...Social Work and Human Rights Essay Introduction The recent news of the two aboriginal teenagers with their contrasting stories caught my attention. One was of a 17 year old, Ms. Victoria Lansen, an aboriginal single mom, who after facing much struggle, completed her Year 12 graduation from Gunbalanya School in West Arnhem Land on January 21,2016. The second was of another aboriginal teenager from Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia, who took his own life just two days after, becoming one of the at least five people in the Goldfields-Esperance region who have committed suicide in the past two months leading up to Christmas. The journey of the 17 year old Ms. Lansen, who comes from a remote Aboriginal town, has not been easy but in the interview to (1) ABC News she stated that she could cope owing to the support from family, friends and range of core local services. Her environment was in contrast to that of the troubled youth whose death highlights the sense of hopelessness, radicalized and economic inequality. The deceased youth’s uncle, Trevor Donaldson, is demanding a safe house set up for troubled aboriginal youth in Goldfields, Western Australia. The human rights issue which can be seen in the light of just these two unbiased media reports is how presence or absence of some core local services can change the direction in which the life takes the Aboriginals in this case. (2) Western Australia leads the Aboriginal suicide rates, with 35.8 per 100,000 Aboriginal...
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...spite of America and Australia’s positive images of being democratic nations, it has not always been the case that all populations have the equal social and political rights. The African-Americans and Indigenous Australians paid a steep price for the freedoms attained from different social problems throughout the civil rights movement with intensive revolts. Whilst both civil rights movements were significantly similar in reasons, social context, methods used, government and community response and success, there were several differences between the two countries’ movements. Reasons Before the civil rights movements, America and Australia had laws that created political and social inequality. The Jim Crow Law in America enforced...
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...Reconciliation is of great importance to common good because it helps avoid feelings of revenge, anger and hatred and a commitment to social justice as well as a way to ensure lasting peace and stability and to improve the relationship for the common good. Reconciliation aims to address the inequity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians that was introduced with the colonisation of Australia in 1788. Some relevant points around Reconciliation for the Common Good are, the referendum laws for Aboriginal people on May 27 1967, the report of the Royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1991, as well as the Formal apology for the members of the stolen generations in 2008. Reconciliation for the common good was the referendum laws for Aboriginal people on May 27, 1967. It enabled Indigenous people to be included in the census, and it enabled federal parliament the power to make laws in relation to Indigenous people. This meant that Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people were all required to follow the same laws set out by the government, and that Indigenous people would be recognised and counted (in elections and the census) in all states and territories of Australia. The decision of the Australian population was a milestone for Indigenous people as they were finally being recognised as part of the population and the social, economic and political injustices to the Indigenous people were beginning to be addressed by government. Perspective A...
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...Infrastructure and Transport, 2011). More than 60 percent of adults and 25 per cent of children are overweight or obese in Australia and this percentage is projected to rise 15 per cent over the next decade (Department of Infrastructure and Transport, 2011). Following on from an overview of the description of the issue, a discussion of the history of obesity and health will be given, including the role that social policy has played. In past, being overweight was a sign of affluence, fertility, prosperity and art, however now with increased medical and scientific research the health risks are identified, yet obesity is now found in high percentages amongst the socio economically disadvantaged. An analysis of the effectiveness of current policy on health and obesity will be given with particular reference to the United Nations Declaration of human rights which highlights the right of every person to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their family, including food (United Nations, n.d). In an ever increasing globalised world, the right to adequate nutritional food may not so much indicate the absence of it, as it does the overwhelming presence of it. Therefore in conclusion, what governments and organizations are doing in response to this epidemic will be highlighted as well as current policy discussed, showing how Australia may be able to move forward if it decides to make effective policies to combat...
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...Social Justice Issue- Poverty Poverty can be defined as the state of a person when their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are neglected (World Health Organisation, 2015). The social justice issue of poverty is often associated with other countries, but many do not realise that poverty is a concerning issue in Australia as well (World Health Organisation, 2015). Australia is often called the 'lucky country' as it is a safe, peaceful and fair place to live- however this not always the case. There is approximately 2.5 million Australians living below the national poverty line and as a result their basic needs are failing to be fulfilled (ACOSS, 2014). A recent media article published in the Sydney Morning Herald by Judith Ireland,...
