Many indigenous communities in today’s society are not being included in the day to day aspects of life including health services and education, due to their cultures beliefs and values. In an early childhood centre it is important to create an environment that is inclusive of all children and their families. The Victorian government is in the process of developing and implementing an Aboriginal Inclusion Framework, which aims to improve the practice of universal services for Aboriginal children, young people, and families with particular focus on promoting participation (Barrot Borran). The Aboriginal Inclusion Framework issued suggests that services are to become universal and they need to provide services to all Victorian and also to assume responsibility for being welcoming to aboriginal families symbolically as well as through their practice and way of doing business. As the Victorian government starts to become aware of the effects that non-inclusive practices are having on our young indigenous children, they are designing and implementing strategies and plans to combat the non-inclusiveness.
The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (2012) have addressed a number of key areas of learning and development. This includes children having a strong sense of identity; children who are connected with and contribute to the world, children who have a strong sense of well-being, children are confident in involved learners and children are effective communicators. In outcome 1, children have a strong sense of identity, outlines that in order for children to form a strong sense of self, children need to be able to build secure of relationships services in their family and then with caring inattentive adults in oth...
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...to our future. Melbourne, Victoria:
Early Childhood Australia. (2008). Walking Respectfully. Exploring Indigenous Culture and Reconciliation in Early Childhood Practice
Garvis, S., Pendergast, D., Twigg, D., B., Dachs, T. & Kanasa, H. (2012). Evaluation of the implementation of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework: For all children from birth to eight years.
NSW Department of Community Services, (2009). Working with aboriginal people and communities
Robinson, K. H. & Jones-Diaz, C. (2006). Diversity and difference in early childhood education. Berkshire, England: Open University Press.
State of government of Victoria, Department of Human Services. (2004). Aboriginal best start, status report. Melbourne, Victoria:
Victorian Government initiative, (2010). Balert boorron: The Victorian plan for aboriginal children and young people (2010-2020)
Wakerman J, Tragenza J, Warchivker I (1999) Review of health services in the Kutjungka Region of WA. Perth: Office of Aboriginal Health, Health Department of Western Australia
(Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2016). As a Pre-Service Teacher specialising in Early Childhood Education, it is imperative to understand how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities were treated in the past and the impact that this may have on Indigenous families in the
Indigenous Australian’s health has been a focal point and topic of interest for many members of the government and policy markers. The reasoning for why this topic has been of popular interest for the government and policy makers is due to the startling and atrocious lack of health that Indigenous Australian’s suffer. Indigenous Australian’s are disadvantaged in the Australian healthcare system and have the poorest health out of all Australians. “Between 2004 and 2008, 66% of Indigenous deaths occurred before the age of 65 compared with 20% of non-Indigenous deaths.” (Red Dust, p.1) Indigenous Australian’s experience this major disadvantage and neglect in the Australian society due to the poor health care system and policies that haven’t been able to solve the issue. This essay will explore the significant and negative impact on the Indigenous communities and how policy decisions have impacted and continue to impact the Indigenous communities. This essay will also outline why there have been significant policy shifts over time, the current issues in delivering services to Indigenous Australian’s and why these issues have emerged.
The power structure between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people always plays some role to impede a kind of equal dialogue between them. Non-aboriginal people on average are more affluent than aboriginals. Also, the social infrastructures in some off-reserve major metropolitan cities are much more mature than on-reserve areas. The inequality between aboriginals and non-aboriginals makes non-aboriginal policy makers be inclined to bring their own sense of superiority to the analysis of aboriginal issues, which could likely lead to policies with biases and prejudices. Perhaps an effective conversation between aboriginal and government can lead to a better outcome because aboriginals’ own voice would be heard. In this essay, I will demonstrate why, when compared with Flanagan’s assimilationist proposal, Cairns’ concept of “citizen plus” is more persuasive as an effective approach to aboriginal policy. Firstly, I would outline the debate between Thomas Flanagan and Alan Cairns on aboriginal policy. A brief compare and contrast between their opinions will be made. Secondly, with some other academic sources in my mind, I would state the reasons why I stand aside with Cairns more than with Flanagan. Some advisable
In conclusion the colonisation of Australia and the adoption of discriminatory policies eroded Aboriginal culture and tradition affecting their sense of well-being and thus deteriorated their health. Today these policies are reflected in the social determinants of health as socio-economic disadvantages. They continue to impact contemporary Aboriginal people. In order to improve Aboriginal health outcomes; the impacts of these policies need to be overturned. This can be done by assisting them with improving their socio-economic status in the light of their needs and traditions.
