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VK2TV > HEALTH 26.05.07 03:07l 42 Lines 2051 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 11110_VK2TV
Read: GUEST
Subj: RE: Re: Poor Aboriginal Health rpt
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<OK0PKL<DB0GRL<SR6BBA<SR1BSZ<IW2OAZ<IK2XDE<DB0RES<ON0AR<
N9ZZK<CX2SA<VK2DOT<VK5ZAR<VK2TV
Sent: 070526/0046Z @:VK2TV.#MNC.NSW.AUS.OC #:11110 [Kempsey, QF68JX] $:11110_VK
From: VK2TV@VK2TV.#MNC.NSW.AUS.OC
To : HEALTH@WW
Hello Bob, David, all others,
I live in a town with one of the largest aboriginal populations in Australia and I associate with some members of that indigenous community both at and through my involvement with the local community radio station. That puts me in a slightly better position than most Australians to make comment of aboriginal problems ... as seen through my eyes.
There are most certainly major health issues amongst aboriginal people, and some aborigines, especially the youth, cause their share of trouble around the town. But so too do non-indigenous youth.
For years the government has been pouring money into the indigenous population to solve problems but this course of action will NEVER work.
There are some serious, and very real cultural differences between indigenous and non-indigenous people and until such time as the broader community, and especially governments, accept these differences the well-being of the indigenous population will never change.
Every low income group has its share of problems but being in a low income group is not so easily solved for aboriginal people.
They are accused of being lazy, untrustworthy, unreliable, drunkards, good for nothings, etc, etc.
Some of the time some of these accusations are true, but only some of the time.
Whenever a crime is committed in Kempsey the finger is automatically pointed at the Koori (alternate spelling, Goori) population.
If you're an aborigine and you apply for a job, you're unlikely to get an interview, let alone the job. Forget about anti-discrimination laws, they're flaunted every day - very unnofficially, of course.
What the Kooris need is a bit more understanding and a chance to intergrate into society, not isolation and more money.
For those who think the aborigines are well off because of government handouts, ask yourself the following question ....
If they are so well off, would you consider swapping places with them?
I'll bet the answer is no.
Cheers ... Ray
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