Development of Disparities among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous individuals
The colonisation of Australia by the British in the year 1788 was one of the significant historical events that impacted the lives of the Indigenous population of Australia and continue to impact them still (Graham, 1999). The impact of colonisation was severe, resulting in the development of large scale disparities among Indigenous individuals and non-Indigenous people living in Australia (Hirini, 2020). The discrimination and the marginalisation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia were not only social but highly institutionalised and systematic by the development of policies and official structures that limited the rights of the people (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, n.d.). Therefore, it becomes essential to understand The Implications Of Colonisation in the historical as well as a contemporary context. This essay will analyse the Australian colonisation in specific consideration of assimilation policy by the government of Australia and assess how it impacts the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. This essay will also discuss the cultural interface theory and assert its significance in conjunction with the counsellors’ roles and responsibilities at the cultural interface. An evidence-based approach will be used in the development of this essay where nuances like intergenerational trauma and its impact on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
The history of colonisation has had a significant impact on the Indigenous people of Australia (National Museum Australia, n.d.). This was associated with the marginalisation of the Indigenous people and the development of poor policies that were exclusive in nature (Pol, 2021). One such policy developed as a consequence of colonisation was the Assimilation policy. The Assimilation Policy aimed to include the Aboriginal children with the white children by disassociating the Indigenous children from their families (Shirodkar, 2020). The impact of this policy was harsh on the indigenous policy, with significant psychological effects due to the separation of the families (Stolen Generations Testimonies, n.d.). In addition, the children were under state guardianship and high stage monitoring (Australian Government, 2010). The impact of these policies is also seen in how they were perceived and developed (MacIntosh, 1992). The Indigenous people were not seen as equals in the society, and their cultural and social values were undermined. The disregard and the discrimination against the Indigenous populations not only promoted further marginalisation of the community (The University of Newcastle, n.d.). In addition, it resulted in large scale discrepancies in the overall wellbeing of the Indigenous communities that are reflected even in the current scenario (AIATSIS, n.d.). The rate of literacy and education in Indigenous Australians is lower than the non-Indigenous Australians. The Indigenous Australians are at a greater risk of developing chronic diseases and have a higher mortality rate with increased risk of unemployment and development of addiction with alcohol and drug abuse. The life expectancy of the Indigenous Australians is significantly lower than the non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics, n.d.). These discrepancies are a result of systematic and instutionalised discrimination and prejudice that was inflicted on the Indigenous people of Australia (Paradies, 2006). Therefore, the impact of these policies has thus been associated with the erosion of cultural and social values of the Indigenous population with a major impact on their wellbeing resulting in discrepancies that are evident even today.
Assimilation Policy and Its Impact on Indigenous Children and Families
The statistics indicate that more than eleven per cent of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families born before the year 1972 were separated from their families. In addition, one in seven survivors of the stolen generation has been found to be living with a severe disability impacting their individual lives as well as of their carers and that of the family (Horton, 1996). In the current state, about thirty three per cent of the adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals are direct descendants of the people whose families were displaced as a result of faulty government policies and assimilation approaches (Atkinson et al., 2014). The impact of these policies is evident even in the current times and reflects how the policy structure was influenced based on the history of the colonisation and on the perspective that marginalised the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia.
The interpretation of the worldview of the Indigenous Australians can be understood with the application of the Cultural Interface theory. The cultural interface theory provides an approach that can help in deciphering the race struggles through the conceptualisation of the cross-cultural spaces (Nakata, 2002). This theory was developed by Martin Nakata and helped in understanding the need for the development of cross-cultural spaces in reference to the indigenous population of Australia. The necessity of application of this theory in connection to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients is of prime importance (Nakata, 2007). The Indigenous knowledge has been often disregarded with the perceptions of understanding of the world through the western lens or through the coloniser’s perspective. The knowledge development and understanding through the cultural interface theory helps in the development of an integrative approach where the gap between the Indigenous and the non-Indigenous knowledge is mitigated by reducing the gap in the understanding (Hart et al., 2011). According to the cultural interface theory, the cultural interface can be defined as the contested knowledge space and helps in acknowledging the historical erosion of the agency of the Indigenous individuals and the discontinuity of acknowledgment of their perspectives. This results in the building of tension and stress in terms of semantics and affects what can be said or not said in everyday life (Nakata, 2002). The understanding of health and wellbeing is categorically different for the Indigenous Australians that is deviant from the understanding of health and wellbeing as established by modern medicine (Hartwig, 2003). When a counsellor is working at a cultural interface, a special consideration needs to be laid on the competence (Atkinson, 2017). Cultural sensitivity in the provision of counselling plays an integral role and is associated with understanding the ethnicity, background, and belief system of the individuals (Atkinson, 2013). Therefore, by ensuring the application of cultural interface theory, a counsellor will be able to accommodate the worldview of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This will help in understanding the differences in values, opinions, and other cultural and social connotations and thus help in the provision of more effective support to the clients (Australian Film and Sound Archive of Australia, n.d.).