The needs of Aboriginal youth are not being met in mainstream systems. Undoubtedly, with the high dropout rate of “7 out of 10 first nation youth drop out of school” (Donovan, 128), the school system is failing them. Across Canada only “23 percent of the Aboriginal population has their high school diploma” (Donovan, 129). Aboriginal people make up the youngest and fastest growing segment of our population, and yet many still have significantly less education than the general population.
Minore, B., Boone, M., Katt, M., Kinch, P., & Birch, S. (2004). Addressing the realties of health care in northern aboriginal communities through participatory action research. Journal Of Interprofessional Care, 18(4), 360-368. doi:10.1080/13561820400011784
One of the biggest issues effecting Indigenous Australians is inequality, this negative one-sided view has led to many young Aboriginals leading a life of social disparity.
The past and present issues affecting Aboriginal poverty, has long been a concern to social work services. Uncovering how these issues cause poverty is significant, because it tell us why Indigenous people are affected the way they are. This essay discusses the underlying issues that result in Aboriginal poverty, focusing in particular on first, describing material and non- material poverty, second the loss of land, third pollution on Aboriginal environment, fourth exclusion from social provisions and fourth, how practitioners can address these issues. Overall, it is argued through the literature that poverty is a large issue affecting many Indigenous Australians lives in Australia.
To answer this question, one must first look at how they were forced to the bottom of the ladder. Next, some of the recent changes that have occurred in government policy and social acceptance will be looked at. Finally, education and health care as faced by the Aboriginals in their lives daily will be discussed.
Walter, M. (2007). Aboriginality, poverty and health-exploring the connections. Beyond bandaids: exploring the underlying social determinants of aboriginal health. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.lowitja.org.au/sites/default/files/docs/Beyond-Bandaids-CH5.pdf/ [Accessed 10 Apr 2014]
There are significant health disparities that exist between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Being an Indigenous Australian means the person is and identifies as an Indigenous Australian, acknowledges their Indigenous heritage and is accepted as such in the community they live in (Daly, Speedy, & Jackson, 2010). Compared with Non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people die at much younger ages, have more disability and experience a reduced quality of life because of ill health. This difference in health status is why Indigenous Australians health is often described as “Third World health in a First World nation” (Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall, & Bailie, 2007, p.xxi). Aboriginal health care in the present and future should encompass a holistic approach which includes social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing in order to be culturally suitable to improve Indigenous Health. There are three dimensions of health- physical, social and mental- that all interrelate to determine an individual’s overall health. If one of these dimensions is compromised, it affects how the other two dimensions function, and overall affects an individual’s health status. The social determinants of health are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age which includes education, economics, social gradient, stress, early life, social inclusion, employment, transport, food, and social supports (Gruis, 2014). The social determinants that are specifically negatively impacting on Indigenous Australians health include poverty, social class, racism, education, employment, country/land and housing (Isaacs, 2014). If these social determinants inequalities are remedied, Indigenous Australians will have the same opportunities as Non-Ind...
The development of Early Childhood education and Care services in Australia is not that easy as we think. Started form the late 19C and early 20C there are lots of change, challenge, belief and arguments. When looking back on the historical stages and compare to the current stage there are lots better funding, resources, policy and practice to have quality early educations.
Tickell, C., 2011. The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning. An independent report on the Early Years Foundation Stage to Her Majesty’s Government. London: HMG
When working as a practitioner within early years it is important to remember the individual responsibility concerning equality of opportunities for children as well as forming relationships between the child’s parents, I believe it is imperative and essential for the development and progress of every child to enable all children are included within the setting. ‘Inclusion is the practice of inclu...