Analyzing Trauma's Influence on Indigenous Australian Health: A Review

This essay examines trauma as a critical determinant of health among Indigenous Australians, analyzing four media articles to explore its causes, effects, and potential solutions. The essay begins by highlighting the historical and ongoing neglect of Indigenous Australians' well-being, leading to significant health disparities, including lower life expectancy. It then summarizes articles addressing colonization's impact, failures in safeguarding cultural connections for children in care, the effects of domestic violence on women, and the lasting trauma from the 'stolen generation.' The analysis connects these issues to course topics like colonization, political processes, and cultural safety, emphasizing the need for government action to address trauma as a social determinant of health. The essay stresses the importance of education, employment, and policy implementation to heal trauma, improve cultural connections, and close the life expectancy gap, advocating for a comprehensive approach to Indigenous health that prioritizes mental well-being and addresses historical injustices.

Running head: TRAUMA 1
Trauma as a determinant of health among the Indigenous Australians
Student’s Name
Institution

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Trauma as a Social Determinant of Health
Good health is not only limited to adequate healthcare and medical services, it is also
determined by the mental wellbeing of an individual and the factors that influence lives on a day
to day living such as employment conditions, income, and education. In Australia, important
aspects of the lives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have continually been neglected
leading to serious health conditions such as trauma (Smith, 2016). Although the government has
made progresses in the health care sector of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by
providing access to healthcare, there is still a gap in the expectancy of life. Why? The
government therefore, must find ways to address the reasons why this gap still remains and find
proper solutions to the problem.
The mass media ranging from newspapers, televisions, the radio stations in Australia
have highlighted the plight of the indigenous Australians. Various reports on recommendations
suggested by different organizations linked to the wellbeing of the Aboriginal and the Torres
Strait Islander people have been circulated in the media over and over again but the issue of
trauma since remains a reality in the lives of the indigenous Australians. According to Smith
(2016) trauma has affected many indigenous people especially those facing racism, the women
going through domestic violence, those who were forcefully removed from their families, and

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those who have been incarcerated. The effects of the trauma have been saddening. Some of the
victims are experiencing mental health problems such as depression because of trauma. With
reference to the issue of trauma of the indigenous Australians and the lower life expectancy, this
essay summaries and analyses four media-based articles that focuses on trauma affecting the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the causes and effects of the trauma.
Media item 1
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/16/we-wont-close-the-gap-if-we-put-an-
indigenous-spin-on-western-approaches
Weston, R. (2017). We won’t close the gap if we put an 'Indigenous spin’ on western
approaches.
Summary of key issues
In this article, Richard Weston, the Chief Executive Officer of the Healing Foundation,
addresses a major issue of trauma affecting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He
states that colonization has tremendously affected the indigenous people negatively leading to
high cases of trauma. The author further decries that the government has failed to understand the
impacts of the trauma and therefore ways of dealing with the trauma is absent in the efforts to
effect the change in the social determinants of health among the indigenous people. Weston
(2017), states that unresolved effects of trauma affects work, parenting, and participation in the
society activities. He goes on to state that the survivors of trauma may represent symptoms such
as alcoholism, criminal offences, suicide and family violence (Weston, 2018).
Link to unit topics, models and approaches
The course objectives on the concept of colonization is well represented in this article.
The article explains that the effects of colonization has led to trauma thereby affecting the total

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health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The trauma has affected work, socializing,
and parenting among others (Weston, 2018). The article also discusses the impact of the political
process whereby the government is not able to recognize trauma as a factor to be considered to
effect change in the social determinants of health among the indigenous people which may lead
to behaviors such as criminal offences, and alcoholism (Weston, 2018).
Effects and contribution to the current debate
Weston (2017), retaliates that trauma is also a social determinant of health and that the
government should look into this area so as to realize the goal of Closing the Gap. The author
contributes that inasmuch as the government is currently putting efforts in closing the gap of the
difference of the expectancy of life between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
the Australians, the issue of trauma should be included in the efforts to effect the social
determinants of health.
Personal reflection
The aspect of trauma is an enormous issue in the well being of the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2014). The government should move with
speed and sort the issue out. The effects of the trauma are proving to be self-harming since the
victims may always resolve to unbecoming behaviors such as criminal activities and suicide
(Calma, Dudgeon and Bray, 2017). The victims of the historical injustices of colonization should
also be helped to heal and their social and economic welfare be looked into. The life expectancy
gap may as well not be closed if the issue of trauma is not addressed.
Media item 2
https://theconversation.com/australia-failing-to-safeguard-cultural-connections-for-aboriginal-
children-in-out-of-home-care-68051

