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Continuing Effects of Dispossession On Indigenous People
Continuing Effects of Dispossession On Indigenous People
Age structure of the Indigenous population and the cohort of young indigenous
peoples
★ In 2006, the median age was 21 years for indigenous Australians, and 37 years for
the non-indigenous population.
★ 38% of the Indigenous population were under 15 years of age compared with 19% of
the non-indigenous population
★ Indigenous peoples aged 65 years and over comprised of 3% of the total indigenous
population in 2006.
Mortality
★ For the period 2001-05, deaths recorded as being of an indigenous person
accounted for 3.2% of all deaths.
★ In queensland, western australia, south australia and the northern territory combined,
approximately 75% of indigenous males and 65% of indigenous females died before
the age of 65 years.
★ For the period 2001-05, indigenous infant deaths represented 6.4% of total
indigenous male deaths and 5.7% of total indigenous female deaths.
Infant mortality
★ In 2001 - 2005 approximately two to three times the number of indigenous infants
dies before their first birthday, as non-indigenous infants.
Chronic diseases
Cause of death Males SMR Females SMR
Communicable diseases
Tobacco smoking
★ Tobacco smoking was the leading cause of the burden of diseases and injury for
indigenous australians in 2003, accounting for 12.1% of the total burden and 20% of
all deaths.
★ In 2004-05, half of the adult indigenous population were current daily smokers.
Petrol sniffing
★ Across reports there appears to have been a drop from approximately 600 - 85
sniffers in central Australia with a drop from 178 to 80 sniffers on the Anangu
Pitjanjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands also reported over 2005-08