Indigenous Social Disadvantage Of School-Based Education In Australia

Schools are noticed as important facilitators for controlling and addressing the health and wellbeing of their students. A student’s health and wellbeing is significant when it influences their capability to interact in and with society. The current curriculum has a specific focus on on assisting students with the “enhancement of their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts” (Victorian Curriculum & Assessment Authority, 2015). Specific effective school based education programs specialise in enhancing the health, wellbeing, and sense of belonging in every student, including students from diverse backgrounds, rural and remote areas, and, low socioeconomic status. Students …show more content…
It has been established that social disadvantage, including low socioeconomically status, is associated with mild, moderate, or even severe mental health disorders in young Indigenous Australians. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is “a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and, is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (World Health Organisation, 2007). This definition specifically underpins that mental health is greatly affected by “social disadvantages” (Dobia & O’Rourke, 2011) in the young Indigenous community, in addition to “biological and psychological” (Dobia & O’Rourke, 2011) contributing factors. The ways that Indigenous Australians are affected by “social disadvantages” (Dobia & O’Rourke, 2011) vary, however, they continue to include major contributing stress factors such as “employment, education, and income” (Commonwealth of Australia, 2007); thus resulting in severe behavioural issues, including increased alcohol consumption, physical abuse, and violent behaviours in general. Experiencing social disadvantage affects these young students’ …show more content…
Young Indigenous Australians encounter a considerably increased level of health risks and problems compared to the majority of the Australian youth population. Research finds that “Indigenous Australians die at much younger ages than the general population, due to the high rates of cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer” (Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, 2008), particularly caused by social, psychological, and behavioural disadvantages in rural and remote areas. With the promotion of health and wellbeing programs in Indigenous communities and schools in rural and remote areas, these students’ sense of belonging will be significantly enhanced, and, the “gap” (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2016) will slowly close. It is important that all primary schools provide Indigenous Australian students with health and wellbeing facilitating programs, in order for them to feel safe, accepted, and equal in