ipl-logo

Argumentative Essay On Aboriginal Health

2026 Words9 Pages

Historically, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health has been severely neglected and intentionally devasted by governmental policies and legislation. Despite some reformation in the health system, Indigenous people's health is still far below their non-indigenous counterparts. To rectify this, a human rights approach must be utilised, as by turning human rights from purely legal instruments into effective policies, practices, and practical realities, the Australian Parliament can redress its ongoing failures to incorporate Indigenous perspectives. The implementation of damaging legislation and policies created a system in which Aboriginal people were denied their human right to health, this system still governs Indigenous people today. …show more content…

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) health is a legally obligated human right, which the government is expected to uphold and protect for the enjoyment of “all people without discrimination” (1). Australian legislation is the antithesis of the WHO’s definition, evidenced by the 1905 Aboriginies Act. The Act 'enshrined in policy the practice of child removal and entrenched paternalistic, racist, controlling and ultimately destructive attitudes towards Aboriginal people', research argues (2). It wasn't until 1962 that Aboriginal iAsuatralia gained the right to vote in Commonwealth elections, and only after the 1967 National Referendum that the Australian Constitution's race clause was eliminated, signifying the start of Indigenous Australians' citizenship rights. These developments were brought about by a social movements led by Indigenous people that arose during the 1950s and 1960s, which vigorously advocated for Aboriginal self-determination, sovereignty, and community control. Ian Anderson describes it as a proud and defiant “social movement that reclaimed a public space and inserted new forms of representation about [Indigenous] identities and cultures” that challenged and reshaped the mainstream view of Indigenous peoples as “bewildered remnants of a primitive and savage race”(3). Despite historical failures in incorporating a human rights approach to health legislation, Australia has yet to fully remedy past injustices that contribute to negative health outcomes

Show More
Related

How Did Rob Riley Influence Australia

691 Words | 3 Pages

Australian History has been notably marked with themes of conflict among; culture, race and nation since the beginning of time. Similar to many other culturally diverse countries, Australia has slowly become two distinctly different races, disjointedly connected to create ‘one culture’ (Ward, R. 2017). Along this journey, there have been various significant political figures contributing to the recognition and progression of Indigenous issues within Australia. Namely one of the most determined and instrumental political warriors within the local and national Indigenous political domain is Rob Riley.

Read More

Aboriginal Deaths In Custody Case Study

1583 Words | 7 Pages

Here, the Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 (VIC) was made to establish an inclusive scheme of control over the lives of First Australians (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2014). New South Wales’ equivalent to this was the Aborigines Protection Act 1909 (NSW) which was to provide protection and care of Aboriginal People but rather legislated for the control of their lives. The policies of assimilation directly related to and relied on segregation and protectionism policies. This policy reflected the views of all governmental bodies of Australia, in that they thought it necessary that Aboriginal people were to eventually exercise the equivalent method of living as non-Indigenous Australians and to live as members of a sole community appreciating the same rights and freedoms, accept the same responsibilities, observing similar duties and be predisposed to the same loyalties, hopes and

Read More

What Is The Howard Government's Policy Of Practical Reconciliation

1234 Words | 5 Pages

Finally, As Ring and Elston (1999: 231) argued, “the current situation [in funding for Indigenous health], where the Commonwealth is spending perhaps a fifth of what it should be spending on a needs basis, is a major impediment to effective reconciliation”. Altman and Hunter (2003) also questioned the effectiveness of the Howard Government’s emphasis on ‘practical’ reconciliation. They concluded that, “while practical reconciliation forms the rhetorical basis for Indigenous policy development since 1996, there is no evidence that the Howard governments have delivered better outcomes for Indigenous Australians than their predecessors” (Altman and Hunter 2003: v; see also Hunter and Schwab 2003: 94-96; Ross 2001: 155; Wyatt 2001: 181-182; Gunstone 2007). Therefore as the above evidence suggests, eleven years after the announcement of this “practical reconciliation” policy, Indigenous socio economic disadvantage

Read More

Aboriginal Culture: The Ngunnawal People In Australia

483 Words | 2 Pages

Regrettably, the impacts of colonisation have had detrimental effects on the Indigenous cultures remaining within Australia, being effected largely by media stereotypes and false accusations. Understandably, a mistrust for the government has developed throughout generations within Aboriginal communities, as years of slavery, pain, grief, depression and sorrow were caused by the Australian

Read More

Paul Buttigieg's Kinchel Racism Towards Aboriginal Australians

1053 Words | 5 Pages

(2016). 4704.0 - The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Oct 2010. [online] Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/lookup/4704.0Chapter470Oct+2010 [Accessed 4 May 2016]. Digital, C. (2016).

