Poster Presentation Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016

Bridging the social Capital Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parents and Children: A healthy educational alternative. (#318)

Vanessa Lee 1 , Alison Dr Purcell 2 , Michelle Dr Villeneuve 2
  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Australia projects itself as a society with high social capital features such as the integration and acceptance of difference; one that values social inclusion and is responsive to citizen participation. The harsh reality is that a majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are caught in a cultural cycle of disadvantage; cultivated through inequitable policies (intentional or otherwise) causing both inter-generational and intra-generational inequality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families, and communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are marginalised like this either lack understanding of how to make life choices and decisions that enable self-determining outcomes, or are not invited to share their understandings and contribute to the decision-making process for themselves and their children. The impact of this disadvantage cycle is seen all too often in separate government reports on education and health. To positively impact health and education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, parents must be actively involved. Approaches that link education and health to support children from disadvantaged communities and their families to experience a successful school transition will reduce inter- and intra-generational disadvantage and bridge the gap in social capital within Australian society and between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous people. Bridging this gap is especially important at the transition to school stage because a successful school start is essential in ensuring a positive educational trajectory. Linking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and mainstream institutions to build social capital and break the cycle of disadvantage is sparse. This paper presents a program designed to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families’ understanding of the education and the health system by developing and providing the tools necessary to enhance knowledge of these systems. The aim is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to lead the change process for improved outcomes for their children.