Strategies for Improving Indigenous Financial Literacy in Schools

2004 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryann Bin-Sallik ◽  
Isabella Adams ◽  
Siva Ram Vemuri

AbstractThe Indigenous Australian population is not only considerably younger than the non-Indigenous population but is also on the rise. The challenge for many is to provide the kind of education that equips young Indigenous Australians with the necessary skills for managing their money. This challenge is further compounded, as the adult Indigenous population is not well versed in money management. This paper examines some of the strategies that are needed to improve Indigenous financial literacy in schools.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane M Shepherd ◽  
Benjamin Spivak ◽  
Linda Joyce Ashford ◽  
Isabel Williams ◽  
Justin Trounson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background “Closing the Gap” is an Australian government strategy that was established to address the inequality in health and education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Although some gains have been realised, progress has been ostensibly slow. One potential obstacle is the large number of Indigenous Australians in prison. Approximately 1 in 5 to 1 in 6 Indigenous Australian males are currently imprisoned or have previously been imprisoned. Recent work has also pointed to a widening socio-economic gap within the Indigenous population. Given the myriad social, wellbeing and environmental risk factors associated with justice-involvement, it is conceivable that incarceration may contribute to the increasing disparities found within the Indigenous population. This study aimed to explore the presence and extent of an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous population and to uncover which social factors characterise the disparity. Methods The study utilised data from the 2014-5 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). A number of socio-economic, environmental and clinical factors were compared by life-time incarceration status. Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between incarceration status and each of the comparison variables. Results Disparities were observed within the Indigenous Australian population across a number of important health and socio-economic markers by incarceration status - the most pronounced being for educational obtainment – year 10 completion (Never incarcerated 73%, Ever incarcerated 50%), labour force participation (Never incarcerated 56%, Ever incarcerated 26%) and drug/alcohol problems (Never incarcerated 7%, Ever incarcerated 29%). Never-incarcerated Indigenous males yielded aggregate proportions across numerous variables that approximated or matched general Australian population estimates. Conclusions There appears to be evidence for a substantial ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous Australian population. It is evident that the national ‘closing the gap’ strategy necessitates contending with Indigenous over-incarceration.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane M Shepherd ◽  
Benjamin Spivak ◽  
Linda Ashford ◽  
Isabel Williams ◽  
Justin Trounson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background “Closing the Gap” is an Australian government strategy that was established to address the inequality in health and education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Although some gains have been realised, progress has been ostensibly slow. One potential obstacle is the large number of Indigenous Australians in prison. 1 in 5 to 1 in 6 Indigenous Australian males are currently imprisoned or have previously been imprisoned. Recent work has also pointed to a widening socio-economic gap within the Indigenous population. Given the myriad social, wellbeing and environmental risk factors associated with justice-involvement, it is conceivable that incarceration may contribute to the increasing disparities found within the Indigenous population. This study aimed to explore the presence and extent of an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous population and to uncover which social factors characterise the disparity. Methods The study utilised data from the 2014-5 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). A number of socio-economic, environmental and clinical factors were compared by life-time incarceration status. Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between incarceration status and each of the comparison variables. Results Disparities were observed within the Indigenous Australian population across a number of important health and socio-economic markers by incarceration status - the most pronounced being for educational obtainment, labour force participation and drug/alcohol problems. Never-incarcerated Indigenous males yielded aggregate proportions across numerous variables that approximated or matched general Australian population estimates. Conclusions There appears to be evidence for an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous Australian population. It is evident that the national ‘closing the gap’ strategy necessitates contending with Indigenous over-incarceration.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane M Shepherd ◽  
Benjamin Spivak ◽  
Linda Joyce Ashford ◽  
Isabel Williams ◽  
Justin Trounson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background “Closing the Gap” is an Australian government strategy that was established to address the inequality in health and education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Although some gains have been realised, progress has been ostensibly slow. One potential obstacle is the large number of Indigenous Australians in prison. 1 in 5 to 1 in 6 Indigenous Australian males are currently imprisoned or have previously been imprisoned. Recent work has also pointed to a widening socio-economic gap within the Indigenous population. Given the myriad social, wellbeing and environmental risk factors associated with justice-involvement, it is conceivable that incarceration may contribute to the increasing disparities found within the Indigenous population. This study aimed to explore the presence and extent of an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous population and to uncover which social factors characterise the disparity. Methods The study utilised data from the 2014-5 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). A number of socio-economic, environmental and clinical factors were compared by life-time incarceration status. Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between incarceration status and each of the comparison variables. Results Disparities were observed within the Indigenous Australian population across a number of important health and socio-economic markers by incarceration status - the most pronounced being for educational obtainment – year 10 completion (Never incarcerated 73%, Ever incarcerated 50%), labour force participation (Never incarcerated 56%, Ever incarcerated 26%) and drug/alcohol problems (Never incarcerated 7%, Ever incarcerated 29%). Never-incarcerated Indigenous males yielded aggregate proportions across numerous variables that approximated or matched general Australian population estimates. Conclusions There appears to be evidence for an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous Australian population. It is evident that the national ‘closing the gap’ strategy necessitates contending with Indigenous over-incarceration.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephane M Shepherd ◽  
Benjamin Spivak ◽  
Linda Ashford ◽  
Isabel Williams ◽  
Justin Trounson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background “Closing the Gap” is an Australian government strategy that was established to address the inequality in health and education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Although some gains have been realised, progress has been ostensibly slow. One potential obstacle is the large number of Indigenous Australians in prison. 1 in 5 to 1 in 6 Indigenous Australian males are currently imprisoned or have previously been imprisoned. Recent work has also pointed to a widening socio-economic gap within the Indigenous population. Given the myriad social, wellbeing and environmental risk factors associated with justice-involvement, it is conceivable that incarceration may contribute to the increasing disparities found within the Indigenous population. This study aimed to explore the presence and extent of an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous population and to uncover which social factors characterise the disparity. Methods The study utilised data from the 2014-5 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). A number of socio-economic, environmental and clinical factors were compared by life-time incarceration status. Chi-square tests were used to examine the association between incarceration status and each of the comparison variables. Results Disparities were observed within the Indigenous Australian population across a number of important health and socio-economic markers by incarceration status - the most pronounced being for educational obtainment, labour force participation and drug/alcohol problems. Never-incarcerated Indigenous males yielded aggregate proportions across numerous variables that approximated or matched general Australian population estimates. Conclusions There appears to be evidence for an ‘incarceration gap’ within the Indigenous Australian population. It is evident that the national ‘closing the gap’ strategy necessitates contending with Indigenous over-incarceration.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Cosh ◽  
Lauren Maksimovic ◽  
Kerry Ettridge ◽  
David Copley ◽  
Jacqueline A. Bowden

Smoking prevalence among Indigenous Australians far exceeds that of non-Indigenous Australians and is considered the greatest contributor to burden of disease for Indigenous Australians. The Quitline is a primary intervention for facilitating smoking cessation and, given the health implications of tobacco use, maximising its effectiveness for Indigenous Australians is imperative. However, the utilisation and effectiveness of this service within the Indigenous Australian population has not been examined. This study explores the utilisation of the South Australian Quitline by smokers identifying as Indigenous Australian. Quitline counsellors collected data regarding demographic characteristics, and smoking and quitting behaviour from Quitline callers in 2010. Results indicated that the proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous smokers who registered for the service was comparable. Demographic variables and smoking addiction at time of registration with the Quitline were similar for Indigenous and non-Indigenous callers. However, results indicated that Indigenous callers received significantly fewer callbacks than non-Indigenous callers and were significantly less likely to set a quit date. Significantly fewer Indigenous callers reported that they were still successfully quit at 3 months. Thus, Indigenous Australian callers may be less engaged with the Quitline and further research is required exploring whether the service could be tailored to make it more engaging for Indigenous Australians who smoke.


2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Gary David Lum

Times are changing. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Strategy 2005-2008 provides current commentary on the problems facing Australia?s Indigenous population. While the rates of sexually transmitted infections have always been higher in Indigenous Australians, there is some evidence of increasing rates of HIV infection. The rate of Chlamydia infection in non-Indigenous Australians has doubled between 1999 and 2003, while the rate of infection in some populations of Indigenous Australians has moved from 658 per 100 000 to 1140 per 100 000 population. Indigenous Australians are forty-times more likely to be infected with the gonococcus than non-Indigenous Australian men and women. It should not be surprising that Indigenous Australian rates of syphilis are unacceptably high at ~250 per 100 000 population and almost non-existent in the non-Indigenous population.