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Chong, A. and Arney, F. (2018). Australia failing to safeguard cultural connections for
Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. [online] The Conversation.
Summary of key issues
Chong and Arney (2018), states that Australia is failing to implement the policies and
strategies that have been put in place to safe-guard the cultural connections of the indigenous
people. The authors further explain that the Victorian Commission for Children and Young
People released a report showing that the government and the non-governmental organizations
failed in implementing the policies. The article further states that since the 1970s, peak bodies,
aboriginal leaders, and community groups have focused on the inter-generational issues that have
been caused by forcibly removing children from their homes leading to trauma.
Chong and Arney (2018), goes on to explain the barriers to the implementation of the
policies to heal inter-generational issues. They conclude by saying that if the government is
interested in improving the living conditions of the Aboriginal children in the care outside their
homes and their protection, the inter-generation cycles of trauma must be broken (Chong and
Arney, 2018). The authors continue to state that the impacts of trauma are devastating to the
mental, physical, and social well being of an individual and so not addressing the issue of trauma
is child abuse and neglect.
Link to unit topic, models, and approaches
This article links to the first learning outcome of the unit about cultural safety. The
authors are decrying the fact the government and the non-governmental organizations are failing
in the implementation of policies to safeguard the cultural connections of the Aboriginal children
(Chong and Arney (2018). The article is also linked to the second learning outcome of political
processes. The authors strongly and frequently refer to the non-implemented policies that have

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been put up by the government to help improve the living conditions of the Aboriginal children
(Chong and Arney, 2018). This clearly shows the government and the non-governmental
organizations are involved in this issue.
Effects and contribution to the current debate
The issue of neglect of the cultural connections of the Aboriginal children is a current
issue of debate. This article clearly contributes by giving the devastating effects of neglecting the
cultural connections of the Aboriginal children leading to trauma due to unresolved inter-
generational issues such as forceful removal of children from the homes and communities.
Chong and Arney (2018), continue to explain that only by understanding the problem of trauma,
its effects, and causes can the government be able to develop strategies that can best respond to
and prevent trauma.
Personal reflection
According to Chong and Arney (2018), it is clear that trauma has devasting effects and
failure to focus and implement the strategies that have been put in place to help improve the
cultural connections of the Aboriginal children is equal to child abuse and neglect. The
government and the non-governmental organizations should also be ready to implement the
policies that have been put in place. In case the policies are not yielding results, why can’t there
be new policies that can best prevent and respond to trauma?
Media item 3
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/rosie-batty-feels-the-pain-of-aboriginal-women-ng-b88778610z
Wearne, P. (2018). Rosie Batty feels the pain of Aboriginal women. [online] The West Australian.
Summary of key issue

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In this article, the author highlights the effects of domestic violence that the aboriginal
women go through leading to trauma. The author talks about Batty, a domestic violence
campaigner, who says she feels the pain of the Aboriginal women going through trauma due to
domestic violence. Due to the domestic violence, some of these women have lost their children
or members of the family (Wearne,2018).
According to Wearne (2018), Ms. Batty was being hosted by Rio Tinto to raise awareness
on domestic violence. Rio Tinto was accredited the White Ribbon workplace of the month. In her
talk, betty urged the employees to support the aboriginal women to be financially independent to
support themselves to reduce the instances of domestic violence which may lead to some cases
of domestic violence. Ms. Batty concluded by saying that due to the issues of domestic violence
experienced by the aboriginal women, education and employment should be made available
(Wearne, 2018). She also said sadness and trauma can be very difficult to handle.
Links to unit topics, models and approaches
Warne (2018), mentions very well the issue of education and employment to the
Aboriginal women which links to the learning objective two about the political processes. The
political leaders, who are the government, are responsible for the mental well being of the
aboriginal women by providing access to education and giving employment to curb the issue of
trauma (Wearne, 2018). Additionally, the article also addresses the issue of domestic violence
which is a social factor in determining health. This links also to the second unit objective that
addresses the impact of social processes on health (Wearne, 2018).
Effects and contributions to the current debate
This article contributes to the current debate of domestic violence against the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander women which has led to trauma. Trauma has had negative effects over

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time. Studies have shown that trauma can lead to criminal behavior, and drug and substance
abuse (Dudgeon, Milroy & Walker, 2014). Trauma is also a mental health issue that is very
difficult to manage. The article also highlights the current issues concerning education and
employment to the indigenous people. In order to reduce the levels of domestic violence against
the aboriginal women, the government must put in place access to education and employment
opportunities.
Personal reflections
With reference to the article, the government should come into the aid of the aboriginal
women going though domestic violence by providing access to education and employment
opportunities so that the women can be financially independent (Dudley, Silove & Gale, 2012).
The government should also be able to develop policies to help deal with the women
experiencing trauma to enable them be more productive in their day to day activities.
Media item 4
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/bringing-them-home-response-unfinished-20-years-later
SBS News. (2018). Bringing Them Home response unfinished 20 years later | SBS News.
Summary of key issues
This article by the SBS news reviews a report about the forceful removal of the
Aboriginal and Torres Islander from their families. It has been twenty years since the report was
released with recommendations to the government on how to solve the issues of forceful removal
from families but the indigenous people say that the government has not made enough progress
on the issues. The article highlights the difficulty of two indigenous Australians explaining the
experiences they had to go through during the forceful removal from their families. SBS news

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reports that for most of the survivors, recalling their experiences still traumatizes them even after
the so many decades (SBS News 2018).
One of the survivors of the stolen generation, Michael Welsh, explained in tears that they
were mentally, physically and sexually abused at Kinchella Boys home with his brothers. He
goes on to say that they were starved, and no longer used their names but used numbers for
identification. Mr. Michael states that he feels very emotional when he thinks about these
experiences (SBS News. (2018).
The other survivor, Mr. Ridgeway Aden said that Mr. Michael’s story reflects the stories
of many thousands of people forcefully removed from their families including the story of Mr.
Ridgeway’s father. Mr. Ridgeway explains he doesn’t have the memories of the normal things
that may be taken for granted by other families like fathers being around or being tucked to bed.
The article concludes by quoting Mr. Michael’s words that the separation from his family was the
end of life and the beginning of trauma (SBS News. (2018).
Link to unit topic, models, and approaches
The article links well to the political process of the learning outcome whereby the plight
of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on forceful removal from their families is
addressed. The article shows how much traumatic the experience was and the government is
called upon to work on it. It has been twenty years since the recommendations were made but
little had been done by the government (SBS News. (2018). This clearly shows the that political
processes are directly involved in providing solutions to the effects of intergenerational trauma
caused by the forceful removal of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Effects and contribution to the current debate

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The issue of trauma caused to the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander people due to
the forceful removal from their families is a current debate. This article contributes to the debate
by reminding the government how traumatic it is for the real survivors of the stolen generation
when they recall the injustices done to them (O'Connor & Pirkis, 2016). The government is also
reminded that a lot still needs to be done to help the survivors heal. Additionally, it is a wake-up
call to the government this is a matter of urgency to the nation and the indigenous people.
Personal reflection
The experiences of the survivors of the stolen generation are very saddening. It is also
indeed a matter of concern why the government has not taken the steps into the implementation
of the report that was written twenty years ago. The government should move with haste and
solve the issue of intergenerational trauma among the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander
people who were forcefully removed from their families. These people are going through a lot of
trauma which may in turn affect the lives of their families just like the case of Mr. Ridgeway as
discussed above (O'Connor & Pirkis, 2016).
Conclusion
Trauma is a serious issue that has negatively impacted the lives of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people. The media articles above have well-articulated the causes and
effects of trauma to the indigenous people. As discussed in the various media articles, trauma is
caused by several factors ranging from domestic violence, colonization, inter-generational issues,
to forceful removal of children from their families (Dudley, Silove & Gale, 2012). The impact of
trauma is very severe and if healing is not done, it may lead to drug and substance abuse,
criminal activities, parenting, and work problems among others, and mental health problems
such as psychological distress. The articles are passing a message to the government that all is

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not well and that the health of the indigenous people have seemingly been neglected (Dudley,
Silove & Gale, 2012). The government should therefore speed up with the best strategies to help
solve the issue of trauma.

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References
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Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health. Australian Psychologist, 52(4), pp.255-260.
Chong, A. and Arney, F. (2018). Australia failing to safeguard cultural connections for
Aboriginal children in out-of-home care. [online] The Conversation. Available at:
https://theconversation.com/australia-failing-to-safeguard-cultural-connections-for-
aboriginal-children-in-out-of-home-care-68051 [Accessed 9 May 2018].
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland prisons. The Medical Journal of
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