The Tendency of the Aboriginals to Become Territorial and Defensive - Essay Example

The Predicaments of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ Health can Still Be Resolved Introduction The predicaments of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ health can still be resolved. Hope is still around for them. Based on the accounts of Paisley (1997), indigenous people were subjected to pressures as early as the colonization era. The drastic reduction in numbers resulted in from the aggravated impact of introduced diseases. Some of these diseases included small pox, measles and many others. This has led to reduction in population. But it can be observed that up to the current times, the problem of poor health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are still prevalent. There is still high incidence of disease. Mortality rates are still at an alarming rate. As a result of all these, low self-esteem is still felt by them. Gravity of the Issue/Problem Through their many years of existence, thee Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders possess depressed health status. According to Gray and Saggers, these aboriginals are experiencing unsatisfactory condition and below acceptable level of influence (Madden and Al-Yaman, 2003). These deaths are faced by this group of people at an early age. They also suffer from depressed quality of existence as a result of unsatisfactory fitness and well-being. These data can be found at the Statistics Office. Analysis may also provide ample amount of background and linkage regarding this issues. The specific diseases striking this group are mentioned by health officials, hospitals, schools and other relevant institutions. Other information provided includes risk factors and living conditions. These risk factors are important health hazards facing this indigenous group. The living conditions of these indigenous groups are also observed to be below normal. Based on the study by Anderson (2004), current information demonstrated that this indigenous group is at a disadvantage when it comes to numerous socio-economic factors that have impacts on the well-being. Even when it comes to incomes, they have lower rates. The unemployment rate is high. Many aboriginals have no job, forcing them to be idle. This has led to depression and confusion. A lot of people have to live with meager resources. Education achievements are also down. Lack of education further dips them down. Even house ownerships of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have lower rates (ABS 2004). But, it should be remembered that evaluation of the socio-economic condition does not entirely make clear all the disparity in between them. Included in the fitness and well-being factors that have impacted the poor health of them is alcohol abuse. Numerous aboriginals are into alcohol misuse. Smoking is another behavior that has been pulling down their health status. Smoking resulted to much more inferior health brought about by the nicotine. There has been a continuous observation of high incidence of smoking and alcohol misuse in them. Other risk factors include exposure to violence and poor housing. The violence that has been happening leads to more deaths. Children of aboriginals do not see good examples from some of the adults in their society. Aside from these social and living conditions that they are in, there is decreased sense of control over their own lives as shown in some reports. This may be brought about by the low achievements in education, low income, heavy misuse of substances and many other factors. Low sense of control produces unnecessary distress and depression. Chain of events led to more complex problems. All these contribute to the general poor health of these people. Socio-cultural and historical factors have shaped, and continue to shape indigenous health and illness in Australia. The colonialist history in Australia has its enduring ill-effects on Aboriginal health and well-being currently (Alford and Muir, 2004). This had led additional pressing concerns that carry on to limit efforts leading to resolutions. Alford and Muir (2004) believe that the destruction of the indigenous political organizations is one of the many side-effects of colonization. Many sources documented the appalling effects of colonization on indigenous people. The ramifications of the historical events, expounds by Paisley (1997), highlight the fact that the enforced change from the hunter-gatherer way of life to an impoverished way of life had disastrous consequences for both the physical and psychological health and well-being of the indigenous people. This had a huge and ongoing impact on the social and emotional well-being of the aboriginals. The health indicators reflected increase in the incidence of mental disorders, chronic diseases, smoking, alcohol abuse and family violence. The Australian plans, strategies and efforts for this aboriginal society is supposed to help a lot in alleviating the health status of these aboriginals. Policies regarding these were structured around concerns about the perceived threat to racial viability that led the government to come up with some measures. Majority of these minors are girls since they have the potential to be prepared as household workers. This, however, causes their respective mothers agony. Child removal is supposed to be done for protecting children. However, what is apparent in the case of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that this child removal resulted to aggravated sufferings of their parents. This child removal was enforced by the implementers who assumed parental guardianship. From 1911 the authorities prevent the rights of these indigenous mothers of half-caste children in favor of the Chief Protector. This Act was amended in 1936 to preclude a living parent or any relative. This was also the time when even the meager income of the indigenous servants is controlled financially by the Chief Protector. This program was implemented through various means. Policy aims should not be under question. As mentioned above, these aboriginals from high disease-specific mortality rates which lead to high disparity in Australian aboriginals and non-aboriginals. Large disparity exists for the aboriginals and non-aboriginals most specially in terms of diabetes mortality, as found by Bramley et al. (2004). Hence, there are issues that adversely affect the quality of the mortality data. Therefore, fast action is very much needed to decrease the health disparity. The mortality incidence has to be efficiently addressed also. Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Strategies by the Society/Government to Address the Issue/Problem Hence, it is highly appropriate to execute changes. Bridging the gap of disparity will ease the hardships, mentions Eckermann, et al. (2006). What are needed are the political will and the cooperation among the aboriginals and the implementers. The political will may result to boosting of moral of the implementers of change as well as the indigenous people themselves. This political will should also serve as the catalyst for sincere changes that are long-lasting. But it has to be remembered that the aboriginals should also help themselves. Changes will be more effective if they will start from within themselves. Support services from external sources will be greatly harnessed when coupled with the cooperation of the beneficiaries and initiatives to strive to prolong the positive impact of changes. More important than the material support provided by external sources are the institutional building, capability enhancement and the empowerment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. There is just a need to focus on the more important strategies. Strategies abound, but those which are highly relevant and doable can be priority strategies to be implemented. Focus is important to achieve the desired outcomes in the shortest time possible. Numerous literatures provide ample concepts and strategies in overcoming the worst situation. It is important to strengthen the existing national public health strategies. All the efforts related to the health welfare of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should be aligned with the national public health strategies. But, before achieving resolutions to the health problems, several facets of this issue has to be studied, analyzed and put into practical use. Probable solutions to these problems can be generated after a comprehensive examination of the factors. The changes to be implemented have to be sustained also. Series of area-wide consultations must be conducted to determine the evolving needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Reconciliation is one strategy that can be facilitated through a populist approach. It proposes some practical strategies that health implementers can use. It is welcome development that there is continuity of support services and programs that are provided by the Australian government to alleviate them from their unsatisfactory status. Programs, assistances, institutional building capacity improvement and empowerment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are provided by the government are provided to them. These ranges from medical health to institutionalization of workable support services to empowerment of the people. However, up to now, these health problems are still prevalent. National strategies and other support services can be executed general practitioners. It is important for the health workers to choose their priority groups. They may execute their work in that chosen sectors. Integrated approaches to local service delivery may generate wider flexibility and hence provide an opportunity to generate more efficient and sustainable public health responses. The strategies that can be developed can be drawn up through several consultation clinics with the stakeholders. This should be a participatory process. It is important for representatives of stakeholders from the non-government institutions, sector associations and industry organizations. The appropriateness of the consultation clinics should suite the documents produced that will address the problems of the aborigines. Lately, even international groups are eyeing to assist these indigenous people. Problems with the health and economic status of aboriginals are gaining worldwide recognition as a pressing problem. That is why several international stakeholders are reaching out to these people. Based on the long-term trends established by Thomas, et al. (2006) in indigenous deaths from chronic diseases of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, it has been observed that there is now evidence that the increase in the death from chronic diseases is slowing and beginning to fall as a result of improving access to healthcare. This is an indication that changes can be felt. The case of this indigenous people is not a hopeless case. Some legislation/laws in Australia about environmental waste handling, exposure to health risks and water-related laws in