Undermining of Cultural and Social Values of the Indigenous Population
It is an essential responsibility of a counsellor working at a cultural interface to provide competent support to the client and use inclusive language (Flinders University, n.d). The counsellor should also ensure that they respect the worldview and understanding of the client and provide an inclusive environment for conversation (Australian Film and Sound Archive of Australia, n.d.). Therefore, ensuring cultural competence becomes a core skill of the counsellor that can help in developing a holistic experience of the learners. Both counsellors and their clients are supported by the inclusion of cultural diversity in practice. Cultural sensitivity can be defined as the ability of a counsellor to ensure cultural competence in care and to recognise their own cultural and social value systems and that of the client and provide respect and support to them. This helps in having a person-centred approach and promotes effective counselling outcomes. Therefore, cultural awareness becomes an essential role and also a critical responsibility of the counsellor (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, n.d.). The counsellor also needs to be aware of the primary principles of culturally competent care. These include the principles of collaboration, safety, choice, empowerment and trustworthiness. Inclusion of these principles helps in the building of a culturally sensitive place and can help build rapport between the individuals of the Indigenous communities with the provision of adequate support based on the understanding of the relationship of cultural and social systems influence on individuals, families, and the communities (Walker et al., 2014).
The systematic oppression and historical marginalisation of the individuals from the Aboriginal communities have corresponded to intergenerational trauma or transgenerational trauma (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, nn.d.). The intergenerational trauma can be defined as the psychological impact or a collective trauma that is experienced by the community and its subsequent generations (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020). The common signs of intergenerational trauma include reduced self esteem, anxiety, insomnia, and other psychological impacts on individuals across generations (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017). Intergenerational trauma is one of the key aspects impacting the wellbeing of the Aboriginal community of Australia (Gee et al., 2014). Through understanding counselling, it is critical to ensure trauma-informed care and have inclusive communication for the development of a safe space (Gomes, 2014).
The relationship between the cultural interface and the intergenerational trauma also need to be developed and acknowledged in context with the provision of support to the individuals from the Indigenous community of Australia. A family-centred approach is often included in therapy and counselling when trauma is being addressed. In a cross-cultural context, it is essential for the counsellor to know the social implications of the trauma and hence provide comprehensive care in consideration of psychological as well as social aspects of care (Healing Foundation, 2018). Strong communication and collaboration are required with shared-decision making to provide support and to understand the elements of intergenerational trauma. One of the core concepts of counselling is ensuring active listening (Menzies, 2019). Active listening is one of the often-ignored aspects of communication and is crucial to providing holistic support to individuals (Australian Government, 2017). Careful and mindful interventions need to be taken into consideration to promote acceptance and acknowledgement of the wellbeing of the individuals of the community (Sue et al., 2001). The impact of intergenerational trauma is not restricted to the individuals but expands itself to the families and communities as a whole. The effect of trauma is negative and is associated with the development of unresolved emotions and can also develop an inclination towards negative behaviours. At the community level, the impacts of intergenerational trauma have been associated with the higher rates of depression in the community along with a higher risk of developing self-destructive behaviours in contrast to the non-Indigenous individuals (Healing Foundation, 2021). A competent counsellor possesses the ability to not only comprehend the aspects of trauma in care but is also able to understand the social and cultural aspects that impact it in contemporary situations (Tannoch-Bland, 1998). The consideration of cultural competence is eminent in conjunction with the intergenerational trauma developed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Cultural competence for addressing trauma and with the application of the cultural interface helps in understanding how trauma shapes the lives of the individual and what are its connections with the social and cultural structures (Taylor, 2012). It also helps in deciphering the suitable care approach and promotes inclusion through shared-decision making. This is a strengthening approach and can help in addressing trauma and promoting the wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Therefore, trauma-informed support is essential that can help in ensuring that the client feels safe and is listened to can thus providing holistic care (Tucci et al., 2017).
Large Scale Discrepancies in Overall Wellbeing of Indigenous Communities
Conclusion
Australia has been a country with a history of human rights suppression due to colonisation, with its impact visible on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of the country even today. This essay provided a succinct summary of the impact of colonisation on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. The context of this essay was built on how the development of government policies like assimilation strategies have been harmful to the population. This essay, therefore, analysed the Australian colonisation in specific consideration of assimilation policy by the government of Australia and assessed how it impacted the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the contemporary context. This essay also outlined a brief discussion on the cultural interface theory and thus asserted its significance in conjunction with the roles and responsibilities of the counsellors that work at the cultural interface. An evidence-based approach was used in the development of this essay. Intergenerational trauma and its impact on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today was also summarised in this discussion. Through this essay, it can be concluded that adequate support can be provided to the Indigenous Australians only by developing cultural competence and understanding the historical impact on their wellbeing.
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