What Are Some Of The Most Significant Health Issues Currently Facing Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • injuries (including suicide and self-inflicted injuries)
  • cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease (CHD);
  • cancer;
  • respiratory diseases;
  • musculoskeletal conditions.

What health problems are experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that are different from the rest of the Australian population?

Chronic conditions like

respiratory diseases (including asthma)

, heart and circulatory diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney diseases and some cancers are more common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than among non-Indigenous people in WA.

What issues do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face?

  • widespread grief and loss.
  • impacts of the Stolen Generations and removal of children.
  • unresolved trauma.
  • separation from culture and identity issues.

What are health issues and impacts for healthcare delivery in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia?


Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases

are the major diseases contributing to this unacceptable gap in life expectancy” 7. There are many factors that contribute to the poor health outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in contemporary Australia.

What are some issues aboriginals face today?

  • Lack of services. …
  • Lack of medical care. …
  • Little education. …
  • High unemployment. …
  • Staff exhaustion. …
  • Decaying infrastructure. …
  • Broken families. …
  • High crime rates.

Can I self identify as Aboriginal?

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is voluntary and very personal.

You don't need paperwork to identify as an Aboriginal person

. However, you may be asked to provide confirmation when applying for Aboriginal-specific jobs, services or programs (for example grants).

What is the difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander?

In brief: Aboriginal Australians are indigenous to mainland Australia and Tasmania who are nomadic. Torres Strait Islanders are

minority groups indigenous

to Torres Strait Islands who are traders, seafarers and agriculturists.

What is the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal?

Aboriginal people can expect to die about

8 to 9 years

earlier than non-Aboriginal Australians. On average, Aboriginal males live 71.6 years, 8.6 years less than their non-Aboriginal peers, women live 75.6 years, 7.8 years less.

What are social determinants of health and how do they impact on the health of indigenous Australians?

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the social determinants of health also include factors such as

cultural identity, family, participation in cultural activities and access to traditional lands

.

Do you need to prove Aboriginality?

In NSW as in the rest of Australia,

laws and policies exist specifically to benefit Aboriginal persons

. Regardless of the program, service, benefit or fund sought, Aboriginality is a criterion for access to these benefits and proof of Aboriginality is required.

What benefits am I entitled to as a Aboriginal?

  • ABSTUDY.
  • Parenting Payment. The main income support payment while you're a young child's main carer. …
  • JobSeeker Payment. Financial help if you're between 22 and Age Pension age and looking for work. …
  • Disability Support Pension. …
  • Carer Allowance. …
  • Age Pension.

Can a DNA test prove Aboriginality?

If you receive the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander region in your DNA results, this tells you that

you probably had an ancestor who was an Indigenous Australian

. … It's possible, depending on how distant the Indigenous Australian ancestor is, that you share too little DNA with them for our DNA test to detect it.

Who is the richest Aboriginal?


Andrew Forrest AO
Alma mater University of Western Australia

Why are Torres Strait Islanders not Aboriginal?

Torres Strait Islander people are of

predominantly Melanesian descent

, distinct from Aboriginal Australians on the mainland and some other Australian islands, and share some genetic and cultural traits with the people of New Guinea.

What is the politically correct term for Indigenous?

The term “Indigenous” is increasingly replacing the term “

Aboriginal”

, as the former is recognized internationally, for instance with the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, the term Aboriginal is still used and accepted.

What is the life expectancy of Aboriginal people?

For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population born in 2015–2017, life expectancy was estimated to be 8.6 years lower than that of the non-Indigenous population for males (71.6 years compared with 80.2) and

7.8 years for females

(75.6 years compared with 83.4).

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.