One of the earliest Australian Indigenous arts discovered was rock art, which dates back to around 30,000 years ago. Much older sites and art may exist. (National Museum Australia, 2023). Indigenous art comes in many forms: dance, music, storytelling, sculpting, carvings, engravings, weaving and painting. This art is still used today. Art is used to tell stories to express knowledge, events, way of the country, survival and beliefs. (Artlandish Aboriginal Art Gallery, n.d.). This helps to express Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's identity, culture, relationship to their country and spirituality through art. (The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2022).

 

References:

Artlandish Aboriginal Art Gallery. (n.d.). The Story of Aboriginal Art. https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/the-story-of-aboriginal-art/#:~:text=Indigenous%20art%20is%20centered%20on,and%20use%20of%20the%20land

 

National Museum Australia. (2023). First rock art. https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/first-rock-art#:~:text=Australian%20rock%20art%20has%20been,older%20sites%20on%20the%20continent

 

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. (2022). Art and Authenticity. https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/art-and-authenticity#:~:text=Aboriginal%20and%20Torres%20Strait%20Islander,people%20to%20ancestors%20and%20kin

 

 

University of Aberdeen. (2021). What are the different languages of Scotland?. https://www.aberdeen-isc.ac.uk/blog/languages-of-scotland#:~:text=Scottish%20Gaelic%2C%20or%20Scots%20Gaelic,to%20aspects%20of%20local%20history

 

Celtic Titles. (n.d.). History of Irish Dance. [Photograph]. https://www.celtictitles.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-irish-dancing/

 

Claddagh Design. (2014). Everything you Need to Know about Irish Dancing. [Photograph]. https://www.claddaghdesign.com/blogs/irish-interest/everything-need-know-irish-dancing

Danceus.org. (n.d.). Irish Dance. https://www.danceus.org/irish-dance/

 

Dance World. (n.d.). Do my Irish pumps fir me?. [Photograph]. https://danceworld.ie/blogs/news/do-my-irish-dancing-pumps-fit-me

Historical Boys Clothing. (2013). Irish Step Dancing. [Photograph]. https://histclo.com/act/dance/danceir.html

Pattie Wells’ DanceTime. (n.d.). Irish Dance & Irish Dancing Shows. [Photograph]. https://www.dancetime.com/dance-styles/irish-dance/

Wilson, V. (2018). A Step in Time: The Story of Irish Dance. [Photograph].https://costumesociety.org.uk/blog/post/a-step-in-time-the-story-of-irish-dance

World Irish Dance Association. (n.d.). [Photograph of Irish dancers on podium]. https://www.irish.dance/

 

 

Sports are a big part of the Aussie culture, whether you are participating in the sport or following the sport. Some of the most popular sports in Australia include AFL, cricket, rugby, netball, surfing, tennis and soccer. Not only is this sporting culture good for your physical health, but it is also good for your social and mental well-being. Participating in the sport is good for physical health but the mateship that also comes with it. You can make friends on your sports team or meet new people by following the sport, whether it be the local clubs or the big leagues. This is good for one's social and mental well-being.

 

While it is essential to ensure you eat healthy and eat the required daily intake of nutrients such as carbohydrates and vitamins, it is always nice to treat yourself to a sweet treat. 

 

One British treat I like is a scone. While a scone did not originate in England, it is a popular treat. A scone is a small, light, biscuit-like bread commonly topped with jam and cream.

 

Below is a link for a recipe:  

 

Boerewors sausage originated in South Africa and is one of their favourite meaty snacks (Susmans Best Beef Biltong Co, n.d). What makes Boerewors unique is how it is made. It must contain beef but can also include pork or lamb. It must be made up of at least 90% meat, with no more than 30% of the meat content containing fat and the other 10% remaining for spices, seasoning and preservatives (Sarah, 2020).

 

Food can be cultural, traditional, religious and family aspects, but sharing different cultural food around the world in a way brings us all together. 

References:

 

Sarah. (2020). Boerewors (South African Sausage) and a Taste of South African Safari. Curious Cuisiniere. https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/boerewors/#:~:text=What%20makes%20boerewors%20stand%20out,%2C%20say%2C%20a%20German%20wurst

 

Susmans Best Beef Biltong Co. (n.d). The History of The Boerewors Sausage. https://www.biltong.co.uk/blog/article/boerewors-sausages-facts#:~:text=The%20South%20African%20boerewors%20sausage,that%20translates%20to%20'sausage

 

SDH 1: Income and Social Protection

The income and socioeconomic status determinants of health are linked to quality of life, life expectancy and disease risk (The Lancet Public Health, 2020). Migrants and refugees can face practical and legal challenges to access this social protection. This can have repercussions, including adverse impacts on income security, poverty, inequality and social integration (International Labour Organization, n.d.).

