Question

A.Research the social ,political and economic issues that are affecting aboriginal or torres strait islander people and write at least one paragraph about each issue you identify and its impact.

B.explain how the Australian culture and systems and structures impact aborginal and torres strait islander people are impacted on engaging with services .

Answer 1

A.Tthe social ,political and economic issues that are affecting aboriginal or torres strait islander people:

There are many of social, political and economic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people:
Socio-political factors:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience extreme levels of racism in Australia. This is typified historically by their exclusion from elite and mainstream power structures, as highlighted by Indigenous people not being recognised as Australian citizens until 1967.

Nugent noted that Aboriginal Australians grow up learning two kinds of histories such as

1. memories preserved by family

2. A humiliating textbook history taught in schools that does not recognise the depth of Indigenous culture.

Behrendt noted that reconciliation can only occur when sovereignty is acknowledged through the recognition of past injustices, property rights and cultural practices.

Economic Issues:
Income and education impact on an individual’s ability to engage and influence society. Indigenous Australians are known to have the lowest economic status of all Australians. Poor socio-economic, education and employment levels have links to financial hardship, poverty, debt, homelessness, family breakdown, social isolation and crime. Indigenous Australians suffer disproportionately high levels of domestic violence and over-representation in the justice system.

B. Impact of Australian culture and systems and structures on aborginal and torres strait islander people:

Continuous quality improvement programs have been taken up widely by indigenous primary health care services in Australia, but as yet there has not been a systematic assessment of their focus and achievements.

McGrath identified many events that affected Islander life over the ensuing years, including

1. The 1936 maritime strike, a turning point in collective Islander assertiveness in rejecting government repression
2. The 1937 inaugural Island Councillors meeting, which resulted in the revised Aboriginal Protection Act of 1939 giving Islanders greater authority in their own affairs
3. From 1960, the beginning of large-scale southward migration to the Australian mainland because of the decline in the pearling industry
4. The call for independence in the early 1980s as a result of Islander concerns about the slow pace of improvements to basic infrastructure in their communities

Australian states and territories had control and responsibility for Indigenous Australians. Each state of the newly formed federation framed and enacted suites of legislations and policies that were punitive and restrictive towards Indigenous peoples.

The Western Australian Aborigines Act 1905 has special connotations today because of its gross erosion of rights, resulting in forcible removal of children and internment of Aboriginal people in bleak reserves, to live in servitude and despair.

the 1967 Commonwealth Referendum symbolises the granting of full citizenship rights to Australian Aboriginal peoples.