This paper describes the current state of health and socio-economic status of the Indigenous people of Australia and reports and discusses social policy measures that have been taken by the Commonwealth government to improve Indigenous health since the late 1980s. The health of Indigenous people is far worse than that of other Australians. Immediate causes of Indigenous illhealth are a poor environmental health infrastructure and housing conditions, inadequate access to health services and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Furthermore, socioeconomic disadvantage that shows in low levels of home ownership, poor education, high unemployment and poverty is the fundamental cause of Indigenous illhealth. Thereafter, developments in Indigenous Commonwealth policy are researched, particularly in the areas of health, housing, education and employment. The paper explores aims, strategies and programmes and, where possible, evaluates outcomes.
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This paper describes the current state of health and socio-economic status of the Indigenous people of Australia and reports and discusses social policy measures that have been taken by the Commonwealth government to improve Indigenous health since the late 1980s. The health of Indigenous people is far worse than that of other Australians. Immediate causes of Indigenous illhealth are a poor environmental health infrastructure and housing conditions, inadequate access to health services and a ge...
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