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Deadly Steps: Indigenous Youth

Duration: 54 minutes

Program ID: 821b | Purchase Price: $105.00 (DVD)

 “That great transition zone from childhood to adult is a big step in anyone’s language.”  Prof Ted Wilkes

Health disadvantage for Indigenous Australians begins at birth and continues throughout life, reflecting entrenched social and economic disadvantage.  By the time of adolescence, the effects are evident.  Indigenous young people experience higher levels of stressful life events and trauma, a poorer diet and nutrition than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and are more likely to suffer from a serious health disability. They have lower levels of educational attainment, and higher rates of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use; and they are more likely to engage in serious risk-taking behaviour. 
It is now clear, however, that a strong cultural identity is a significant protective factor for Indigenous young people, and evidence confirms that Indigenous-specific interventions have had considerable success in improving their health and education outcomes generally. 
 
Deadly Steps deals with adolescent development issues from ages 13 to 18.  The program explores several community-based initiatives that are proving effective in addressing disadvantage, and are having significant impact on the health and well-being of Indigenous young people. Featured case studies include a football-based program in a high school in Kununurra, WA; a young women’s group in Palmerston, NT; and Tirkandi Inaburra, aculturally-based residential program for Indigenous boys aged 12-15 near Coleambally, NSW.  
 
Deadly Steps is presented by Roxanne McDonald, well-known Indigenous actor, and follows on from the Foundation's program Step by Step:  Indigenous Kids, 6 to 12 Years.
 
A shorter - 26 minute - version of this program, entitled Strong and Deadly, is available from the Foundation.

Program Presenters

  • Mr Tom Calma - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Professor Jonathan Carapetis - Director, Menzies School of Health Research
  • Associate Professor Helen Milroy - Director, Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health
  • Dr Chris Sarra - Director, Indigenous Education Leadership Institute
  • Associate Professor Ted Wilkes - Chairperson, National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee
See details of presenters for this program

Learning Outcomes

  • identify the socio-economic factors that impact on the health and well-being of Indigenous youth
  • recognise the connections between positive educational experiences and improved health outcomes
  • understand the significance of a strong cultural identity for Indigenous young people
  • use the principles underpinning the case studies to improve health care delivery for Indigenous youth

Broadcast Dates

This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 18 November 2008.

Funding Bodies

Produced with funding from The Ronald Geoffrey Arnott Foundation, managed by Perpetual; Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund, The Ian Potter Foundation, The Marian & E H Flack Trust and The Milton Corporation Foundation.  Additional funding was provided by an untied educational grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd in support of better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Rural Health Education Foundation also contributed funding for this program. 

Accreditation

This program is accredited or endorsed for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.