Introduction (110)
The current health status of Indigenous Australian children and youth is poorer across a broad range of health, including physical, mental and social health, compared with non-Indigenous young people (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] 2011). The poor health status of Indigenous young people contrasts with their holistic model of health that involves physical, mental and social well-being of the whole community (Taylor & Guerin 2014). One of the factors contributing to Aboriginal child health inequities includes the intergenerational impacts of the colonial policy (Sherwood 2013). This essay will discuss the impact of the Policy of Assimilation 1961 on the current health status of Indigenous Australian children, …show more content…
In 1961, the Policy of Assimilation included strategies to support the integration of Indigenous Australians into the economy through welfare services, and the education of Indigenous children in schools (Commonwealth Government 1961). Assimilation practices have led to child removal, institutionalisation and discrimination, which have detrimentally affected the health status of Indigenous children and youth (Browne-Yung et al. 2013). Working in various industries and institutional farming resulted in poor diet that lacks fresh bushfoods; along with the child separation, this poor diet has led to infant mortality, malnutrition, and poor health among Indigenous children and youth (Sebastian & Donelly …show more content…
Moreover, Aboriginal people generally suffered from lack of clean water overcrowded housing and poor sanitation facilities; however, they had little access to health-care services (Sebastian & Donelly 2013). Subsequently, the substandard conditions of Aboriginal Australians under the discriminatory and unfair policies contributed to lower socioeconomic status of Aboriginal people, including the lower level of income, education, employment, occupation and housing, which is closely linked to current human rights challenges for Indigenous children (AIHW 2016; Sherwood 2013). According to AIHW (2016), Indigenous children (49%) were more likely to live in the lowest socioeconomic regions, compared to non-Indigenous children (33%). This indicates that Aboriginal children are more likely to experience socioeconomic disadvantages, which is inter-related with exposure to risky environments, poor education, and access to health services and social support services, all of which does not support and protect their human rights (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
The current health status of Indigenous Australian children and youth is poorer across a broad range of health, including physical, mental and social health, compared with non-Indigenous young people (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] 2011). The poor health status of Indigenous young people contrasts with their holistic model of health that involves physical, mental and social well-being of the whole community (Taylor & Guerin 2014). One of the factors contributing to Aboriginal child health inequities includes the intergenerational impacts of the colonial policy (Sherwood 2013). This essay will discuss the impact of the Policy of Assimilation 1961 on the current health status of Indigenous Australian children, …show more content…
In 1961, the Policy of Assimilation included strategies to support the integration of Indigenous Australians into the economy through welfare services, and the education of Indigenous children in schools (Commonwealth Government 1961). Assimilation practices have led to child removal, institutionalisation and discrimination, which have detrimentally affected the health status of Indigenous children and youth (Browne-Yung et al. 2013). Working in various industries and institutional farming resulted in poor diet that lacks fresh bushfoods; along with the child separation, this poor diet has led to infant mortality, malnutrition, and poor health among Indigenous children and youth (Sebastian & Donelly …show more content…
Moreover, Aboriginal people generally suffered from lack of clean water overcrowded housing and poor sanitation facilities; however, they had little access to health-care services (Sebastian & Donelly 2013). Subsequently, the substandard conditions of Aboriginal Australians under the discriminatory and unfair policies contributed to lower socioeconomic status of Aboriginal people, including the lower level of income, education, employment, occupation and housing, which is closely linked to current human rights challenges for Indigenous children (AIHW 2016; Sherwood 2013). According to AIHW (2016), Indigenous children (49%) were more likely to live in the lowest socioeconomic regions, compared to non-Indigenous children (33%). This indicates that Aboriginal children are more likely to experience socioeconomic disadvantages, which is inter-related with exposure to risky environments, poor education, and access to health services and social support services, all of which does not support and protect their human rights (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet