Inequality of the Indigenous

Let’s talk about the fact that only 2 percent of Australia’s population is made up by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, but they make up 28 percent of adult prisonment. The inequality between the natives and non natives has honestly gone too far and still occurs to this very day and probably will not end. What more does the so called ‘government’ want? What will end this? Don’t you think the Indigenous have gone through enough? Can’t the government close the gap between Aboriginals and non Aboriginals already?

Not only did we steal their land in 1788 and celebrate it every year with PRIDE while the Indigenous sit back and watch, but to this day they go through injustice. This is displayed through the fact that the rate of incarceration in Indigenous individuals is much higher than non- Indigenous, the general health and wellbeing of these individuals are disadvantaged and the overall discrimination has impacted the quality of education.

A coincidence?

Let’s start with the fact that Indigenous children aged between 10-17 are 26 times more likely to be in a detention centre than the average non- Indigenous child. Not only has the government done this for adults but now children are also getting involved. This alarming statement makes me realise that this is serious. This is an issue that won’t disappear over time. Aboriginals are being targeted for the wrong reasons. And you should also be realising this.

Doesn’t this already show the discrimination of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders? They are still at a disadvantage even after their land has been stolen several years ago. Humanity at its finest.

Recently, I read ‘No Sugar’ which is a play written by Jack Davis. This play entirely explores the disadvantages of the Indigenous. An Indigenous character named Jimmy Munday is sent to jail for simply consuming alcohol. Yet, the law enforcement gives him a longer sentence than his (white) friend, Frank, for the same ‘crime’. Frank also has the privilege to speak and defend himself in court, while Jimmy is threatened and told ‘shut up… bloody idiot’ when he tries to speak.

Please don’t even try to tell me that this is a coincidence when this incarceration problem is recurring and occurs in the real world. The fact that the Australian Government, to this day, still treats Aboriginals as inhumane proves that inequality between both cultures is still present to this day. Disgusting.

Healthcare? I think not

Another disadvantage the Indigenous face includes their lack of health and wellbeing. Not only does this discrimination impact their lives physically but all dimensions of health and wellbeing. As we all know, there are five different dimensions of health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait people lack in all of them, except for spiritual health. Indigenous Australian’s health is impacted by their lifestyle, work, discrimination and even cultural disconnection. The reality is that the government does not give these disadvantaged people extra help, support or even good health care.

To this existence, the physical, mental, emotional and even social health of the indigenous is affected by their general poverty. Their poverty includes lack of food, healthcare facilities, services and what the average non-Indigenous person has. It is proven that Indigenous children have 1.7 times higher levels of malnutrition compared to non- Indigenous children. Not only that, but their lack of stable mental wellbeing is being influenced as Indigenous suicide rates was DOUBLE of the population in 2015. Wow. Being this discriminated has made the native culture lose the ability to seek help and support for something every human should be entitled to.  Is it that the government hasn’t noticed this or are they avoiding this issue altogether? How embarrassing.

Not only that, but as we are all aware of, Aboriginals have a very strong spiritual connection to their land and to their ancestors. This connection is also deteriorating as their land is being stolen and significant native landmarks are being disrespected by the non- Indigenous, such as Uluru in the Northern Territory. Uluru is highly valued to the Aboriginals as it relates to the spirits of their ancestors and represents the Indigenous cultural identity. But if we have a look now, people are being inconsiderate to the sacred land mark and to this present day others are making tours to it, climbing it and are acknowledging it as just a ‘red rock’ with no actual context. 

This also reminds me of No Sugar’s character, Jimmy Munday. Jimmy is an Aboriginal character, which I have spoken about previously. He suffered a heart condition during the beginning of the novella and it eventually results in his death. This typically relates to the overall Aboriginal population as heart disease is two times higher for Indigenous males than non Indigenous.

This demonstrates that the health and wellbeing of Aboriginals is crucial and needs significant awareness on. 

Another coincidence?

I would like to finally touch on the topic of education. The Indigenous have very low levels of education due to the lack of the ability to go to quality educational facilities.

Many primary schools for the Indigenous around Melbourne have an average attendance of 40% each day. You may be thinking why is it such a low percentage. Well, education costs A LOT of money, and the Indigenous feel as if education is optional and not critical, unlike the average non- Indigenous individual. As a result, they tend to drop out of school in their early years of schooling. Having a low level of education also correlates to employment. The employment and work rate for Indigenous aged from 15-69 years of age was about 48%, contrasted with 75% for non- Indigenous Australians. 

Not only are some companies completely biased when hiring, but they expect good experiences and good education, which the average Aboriginal today is incapable of providing. The government should really pick up their socks and help the Aboriginals. That’s the least they can do. 

This certainly impacts the society of today as it shows how little the inferior actually care about multiculturalism as a whole. Not only is the present population influenced, yet the future generations are also influenced if these ways are not altered today! Have you heard of or seen any programs set by the government that include the Indigenous? I definitely have not.

Although people may believe that Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders are not at a disadvantage, they are wrong. Other individuals need to start realising that the Indigenous were actually on this land first and that their land, family and lives were lost due to the whites. They deserve more than just a cleared name. 

In conclusion, the inequality between Indigenous and non- Indigenous individuals is still present to this day. I have thoroughly explained this through the facts that Aboriginals are more likely to be incarcerated, the health and well-being of these natives are influenced due to this discrimination and their quality of education and employment is impacted as well. It’s time to change things. It’s time we all came together, as a whole nation (that the government believes we already are) and embrace each other. All races. Everyone. We are one.