Indigenous Australia

Abstract

Indigenous Australia is diverse. Many Indigenous Australians live in the suburbs, run their own businesses, go to university, work for the public service, raise healthy children and contribute to society (Reid & Lupton 1991). Some are world-renowned for their political, artistic, academic and written work, and many are prominent in public life; yet they rarely make the headlines in the media. Indigenous society today is known to many Australians only through mostly negative media images ~ hangings in prison cells, intoxicated men and women, sickly children, urban ghettos, Aboriginal protest and court cases, as well as through sporting heroes, ceremonial performers and rock bands (Reid & Lupton 1991). Indigenous Australians are unique in their aspirations and values. However, their problems are not unique; they are shared by other indigenes in Fourth World countries' around the world. The most striking difference for Indigenous Australians is their health status, which compares poorly with that of indigenes in other countries (Ring & Elston 2003).