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...Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia Developed under the auspices of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, Australian College of Nursing, Australian Nursing Federation Introduction This Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia has been developed for the nursing profession in Australia. It is relevant to all nurses at all levels and areas of practice including those encompassing clinical, management,education and research 1 domains. This Code is framed by the principles and standards set forth in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the World Health Organization’s Constitution and publication series entitled Health and Human Rights; and the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report 2 2004: Cultural liberty in today’s diverse world. In considering this Code and its companion, the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia, it should be borne in mind that they are designed for multiple audiences: nurses; nursing students; people requiring or receiving nursing care; the community generally; employers of nurses; nursing regulatory authorities; and consumer protection agencies. It is also noteworthy that the concepts of ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’ are substantially the same and have been used interchangeably throughout this Code. This Code outlines the nursing profession’s commitment to respect, promote, protect...
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...access to education. However, despite this expectation, the ability to have access to education in different parts of the world is still difficult. It is essential to promote education so as to enhance equal attainment of opportunities. The right to education has been influenced by a number of policies, globally; the right to education is spelt out in chapter 26 in the Universal Human Right Declaration. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also elaborates on the need for global education. In a nutshell, education can be used in any county to promote equality in accessing different opportunities. For instance, taking a look on imperialism days, the whites were using education as a tool to acquire more opportunities than the black. They believed that it was through education that the blacks would be in opposition to oppose them. This is because they would be enlightened and hence demand for equality (Douglas, 1845). Precisely, the purpose of this essay is to discuss how access to education is significant in enhancing equality of opportunity in the current Australia. The discussion begins by describing the role that education and training has in our society today. Furthermore, the discussion will outline different social groups and the way different factors influence the way they get access to education in different forms. This paper also explores the current education and training policies and the author’s comments are given. The ways the Australian community...
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...Geography Assessment Task: Written Report Australia in its regional and global contexts Migration Introduction Australia is a nation built on the process of international migration. According to the 2011 Census, over a quarter of Australia’s population was born overseas. This indicates that migrants play an important role in Australia’s population growth and the nation’s development. The large proportion of migrants also broadened the cultural diversity in Australia. This report will briefly outline the nature of migration in Australia, the role played by government and non-government organisation (NGOs) in migration, treaties and agreements related to migration, advantages and disadvantages of migration, and social justice and equity...
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...Newly arrived residents and social security This factsheet explains the waiting periods which newly arrived residents may be required to serve before they can receive social security payments. □ Who is subject to the newly arrived resident’s two year waiting period? Whether a waiting period applies to you may depend on the date you entered Australia, the date you were granted a permanent visa, and whether you are a New Zealand citizen. If you have not lived in Australia as a permanent resident for a total of 104 weeks, you may be subject to a two year newly arrived resident’s waiting period for the following payments and concession cards: • Newstart Allowance • Austudy • Sickness Allowance • Pensioner Education Supplement • Youth Allowance • Mobility Allowance • Carer Payment • Commonwealth Seniors Health Card • Special Benefit • Health Care Card If you arrived in Australia or were granted permanent residence (whichever is the later) before 4 March 1997, you will not have to serve a two year waiting period. If you are an Australian citizen or you arrived in Australia before 4 March 1997 (or before 1 February 2000 if you are a New Zealand citizen - see below), and Centrelink decides that you have a newly arrived resident’s waiting period, contact a Welfare Rights Centre/Advocate for advice. □ Who is exempt from the newly arrived resident's two year waiting period? The newly arrived resident's waiting period may not apply to you if you: • hold or previously held a...
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...Research Proposal on Refugee issues in Australia Name Instructor Task Date 1. Introduction. Refugees who are defined as people that are residing outside their countries of origin have a different reason for their migration to other countries. Sometimes referred to as asylum seekers, the individuals commonly seek refuge in other countries as they flee from harsh economic social and political conditions present in their countries of origin. Since time immemorial, Australia has had international obligations to protect the refugee’s rights starting from how they arrive to where they arrive. The Australian government is internationally obliged under different treaties that ensure that the human rights of the refugees are respected as well as protected. According to (Phillips & Spinks, 2013, p.241), the number of refugees that arrive to Australia by boat is approximately 4586. Research question, significance and aims of the research (I) Research questions * What accounts for the high number of refugees that arrive to Australia per annum? * What are the necessary actions, to ensure that the management of refugees and asylum seekers that come to Australia is done in the appropriate manner? * Is there a link between the number of refugees that arrive to Australia per year and the quality of service that the refugees receive from the department of immigration and citizenship? (II) Significance The significance of this study is to: * Examine...