 

SDH 2: Education

Having an education is associated with having better health throughout life (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016). Less education is often associated with lower income, which is linked to poorer health (Tulane University, 2021). Having an education empowers refugees and migrants by obtaining the knowledge and skills they need to live a productive, fulfilling and independent life, as well as enabling them to learn about themselves and the world around them while still trying to rebuild their lives and communities again (The UN Refugee Agency, n.d.a). Sometimes, it can be challenging for parents to send their children to school as they may be scared to send them due to discrimination, thinking they will lose ties with their native countries' culture, religion and identity or not having sufficient information about the advantages of going to school (The UN Refugee Agency, n.d.b)

 

SDH 3: Unemployment

When migrants and refugees come to Australia, they can find it hard to find a job, and this is due to several reasons. This can include a language barrier, they come over thinking they have qualifications, but when they get here, it might not be to the same standard, so it doesn't count, and sometimes people are just disrespectful (Refugee Council of Australia, 2017). The psychosocial stress caused by unemployment strongly impacts physical and mental health and well-being. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022).

 
References:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2016). Social determinants of health. https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/11ada76c-0572-4d01-93f4-d96ac6008a95/ah16-4-1-social-determinants-health.pdf.aspx#:~:text=Educational%20attainment%20is%20associated%20with,make%20informed%20health%20care%20choices. 

 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). Social determinants of health. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/social-determinants-of-health#:~:text=The%20psychosocial%20stress%20caused%20by,social%20interaction%20and%20personal%20development

International Labour Organization. (n.d.). Extending Social Protection to Migrant Workers, Refugees, and their Families: Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/labour-migration/publications/WCMS_826684/lang--en/index.htm#:~:text=They%20face%20legal%20and%20practical,inequality%20and%20on%20social%20integration.

The Lancet Public Health. (2020). Income, health, and social welfare polices. The Lancet Public Health, 5(3), Article e127. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30034-7/fulltext#:~:text=Socioeconomic%20status%20and%20income%20are,the%20effects%20of%20unhealthy%20lifestyles.

Refugee Council of Australia. (2017). Fairfield multicultural interagency refugee council of Australia. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Jobactive.pdf

The UN Refugee Agency. (n.d.). Education. https://www.unhcr.org/au/what-we-do/build-better-futures/education

The UN Refugee Agency. (n.d.). Starting Out- Why education for refugees matters. https://www.unhcr.org/au/starting-out-why-education-refugees-matters#:~:text=Without%20sufficient%20information%20about%20the,%2C%20cultures%2C%20religions%20and%20identities

Tulane University. (2021). Education as a Social Determinate of Health. https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/social-determinant-of-health-education-is-crucial/#:~:text=Less%20education%20is%20linked%20to,people%20in%20better%20financial%20circumstances

World Health Organisation. (n.d.). Social determinate of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1

 

Malaria 

What is it? Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by certain types of mosquitoes. Some symptoms include extreme tiredness and fatigue, impaired consciousness, difficulty breathing, dark or bloody urine and abnormal bleeding (World Health Organization, 2023b).

Treatment: Malaria is always treated with medications and can be several medications simultaneously, including chloroquine and primaquine. Getting treatment as soon as possible is essential to reduce disease and prevent death (World Health Organization, 2023b).

Hepatitis C: 

What is it? Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause acute and chronic illness, affect the liver, and be life-threatening. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood. It can be contracted by sharing needles or syringes and unsafe medical procedures such as using unscreened blood products (World Health Organization, 2023a).

Treatment: The goal is to cure the disease and prevent long-term liver damage. This can be done through antiviral medications, it can also help to make lifestyle changes (World Health Organization, 2023a).

HIV 

What is it? Human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, is a viral infection that attacks the body's immune system, specifically the white blood cells. This weakens a person's immunity against other diseases (World Health Organization, n.d.).

Treatment: HIV is an entirely preventable viral disease. Antiretroviral medicines can be used to stop the transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, and condoms should be used to prevent HIV and other STIs. While HIV does have a treatment, it does not cure it; it reduces the replication of the virus in the blood. Continuous medication should be taken throughout a person's life to help keep the disease under control. If that medication stops working for some reason, there are other medications that the person can have (World Health Organization, n.d.).

If you are interested in learning more about this, for example, what some other conditions are or where the most common, you can find it in this link:

References:

Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. (n.d.). Primary care for people from refugee backgrounds. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/

World Health Organization. (2023). Hepatitis C. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c

World Health Organization. (n.d.). HIV. https://www.who.int/health-topics/hiv-aids#tab=tab_1

World Health Organization. (2023). Malaria. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria