Module 9: Indigenous and rural/remote health Flashcards
Define Terra Nullus.
Terra Nullus is a legal term which claimed the land (Australia) belonged to no one.
TRUE OR FALSE.
The word ‘Aborigine’ is ok to use.
FALSE.
While the word ‘Aborigine’ is grammatically correct it should NEVER be used because of this history. The term features in the legislation, policies and practices of colonisation and assimilation. It is associated with the pain and suffering experienced by generations of Aboriginal peoples
What is the stolen generation?
The forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families was part of the policy of Assimilation. The generations of children removed became known as the Stolen Generations. Assimilation was based on the assumption of black inferiority and white superiority, which proposed that Indigenous people should be allowed to “die out” through a process of natural elimination.
Why is 1972 significant is Australian history?
1972 - Self Determination: The Whitlam (Labor) government abolishes the White Australia Policy and introduces a policy of self-determination. The change provides the right to cultural and linguistic maintenance and management of natural resources on Aboriginal land.
What happended in 1901?
1901 Federation: Commonwealth Constitution states “in reckoning the numbers of people… Aboriginal natives shall not be counted”
Why is 1962 significant in Australian History?
1962 Voting Rights: All Aboriginal people given right to vote.
What is the Mabo decision?
1992 Mabo: On 3 June 1992, the High Court of Australia decided that terra nullius should not have been applied to Australia. This decision, known as the Mabo decision recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights to the land – rights that existed before the British arrived and can still exist today.
What happended in 2008?
National apology to the stolen generation: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (Labour) formally acknowledged the suffering caused by decades of mistreatment of Indigenous Australians
The forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families was part of the policy of Assimilation and occurred when?
1910 -1970
What is the Northern Territory Emergency Response’ (NTER)?
In 21 June 2007, less than a fortnight after the publication of an inquiry by the Northern Territory Governemnt, with no warning or consultation, the Australian Government announced a ‘national emergency response to protect Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory’ from sexual abuse and family violence.
What is the main criticism of the Northern Territory Intervention?
The government did not properly consult with Aboriginal people and that it reminded Indigenous people of the mission day politics when non-Aboriginal managers had dictatorial powers over almost every aspect of their lives
What measures did the Federal Government introduced as part of the Northern Territory Intervention?
- Introducing widespread alcohol restrictions on Northern Territory Aboriginal land;
- Introducing welfare reforms to stem the flow of cash going toward substance abuse and to ensure funds meant to be for children’s welfare are used for that purpose;
- Enforcing school attendance by linking income support and family assistance payments to school attendance for all people living on Aboriginal land and providing meals for children at school at parents’ cost;
- Introducing compulsory health checks for all Aboriginal children to identify and treat health problems and any effects of abuse;
- Suspending the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA)
TRUE OR FALSE.
Many of the social problems facing Aboriginal communities have become worse since the introduction of NTER.
TRUE.
A review of the NT intervention after 10 years found what?
Name at least 4 issues.
- Hurt and distress. Aboriginal people are deeply hurt and distressed from the sheer brutality of the intervention which reminded them of being treated like children during the time of assimilation
- No hope, no power. People feel a deep sense of hopelessness and disempowerment. Feeling vulnerable. Politicians deciding, without consultation, to intervene in their communities, has left many feeling vulnerable, dependent on the state, and susceptible to racism.
- Poverty. There is “growing evidence” that people in communities are getting poorer. Adjusted for inflation, adult incomes have dropped significantly and fallen further behind non-Aboriginal wages.
- No progress. Despite the National Partnership Agreement for Remote Indigenous Housing in the NT spending $2 billion in 10 years to reduce overcrowding, rates of overcrowded houses needing one or more bedrooms have either remained unchanged or increased.
- No jobs. The abolition of the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme has been “an unmitigated disaster” as it replaced part-time community-managed work with below award, externally monitored work- for-the-dole.
- Welfare Card has failed. A card trial has seen a large jump in robbery and related offences (up 111%), aggravated robbery (up 120%), non-aggravated robbery (up 400%) and serious criminal trespass (up 20%), all of which did not appear in a government report.
What is Closing the Gap?
Closing the Gap is a social justice campaign that aimed to achieve health equality (measured as life expectancy equality) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by 2030. In December 2007, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) pledged to close key gaps, and in March 2008 government and non-government delegates to a National Indigenous Health Equality Summit signed a statement of intent.