Read More

Opportunities And Challenges In Changing The Constitution Case Analysis

1297 Words | 6 Pages

[9] The authors contend that the Australian Constitution has historically been used to marginalize Indigenous Australians and that any attempts at constitutional change must be cognizant of this history. The authors argue that the current constitutional framework in Australia needs to be revised to address Indigenous issues, particularly concerning the recognition of Indigenous rights and the participation of Indigenous Australians in the political process. They contend that a First Nations Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission are essential components of constitutional change in Australia. They would provide a framework for Indigenous self-determination and recognizing Indigenous

Read More

Covid-19 We Must Not Forget About Indigenous Health And Equity By Tina Ngata

851 Words | 4 Pages

McLeod’s essay builds it case thoroughly. Starting off with a strong thesis of ‘The inequities of indigenous health’ and any connected crisis and ending with it ‘isn’t just about the direct health effects of COVID-19’ and the social and economic implications that come with it “Health and welfare implications related to multiple issues such as disability, care and protection… will all differentially affect Māori.”(McLeod). Whereas, Ngata’s essay has many powerful arguments in its passages and a high intensity throughout, relying heavily on emotionalism and loaded language. The essay’s main thesis is not clearly stated in its introduction and instead builds it in the body paragraphs. Ngata writes “You see, we don’t forget our dead… We immortalise their stories in carved pou on our marae so that we speak of their experiences when we gather.

Read More

When Was The Australian Constitution Written In The 1890s

961 Words | 4 Pages

The Australian Constitution written in the 1890s has recognised the position of Indigenous Australians in a discriminatory and racist manner. “Indigenous Australians” is an inclusive term used when referring to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders, also known as the “first peoples”. They are the people who were living on this continent for 125 000 years before the beginning of the British colonisation pre 1788.

Read More

How Should The Australian Constitution Be Changed

301 Words | 2 Pages

Today Australia prides itself on being a place of fairness and equity for all its citizens. But the Australian Constitution still does not recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians as the first people of this land. Importantly, we now know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their cultures form part of the longest culture on Earth and evidence of their presence in Australia is now dated back over 60,000 years. It is only right that modern Australia should recognise and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture - past and present - in our Constitution to record their valued place as part of this country and our national identity. Most of the states - Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia have already amended their Constitutions to formally recognise Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians as the first people and nations of their jurisdictions.

Read More

Australia Persuasive Speech

974 Words | 4 Pages

This sudden change still has an enormous effect on today’s Indigenous population. How is it fair that the oldest population of people die a decade younger than non-Indigenous Australians? The perpetuation of racism which is manifested in our society has left many Indigenous Australians in a disadvantaged position. Including through, limited access to education with adult literacy rates of just 30 percent and literacy rates of children under 15 more than 48 percent lower than non-Indigenous Australians, consequently means lower educational achievement rates and higher unemployment rates of 17.2 percent compared to 5.5 percent for non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics , 2013 ). These facts must be recognised to ensure real equality and a fair-go for Indigenous people.

Read More

Essay On Aboriginal Access To Health Care

598 Words | 3 Pages

Canada is known for its amazing healthcare and it is considered one of the best in the world. In Canada, healthcare is ‘universal’ to its citizens under the Heath Care Act. However, not everyone has equal access to healthcare, Aboriginals being some of them. Aboriginals have trouble getting the access they need because of socio-economic status, geography, lack of infrastructure and staff, language or cultural barriers an more. Aboriginals on reserve face many barriers when it comes to access to healthcare, they include cost, language, distance, climate, education and more.

Read More

Aboriginal Identity Essay

1190 Words | 5 Pages

Abstract Being an aborigine in a white dominated society is a complicated identity. Australia, one of the white governed nations, also owns many aboriginal tribes. They lived harmonious lives in the early period. But European colonization has made a profound effect on the lives of Aboriginals in Australia, which led to the total demolition of their native culture, identity and history. As a result the new generation Aboriginals have lost their Aboriginal heritage and have been accepted neither by Aboriginals nor by whites.

Read More

Why Are Australia Marginalised?

1861 Words | 8 Pages

Disadvantage and marginalisation of indigenous Australian 's began with the dispossession of land, displacement of their people, and separation of families. Indigenous Australian 's have difficulty in gaining access, to the same degree, to what white Australian 's have ready access such as housing, employment and general services. Indigenous Australian 's are one of the most disadvantaged groups in this country in social and economic areas such as employment, housing, income, and health. The burden of poor health among aborigines is of particular concern. The health disadvantage of indigenous people begins in infancy and continues throughout their life.

Read More

Indigenous Health Essay

1679 Words | 7 Pages

In order for indigenous people to be in control of their own health, these practices have to become more relevant and integrated into Canada's healthcare practices in a respectful, nonjudgmental way, which has impacted the Canadian healthcare system as new training measurements have been put in place to meet the needs of Canada's indigenous population. Healthcare providers now have to undergo unique, cultural-specific protocols and training measurements as well as receive historical background information to best understand their patients and provide care in a culturally safe and inclusive way. Despite these efforts, there is still much work to be done to address health inequities in Indigenous communities. One of the main challenges facing the healthcare system is the ongoing legacy of

Read More

Aboriginal Human Rights Analysis

1000 Words | 4 Pages

Analyse the impact on Aboriginal peoples human rights from government strategies implemented in both the 20th century and today Throughout Australia’s precious history, there has always been illogical discrimination against Aboriginals which continue to affect them both physically and emotionally. The modern, Australian Government, has attempted to address the perpetual inequality and curb the continual discrimination against Indigenous people by implementing various programs and policies. During the 20 th century, the Australian government formed policies and programs to direct the lifestyle of Indigenous people as non-indigenous people discriminated them as ‘unintelligent beings and uncivilised’. But recently in the early 21 st century,

Read More

More about Argumentative Essay On Aboriginal Health

Related Topics

Open Document