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...The offensive use of the word “boat people” is used within Australian society, taken from the Australian Government as an instrument to “other” individuals trying to enter Australia to seek asylum. To help comprehend the complex phenomenon of “others”, it is comparable to stereotyping, used to uphold social order. Richard Dyer (Hall, Evans & Nixon 2013) debates that “we represent people and places that are different from us with a representational practice, which we call stereotyping, which involves feelings, attitudes and emotions, and it also provokes fears and anxieties”. This ‘othering’ is a preface for the Australian Government to disregard their human rights responsibility, proclaiming that it is good for Australia. “Stop the boats” is the slogan and catchphrase the Australian Government and Australian society use when discussion of and around asylum seekers issues. This has triggered asylum seekers to be seen as a political concern instead of a humanitarian issue. Asylum seekers are used for political advance, playing on racial stereotypes or ‘others’ to strike fear within the Australian society. As the political concerns rage on, the public restrain understanding and compassion for asylum seekers. With...
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...manage the aberrations in wellbeing results for Indigenous individuals. Social determinants for the Indigenous population have led to poorer medicinal service’s availability and lower levels of mental and physical health. Developing a domain with fortress from mental and physical abuse as well as offering possibilities for self-awareness is all indispensable for expanded and euphoric lives of Indigenous peoples. There...
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...Best Practices To Support Asian Women Who Have Been Trafficked Into Australia for the Sex Trade: a research proposal It has become evident that our service, Women’s Community Centre, is experiencing a growth in the number of Asian women using our facility. A review of the case notes has revealed symptoms and histories that would indicate that many of these women may have been trafficked into Australia for the purpose of sex slavery industry. As a social worker, at the Women’s Community Centre, there is a need to research issues surrounding this cohort of women and the best practices that may be implemented to support them without causing further risk of harm. I ask that the board of Women’s Community Centre support this research. Human trafficking is described by the United Nations (2009) as the acquisition of persons by improper means, either by force, fraud or deception, with the explicit aim of exploiting these persons. World Vision (2012), state that people who are trafficked are placed into many different exploitive situations. These include: ‘commercial sex workers, sex shows, pornography….. non-commercial sexual exploitation through marriage’. They also note the rise in online sexual exploitation through the use of video-cams and the internet. Literature Review With the increase number of Asian women, who are presenting to our service, who state they have been bought to Australia and now find themselves ‘bonded’ and working in the sex trade industry, it has...
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...are evident cries for help which sparks off debates on the government’s abilities to find a successful solution to the asylum issues. Australia has been criticized due to the requirements of compulsory immigration detention for ‘all unlawful non-citizens, (including asylum seekers)’ (Phillips & Spinks 2013, p.1). The other controversial issue of Australia regarding the asylum seekers is also the claims that it has been avoiding it’s responsibilities under the United Nations refugee conventions by making it hard for asylum seekers to claim refugee protection. Although the Australian government is undertaking various asylum policies in response to the constant increasing influx of refugees and asylum seekers entering the country, many are still constantly suffering and the human rights of these inhumane policies need to be further addressed. This essay will emphasize the inhumane asylum policies by weighing the negative aspects, but also addressing the government’s response in dealing with the asylum issues. Many have questioned the need for the mandatory detention of asylum seekers upon arrival especially when there is no exclusion for women and children. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has found that this policy is an infringement of human rights as it does not fulfill the conditions of Australia respecting the right of freedom and not subjecting people to detention, nor that even if detention was essential, it should be for a valid reason and detention...
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...has been shaped by two disparate ideologies, the initial white Australia policy, and the current policy of multiculturalism. The white Australia policy comprised legislation designed to safeguard Australia as a nation reserved for white residents, whereas multiculturalism is a process that constructively integrates cultural diversity into the national identity. This essay argues that the white Australia policy has had a significant impact on Australian culture and continues to overshadow the success of multiculturalism. First, this essay explains the motivations and legislations that established the white Australia policy, and the subsequent effects on early Australian society. Next, it discusses the discarding of the white Australia policy and the implementation of multiculturalism. Finally, this essay assesses the impact of the white Australia policy on contemporary Australian culture. During the late 1800s there was public and political discussion as to Australia’s future as a white nation (Bulletin 1886). This was prompted by the frequent racial tension and sporadic violence between white settlers and Chinese immigrants. The 1901 parliamentary debates concerning immigration show that although a belief in white racial supremacy was predominant, commercial concerns and fears of invasion were also involved. For example, some members extolled the superiority of a ‘snow-white’ Australia (Commonwealth of Australia 1901 pp. 4626, 4648, 4666). Whereas, other members protested that...
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