the public health issues and environmental issues can be enhanced to better assist the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Application and enforcement issues of these laws can be reviewed. The pro-active initiatives locally are very essential in achieving genuine growth and development for these people. According to Thomson (2003), rapid integration of the indigenous people into the mainstream economic institutions can also be done to enhance the capabilities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This strategy can be implemented by exposing these indigent people to the mainstream Australia. There should be no restrictions policies that are only applicable to aboriginals. A sound strategy should incorporate wide-ranging groups of courses for sealing existing gaps. Facilitate then strengthen partnerships with major stakeholders in the health and well-being sectors. Even those in the education sector can be tapped to enhance the capacity of these aborigines. The government can build on existing strategies relevant to child health. Courses on physical activity and nutrition strategies for the indigenous people can be developed as a guideline in implementing programs geared towards this. Equality should be encouraged. Provision of housing facilities will greatly uplift their spirits. Access to education should be readily available. There is a need also to maintain policy flexibility and financial commitments to gradually improve the marginal economic position of these people. Promotion of sound strategies and prevention of the unsatisfactory health status of the children and the whole populace in Australia will help address the problem. There should also be a provision for equitable citizenship entitlements to these people as citizens of Australia. Institutionalizing the national public health strategies is critical in the effective implementation of the plans and programs for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Cultural identity as well as the total approach to healing can be the focus for children and the needy aborigines’ resolutions to its health issues/problems are important to take into consideration in implementing the needed strategies. Conclusion Acknowledging the analysis given above will contribute in the provision of change strategies. Absence of change will consequently result to low morbidity and mortality rates of Australia's aboriginals. Change is a productive development procedure. The tendency of the aboriginals to become territorial and defensive can be minimized by adopting an optimistic standpoint in any circumstances. There is a need to accept change. Flow with the change. The development efforts given to them by the government and several stakeholders will be more efficient and successful if acceptance and cooperation is encouraged. Change will become difficult, sometimes wasted, when resisted. Resistance sometimes led to more depressed situations. Change can be embraced. Harness the energy of change to the benefit of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The aboriginals may go with the opposing force rather than to resist it. This may prove more beneficial in the end. The aboriginals may be more receptive to creative ideas. As added efforts, the government and other stakeholders in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should expand their service base as well as enhance the methods of providing service. Despite the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' numerous health and well-being issues and problems, there is still hope. These issues and problems can still be overcomed. These are not insurmountable. In fact, working hand in hand in finding and implementing solutions that will address these concerns is the best option available to counter the problems most especially at this time when the Australian government is making these matters one of their priority. References ABS, 2004, “Social Survey”, NATS, ABS, cat. no. 4714.0, Canberra: ABS. Alford, Katrina and Jan Muir, 2004, "The need for historical reflection", Australian Journal of Public Administration, 63 (4): 101–107. Anderson, I, 2004, “Aboriginal health” Health in Australia: Sociological Concepts and Issues, Pearson Education, p. 75-100. Beresford, Q and Omaji, P, 1998, "Our State of Mind: Racial Planning and the Stolen Generations", Fremantle Arts Centre Press, Chapter 7, The inter-generational effects: 212-233 Eckermann, A, Dowd, T, Chong, E, Nixon, L, Gray, R and Johnson, S, 2006, Binan Goonj: Bridging cultures in Aboriginal Health, Sydney: Churchill Livingstone, Chapter 1, Background to Aboriginal/non-aboriginal interactions in Australia: 1-38 & Chapter 4, Cultural vitality: 83-102. Gray, D and Saggers, S, 2002, “Indigenous health: the perpetuation of inequality”, in Germov, J (ed.), Second Opinion: An introduction to Health Sociology, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press, pp. 112-132. National Aboriginal Health Strategy, March 1989. "Framework for Action by Governments", 2004, NSFATSI, Canberra: NATSIHC. Paisley, Fiona, “Race and Remembrance”, Australian Humanities Review, November, 1997. Thomas, David P, Condon, John R, Anderson, Ian P, Li, Shu O, Halpin, Stephen, Cunningham, Joan and Guthridge, Steven L, 2006, Long-term trends in indigenous deaths from chronic diseases in the Northern Territory: a foot on the brake, a foot on the accelerator, Med J Aust 185 (3): 145-149. Thomson, Neil, (ed.), 2003, “The Health of Indigenous Australians”, Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Read More