the significant life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It explores the disparities in healthcare access, the impact of social and cultural determinants, and the influence of historical factors such as colonization and intergenerational trauma. The essay evaluates the government's 'Closing the Gap' campaign and other initiatives, examining the factors contributing to poorer health outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, including higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health problems, and substance abuse. The analysis highlights the importance of addressing healthcare inequality, promoting health literacy, and considering cultural sensitivities to improve health outcomes and narrow the life expectancy gap. The essay concludes with an action plan emphasizing the need for equal access to healthcare services and a holistic approach to improve the well-being of Indigenous Australians.

Reflection

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Description.............................................................................................................................1
Feelings...................................................................................................................................1
Evaluation...............................................................................................................................2
Analysis and Conclusion........................................................................................................3
Action Plan.............................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Reflective essay can be defined as a form of essay in which an individual examines his
own personal experience and this experience support them in learning new things. This essay is
based on individual learning over life expectancy gap between Non indigenous and indigenous
Australian Group. The main aim of this essay is to find out the reason and then take appropriate
actions to close this gap,
Description
Life expectancy at birth reflects the overall mortality level of a population group like,
indigenous population of Australia is about 2.5%. Life expectancy for aboriginal Torres islanders
is 10.6 years which is lower than non-indigenous groups of Australia. The reflection will outline
about the health condition of Aboriginal individual which represents lack of access to health care
and inequality. I learnt and came to know that Government wants to decrease this difference and
wants to close and for that it organised a programme known as closing the gap campaign. From
states it has been states that suicide rate became double that of the general people in 2015.
Feelings
Indigenous Australians are the Aboriginal people of Australia who have less Life
expectancy rate because of poor health status where most of the individual suffer from
respiratory diseases, mental health problem, chronic kidney diseases because of uncertain living
condition and lack of access to health care. Like for females the gap between indigenous and
non-indigenous was estimated to be 9.5 years (73.7 compared with 83.1). Tobacco use, alcohol
uses and drug uses increases the chances of cancer, lung, high blood pressure and coronary heart
disease (Rice & et.al., (2016). Underlying causes includes intergenerational trauma that result
from the cumulative effect on loss of land, colonisation and the erosion of spiritual identity,
Maddison, Clark & De Costa, (2016).
I have identified some reasons for the gap between these Australian people. The main
reason of gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian people regarding death is
Ischaemic heart disease, mental health problems, respiratory diseases. It is the main primary
reason of gap and death of indigenous people. It has been accounted that due to this reason there
has a death rate of 11.5% of all deaths. The 2nd main reason is diabetes which cause and lead 226
1

deaths. Aboriginal and indigenous people expect to die more than 10 years earlier than non-
indigenous people.
Evaluation
In accordance with different studies I evaluated that the main aim of Australian
Government is to reduce and close the gap in life expectancy. For solving this problem
Government has developed a strategy whose name is closing the gap campaign. There is a gap
between Aboriginal Australian and non-indigenous Australian related children's literacy &
numeracy, school attendance & completion, child mortality and employment. For making
changes it is now more focusing on holistic approach which is being supported by the
community knowledge (Ens and et.al., (2015).
According to Hayman & Armstrong, (2014), I evaluated that the major cause of different
in life expectancy rate of two population group of healthcare services to Torres Islanders. The
study outlined about the factors which leads to difference in expectancy rate is unequal access to
health care services, increase exposure to risk health factors, impact of racism on mental
condition of individuals and emotion and stress reactions of Torres islanders. The gap between
life expectancy is not only a health issue but also it is a human rights issue which is central to the
empowerment of indigenous people. The good I evaluated was Close the Gap initiative by non-
government Australian organisation which were focused on attaining equality and life
expectation among indigenous and non-indigenous population group of Australia by 2030. On
the other hand, I learned that Non-indigenous Australian have greater opportunities to gain better
healthcare & housing and due to better health care, they are more likely to have opportunity of
higher rates of employment. It is important to close this gap with the main aim of to improve
living standard and morality of indigenous Australians. Social and cultural determinants and the
way of living, working effects on indigenous people' health. It also includes discrimination,
racism on the basis of gender, education and employment that have impact on an individual's
health. In accordance with learning I evaluated that health literacy among aboriginal population
of Australia can help in improve life expectancy rate. Further, it can be said that it is important
for the Australian Government to focus on providing health care access to indigenous
community by organisation nursing care campaign every 1 month. This will promote health and
assist in focusing on isolation group to improve health outcomes and life expectancy rate.
2

Analysis and Conclusion
According to Butler & Hinch, (2007), It has been identified that there are total 7 target has
been decided by the Government which it wants to improve. It includes to halve the gap in child
mortality rates which has not been achieved yet, to halve the gap in year 12 equivalent by 2020
which is now on the track. To close the gap in early childhood education attendance which is
also on the track. Community led development model is an effective way of achieving
sustainable long-term change. It allows to ensure that communities and their people are being
supported to gain their own personal development goals. As per the views of West, (2018)
inequalities in health arise cultural and environmental factors like different in access to health
leads to different in lifestyle to which key determinant is social inequalities experienced by
Torres Islanders. This comprise circumstances in which indigenous population of Australia
work, live, grow and age. The individual suffers from malnutrition due to lack of healthy food
and heathy literacy. Moreover, the individual does not have proper condition to live, drink, learn,
etc.
From the learning and analysis, it can be concluded that health literacy and hygiene habits
can helps in managing life expectancy rate for which campaigns by Australian health care
organisation can seek support from Australian government to provide equal access to health care
to mange improvement in health outcomes of both population group. Also, hospital can focus on
preparing for Indigenous leadership turnover to empower Torres islanders against hazardous
cultural, social and environmental conditions.
Action Plan
In accordance with the learning I can say that focus on managing cultural and
environmental impact is the foremost priority which can aid in managing life expectancy rate
among indigenous and non-indigenous group. It is important for the health providers to focus on
proving equal access to care services by focusing beliefs and attitudes of Torres islanders. Ina
accordance with this nurse can focus on first understanding condition of patient on the basis of
individual values and beliefs to provide appropriate care. Further, health care organisation and
nurse ca first need to focus on understanding the factors leading to difference between life
expectancy rate of indigenous and non-indigenous population of Australia in order to close the
gap. For example, nurses can focus on promoting health by educating Torres islanders about
nutrient intake, hygienic concerns, etc.
3

CONCLUSION
From the present essay it has been concluded that from the beginning indigenous people
was being treated poorly in education, health and another context. It has been analysed that
indigenous people are very innovative and technological advanced but they have less life
expectancy and treated poorly. They also get less opportunities in employment and educational
context as compare to others.
4

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Butler, R., & Hinch, T. (2007). Tourism and indigenous peoples: Issues and implications.
Routledge.
Ens, E. J. and et.al., (2015). Indigenous biocultural knowledge in ecosystem science and
management: review and insight from Australia. Biological Conservation. 181. 133-149.
Maddison, S., Clark, T., & De Costa, R. (Eds.). (2016). The limits of settler colonial
reconciliation: Non-Indigenous people and the responsibility to engage. Springer.
Rice, E. S. & et.al., (2016). Social media and digital technology use among Indigenous young
people in Australia: a literature review. International journal for equity in health. 15(1).
81.
Online
West, E. (2018). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: Failing to close the gap.
[Online]. Available through: < https://www.westernalliance.org.au/2018/03/aboriginal-
and-torres-strait-islander-health-failing-to-close-the-gap >.
Hayman, N., & Armstrong, R. (2014). Health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people: handle with care. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2014/200/11/health-services-aboriginal-and-torres-
strait-islander-people-handle-care>.
5