Chapter 1: Indigenous Disadvantage - An Overview: Social conditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; Key issues for Aboriginal communities; The health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; Addiction corroding indigenous culture; "Most Aboriginal people have problems with alcohol" - fact v myth; Law and justice; Factors underlying indigenous arrest rates; ATSIC hits out at 'decade of inaction'; Stop 'excuses' for black violence; All talk, little action on black 'plague'; Indigenous employment; Indigenous Employment Policy; Labour force characteristics of indigenous Australians; "Aboriginal people don't want to work" - fact v myth; Education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; Indigenous housing ; Characteristics of indigenous households; Housing and infrastructure in indigenous communities; Survey shows improvement in indigenous housing. -- Chapter 2: Overcoming Disadvantage: Overcoming disadvantage; "Aboriginal people get special treatment from governments" - fact v myth; Aborigines reach a turning point; Rights are a practical matter; Aborigines told to take charge of their lives; Making headway; Record of expenditure and breakdown of expenditure on indigenous affairs; Whatever happened to reconciliation?; Sorry's just not enough.C
Summary
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are among the most disadvantaged groups in Australian society. What are the key factors which contribute to the unacceptably low levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and welfare in this country? This book looks at the extent of indigenous disadvantage in the key areas of health, housing, employment, justice and remote communities, and explores strategies for overcoming such disadvantage