Closing the Gap
Many Australians felt a new level of optimism as the Prime Minister committed his government to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. But ‘closing the gap’ is not just a task for governments, it needs all of us. Better health care may not eliminate health inequalities unless basic changes also occur in how non-Indigenous people behave towards Indigenous Australians. Misconceptions, stereotypes myths about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders abound in Australian conversations, media and psyche.
Personal experiences of racism have a dramatic and negative impact, contributing to heart disease, premature births, hypertension and mental illness for those affected. Stereotyping and labelling, for example about willingness to work and levels of morality, have negative effects through both direct stress and trauma, and through effects on the life opportunities available to Indigenous people – like employment, wage levels, housing, and school retention, which are recognized ‘social determinants’ of health for everyone.
Tackling these stereotypes is a job for all Australians. We all have a role to play in changing the perceptions and behaviour of our fellow Australians to ensure that racism has no place in our communities, homes and institutions. Every individual can make a difference.
Source: ANTAR Newsletter May 2008
