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Reflection Essay
Indigenous health and culture (HLSC120)
Australian Catholic University
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The Shaping of my Views, Beliefs and Feelings towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. To preface this piece, I would like to state that I feel as though I have never truly been able to form my own views and beliefs on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. To provide some context, I grew up in an suburb in Brisbane and attended private Catholic Schools, where Indigenous communities were devoid. Furthermore, my family has instilled in me a set of values that revolves around equality, treating others as like to be treated, and that everyone deserves respect. Consequently, I feel as though the conclusions I have drawn are based around the little that was taught in school, opinions of family members, and those of the media. In primary school, I recall lessons spent reading and discussing stories from the dreamtime such as the Rainbow Serpent and the Creation Story. However, the opinions I formed at this young age made it appeared Indigenous Australians would frolic around in their communities, telling stories to one another. I realise until later that storytelling was handed down through the generations to give each member a sense of identity, a feeling of belonging and a connection to their land (Jenkins, 2013). Moving forward, my early teen years are where my own views and opinions were most severely impacted those around me. My uncle spent 2 years in Mt Isa as a police officer, where he often saw people rowdy, intoxicated and disorderly. He would regularly come home with stories of and homeless who would physically and verbally assault him and his fellow officers. I never anticipated his stories to have such a long, lasting impression on my own opinions or behaviour. However, now that been provoked to provide insight into my feelings towards the Indigenous, I realise that while I would never talk down to them or treat them differently, I see them in a different light to other Australians. Bhanji and Beer (2013) point out that while new evidence may contradict initial impressions or stereotypes, our preconceptions are often not easily overcome. I have had a few, fleeting conversations with Indigenous peoples, and these encounters have always been pleasant: no intoxication, homelessness or just polite, pleasant Australians. Despite this, I still hold this preconceived idea of and homeless I believe most of my learning on the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been through the media. I was largely unaware of the significance of the Stolen Generation until I saw The Sapphires (2012), a movie with one scene depicting an Aboriginal girl being taken from her community because she was to be brought up in mainstream society. Channel Love Child also provoked thought, as one of the characters was Aboriginal and she was constantly told nobody would adopt her newborn because it was I was made to enlighten myself on the harsh reality of being Indigenous before the 21 st century. This triggered some questions of my own: Why I been taught this at my high school? Does this mean their suffering is not worth our time? I was only 9 years old when Kevin Rudd made his Sorry Day speech, and I think such an important moment in time should be taught throughout schools. Harrison and Sellwood (2016) emphasise the importance of teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture, and stories in schools, particularly on the Stolen Generations and the adjoining effects of transgenerational trauma. I believe such education would instil Harrison, N., Sellwood, J. (2016). Teaching about the Stolen Generations . In Learning and Teaching in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education (3rd ed., pp. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from Hellsten, D., Hakiaha, H. (2017). INDIGENOUS MENTAL HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. In K. Evans, D. Nizette, A. J. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (4th ed., pp. Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia. Retrieved from Jenkins, S. (2013). Counselling and Storytelling How Did We Get Here? Psychotherapy and Politics International, 11(2), Retrieved from Li, (2017). Cultural barriers lead to inequitable healthcare access for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. Chinese Nursing Research, 4(4). Retrieved from
Reflection Essay
Course: Indigenous health and culture (HLSC120)
University: Australian Catholic University
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