Page 13 Aboriginal Cultural Competence 25 years By this age, more than 75% have been cautioned by police, referred to a youth justice conference or convicted in a criminal court, but only 17% of his non-Aboriginal peers. In about two years’ time their father dies. If the average Aboriginal man had married, his wife would be 25 times more likely to suffer from domestic violence than non-Indigenous women. If his wife attempts to have children, she’s five times more likely to die at childbirth. They can only dream of going to university. Less than 2% of the Aboriginal population goes to university compared to more than 4% of the non-Indigenous population who do. As a male, 108 of his peer group of 100,000 would have committed suicide by now, 40% more than in the general population. 30 years The average Aboriginal Australian has already lived half of their life. At this age we might assume that nationally, they are about 15 times more likely to have gone to prison than a non-indigenous Australian. On average his weekly earnings are $364, compared to $585 for a nonIndigenous peer, but could be as low as $267 if they lived in a remote area. 40 years Our average Aboriginal person’s health outlook is bleak: There’s a 50% chance they’re a smoker (compared to 22% of non-Indigenous Australians) and they’re three times more likely to develop heart disease. When they go to hospital there is a 40% chance that they don’t receive the diagnostic procedures they need (compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts) just because they are black. Should they be admitted to hospital for their coronary problems, they’re 2.3 times more likely to die than if they stayed at home (1.4 times more likely). 50 years If they lived in a remote area the average Australian Aboriginal person dies before they reach the age of 50, 35 years before their non-Indigenous countrymen would die. While 75% of the non-Indigenous population are close to owning their homes now, only a third of the average Indigenous Australians ever realise this Australian dream. Their health further deteriorates. They’re 10 times more likely to have developed type 2 diabetes than a non-Indigenous Australian, and seven times more likely to be hospitalised because of it. 60 years An average Australian Aboriginal person dies (if they lived in a city) while his non-Indigenous peer lives for another 24 years. Source: An average Aboriginal person’s life in Australia - Creative Spirits, 2018
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