2020 ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
T. Perga

An analysis of Australia’s governmental policy towards indigenous peoples has been done. The negative consequences of the colonization of the Australian continent have been revealed, in particular, a significant reduction in the number of aborigines due to the spread of alcohol and epidemics, the seizure of their territories. It is concluded that the colonization of Australia was based on the idea of the hierarchy of human society, the superiority and inferiority of different races and groups of people, and accordingly - the supremacy of European culture and civilization. It is demonstrated in the creation of reservations for aborigines and the adoption of legislation aimed at segregating the country's white and colored populations and assimilating certain indigenous peoples into European society, primarily children from mixed marriages. It has been proven that, considering the aborigines an endangered people and seeking to protect them from themselves, Europeans saw the way to their salvation in miscegenation - interracial marriages and the isolation of aboriginal children from their parents. This policy has been pursued since the end of the XIX century by the 1970s and had disrupted cultural and family ties and destroyed aboriginal communities, although government circles positioned it as a policy of caring for indigenous Australians. As a result, the generation of aborigines taken from their parents and raised in boarding schools or families of white Europeans has been dubbed the “lost generation”. The activity of A.O. Neville who for more than two decades held the position of chief defender of the aborigines in Western Australia and in fact became the ideologist of the aborigines’ assimilation policy has been analyzed. He substantiated the idea of the biological absorption of the indigenous Australian race as a key condition for its preservation and extremely harshly implemented the policy of separating Aboriginal children from their parents. It is concluded that the policy towards the indigenous population of Australia in the late XIX – first third of the XX century was based on the principle of discrimination on racial grounds.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042268
Author(s):  
John A Woods ◽  
Judith M Katzenellenbogen ◽  
Kevin Murray ◽  
Claire E Johnson ◽  
Sandra C Thompson

ObjectivesAnticipation and prompt relief of symptoms among patients with a life-limiting illness is a core element of palliative care. Indigenous Australians commonly encounter cultural barriers in healthcare that may impair outcomes. The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration collects patient care data for the purposes of continuous quality improvement and benchmarking, with each recorded care episode divided into phases that reflect a patient’s condition. We aimed to investigate differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in the occurrence and duration of ‘unstable’ phases (which indicate unanticipated deterioration in a patient’s condition or circumstances), and determine attainment of the relevant benchmark (resolution of unstable phases in ≤3 days in 90% of cases) for both groups.DesignCohort study.SettingAustralia-wide hospital-based and community-based specialist palliative care (1 January 2010 to 30 June 2015).Participants139 556 (1502 Indigenous and 138 054 non-Indigenous) adult patients.Outcome measuresIndigenous and non-Indigenous patients were compared on (1) the risk of a phase being categorised as unstable, (2) the duration of unstable phases, and (3) the risk of unstable phases being prolonged (>3 days). Crude and adjusted estimates were produced from three-level robust Poisson regression and complementary log-log discrete time survival models.ResultsUnstable phases occurred with similar frequency overall among Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients (adjusted relative risks 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11; not significant after correction for multiple comparisons). The duration and risk of prolongation of unstable phases were similar in both patient groups, with no significant differences evident among subgroups. The benchmark was not met for either Indigenous or non-Indigenous patients (unstable phase duration >3 days in 24.3% vs 25.5%; p=0.398).ConclusionsDespite well-documented shortcomings of healthcare for Indigenous Australians, there is no clear evidence of greater occurrence or prolongation of unanticipated problems among Indigenous patients accessing specialist palliative care services in hospital or the community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24028-e24028
Author(s):  
Carolyn Der Vartanian ◽  
Vivienne Milch ◽  
Gail Garvey ◽  
Cleola Anderiesz ◽  
Jane Salisbury ◽  
...  

e24028 Background: Given the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous and ethnic minority populations observed globally, keeping COVID-19 out of vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous Australian) communities remains a priority. Compared to non-Indigenous Australians, Indigenous Australians experience disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes due to social disadvantage, increased cancer-related modifiable risk factors, poorer access to health services and lower participation in screening. During the pandemic, cancer-related investigations and treatment reduced significantly in Australia, leading to potential decreases in cancer diagnoses and consequences for future survival outcomes. Concerned about the risk of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 for Indigenous Australians, as well as worsening cancer outcomes, Cancer Australia undertook strategic health promotion initiatives, to inform and support optimal cancer care. Methods: In consultation with respected Indigenous colleagues to ensure cultural appropriateness of language and information, we published a dedicated webpage titled ‘ Cancer and COVID-19 – what it means for our Mob*’ with tailored information, advice, and links to key resources and support services for Indigenous Australians. We also released a video titled ‘ Act early for our Mob’s Health’, providing targeted, culturally appropriate, consumer-friendly information to encourage Indigenous Australians to see their doctor or Aboriginal Health Worker with symptoms that may be due to cancer. Results: The information hub has been well-received among the Indigenous Australian community, receiving over 3,200 visits, and the social media campaigns have received over 1.4 million impressions and 46,000 video views between mid-March 2020 to mid-February 2021. This campaign has supported proactivity among the Indigenous population in keeping their communities safe during the pandemic, maintaining a population rate of COVID-19 of less than one percent of all confirmed cases in Australia. Conclusions: Culturally appropriate information and resources developed through the process of co-design can help to influence positive health behaviour change in Indigenous populations. We predict that our strategic, multi-channel health promotion campaign is contributing to keeping the Indigenous Australian community safe and informed during the pandemic, with additional work needed to monitor cancer rates and outcomes and address the ongoing information needs of the community. *Mob is a colloquial term to identify a group of Indigenous Australians associated with a family or community from a certain place.


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