Defining the Cultural Context of Aboriginal Children’s Development,

Health & WellbeingISCI Conference28th June 2007

Chicago

Rani ParamCentre for Developmental HealthCurtin University of Technology

Telethon Institute for Child Health ResearchPerth, Australia

Australia’s Indigenous population

This research

Challenges of population-level indicators for Indigenous children

Aboriginal Australians Mainland Australia and Tasmania 60,000+ year oral history Oldest living culture in the world

Torres Strait Islander Australians Island clusters between tip of Qld (Cape

York) & PNG Distinct from Aboriginal Australians

Indigenous status is largely self and community-identified

~ 456,000 Indigenous Australians, 2.3% of Australian population

Majority Indigenous Australians live on east coast – NSW & Qld (29% & 28% respectively)

Median age Indigenous: 20.5yrsMedian age Australians: 37yrs Indigenous birth rate: 2.15Australian birth rate: 1.75(Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007)

Dispossessed of land and country Children forcibly removed under the

guise of ‘protection’ Church-run missionaries forbade

cultural practices, traditional language, traditional beliefs, teachings

Effects of colonisation continue to manifest today in social and emotional wellbeing difficulties

17 year life expectancy gap nationally Infant mortality rate ~ 3 times higherHigh rates of otitis media in childrenHigher reported rates of risk-taking

behaviourSocial and emotional wellbeing issuesEntrenched socio-economic disadvantage

in many Indigenous families

(Thomson et al 2007)

Qualitative research Focus groups with Aboriginal parents / carers Individual interviews with Aboriginal child

health / education professionals Two locations in WA – rural and urban Small study – 34 participants Thematic analysis

Review of the literature Indigenous context for ECD ‘readiness’ for school Parent / carer perspectives of children’s early

learning

Sense of Aboriginal identity is critical “Knowing who he is and where he comes

from is what keeps him strong.” (Aboriginal carer, urban)

Strong sense of Aboriginal identity perceived by parents as a key determinant of ‘readiness’ for school

Important learning outcome of early childhood Knowing your mob Learning about kin arrangements Learning who you’re related to and how

Knowing your traditional lands: its significance to family/community traditional tie to country spending time with family on traditional lands

Important spiritual implications

“Many of our old people say the reason we’re getting sick is cause we’ve lost our land. I think it’s important for our children to have a future they must connect to their traditional roots, know their country, connect with their country.” (Aboriginal carer, urban)

Indigenous children grow up in larger, younger families

Caregiving role is shared among extended family – aunties, uncles etc

‘mum’ – early years & childhood; ‘dad’ – transition to adolescence

“Our kids deal with a lot when they’re young, they have to grow up faster than other kids.” (Child Health Worker, rural)

“By the time our kids get to school they’ve probably seen many of their family die, get sick or be put in jail. All this is bound to affect them.” (Aboriginal Health Worker, urban)

“We don’t identify her as Aboriginal at school – it’s safer that way, she won’t get picked on by other kids.” (Carer, rural)

~ 26% Indigenous children aged 4 – 11yrs at high risk of developing clinically significant SEWB problems

42% children at high risk of SEWB problems living in households experienced 7+ stressful life events

Boys twice at risk as girls

Children of ‘stolen generation’ parents/carers 2.3 times more likely to be at high risk of clinically significant SEWB problems

Children living in remote areas at lower risk(Zubrick et al 2005)

Indicators of child development not necessarily universal within countries

‘Culture’ is more significant, more tangible, more meaningful influence on Indigenous child development

Self-determination, Indigenous ownership/ control and the rights agenda are still relevant

Important role for Indigenous parents/ families in developing ECD programs

Reasonably small sample

Male carers not represented

Other jurisdictional issues, states (provinces) etc?

Need more urban perspective

The Challenges

Measurement challenges with these issues

Issues with reporting ‘culture’

Locally-based measures more appropriate, but at expense of national focus...?

Prof Sven SilburnAssoc Prof David Lawrence

Sally BrinkmanDr Cheryl Kickett-TuckerNational Health & Medical Research Council

Contact me:rparam@meddent.uwa.edu.au