Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Wellbeing

4725.0 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A focus on children and youth, Apr 2011
MEDIA RELEASE

29 April, 2011
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
50/2011

Speaking an Indigenous language linked to youth wellbeing

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in remote areas who speak an Indigenous language are less likely to experience risk factors associated with poor wellbeing, according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The report found that in 2008, almost half (47%) of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (aged 15–24 years) in remote areas spoke an Indigenous language. These young people were less likely to engage in high risk alcohol consumption and illicit substance use, than those who did not speak an Indigenous language. They were also less likely to report being a victim of physical violence.

However, the report also showed that there has been a decline in the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth who can speak an Indigenous language. In 2008, 13% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth could speak an Indigenous language, down from 18% in 2002.

Despite this decrease in Indigenous language skills, 21% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 3–14 years who did not speak an Indigenous language at home were learning one. About one in three (31%) children aged 3–14 years also spent time with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elder at least once a week.

In addition, the report found that youth who had been discriminated against because of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origins were less likely to have some characteristics associated with positive wellbeing.

In 2008, one-quarter (26%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth reported having experienced discrimination in the past 12 months because of their origins. These youth were less likely to be employed, studying full-time or able to get support outside of their households than those who had not experienced discrimination. They were also more likely to have experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress compared with their peers who did not experience discrimination.

More details on these and other topics are available in the April release of the report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A focus on children and youth (cat.no. 4725.0). Additional analyses of the children and youth data will be available later in 2011.

Media notes:
Psychological distress is measured using a modified version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. High scores indicate that feelings of anxiety or depression may be being experienced on a regular basis, whereas a low score indicates these feelings are experienced less frequently or not at all.
When reporting on ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
This page last updated 28 April 2011
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4725.0Media%20Release1Apr%202011?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4725.0&issue=Apr%202011&num=&view=


4725.0 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing: A focus on children and youth, Apr
2011

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

PUT YOUR BABY IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

It‘s important to understand that product sales In the ‗natural‘ and ‗organic‘ body care industry are driven by marketing and advertising gurus driven with the single intention of increasing profits for their clients. This is their role and they don‘t distinguish quality.... Many of the big cosmetics companies have jumped on the "organic" bandwagon regardless of their chemical preservative system, synthetic additives, fragrances and perfumes, plus a host of thousands of other chemical ingredients. Using catchy phrases like ―vitamin-e‖, "naturally-based ingredients", "green tea", "anti-oxidants" and many others, they hope to fool us into believing their products are natural, healthy and safe...and they're not!! Just read the labels. It‘s time to realise that our bodies are meant to be at one with nature and that technology whilst part of our lives, has become detrimental to the long term health of humans and our planet? So what can we do to change this? As an informed consumer you have the power to make change simply by using your ‗buying‘ power. Be conscious of the products you choose. As you ‗detox‘ your home you will improve the health and wellbeing of yourself, your fam-ily, your pets and the planet.
Together we can make a difference. It‘s called PEOPLE POWER

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT‘S IN YOUR BABY PRODUCTS?
Supermarket, drug store, pharmacy and health food store shelves are flooded with products that claim to be organic or natural and safe to use on your kids and you. However ‗eco-marketing‘ and ‗green‘ labelling‘ disguise the reality of the synthetic chemical ingredients in your baby products.
There is no enforcement or federal regulations in many countries that prevent companies from labelling these products natural or organic, even when they're loaded with synthetic ingredients! For example, many baby lotions that claim to be ‗organic‘ many contain Propylparaben, a toxic chemical known to cause skin rashes and allergic reactions.
Research shows contact with this chemical on babies or children should be avoided! Another example is a baby shampoo that also calls itself organic, but includes the ingredient Cocamidopropyl Betain, a chemical that causes eye and skin irritation! These synthetics have definitely not been approved as ‗organic‘ ingredients, nor would they be. Yet they are found in most of our personal care products and we‘re led to believe they are safe to use on us and our kids.
By the time you’ve read this book you will have the info you need to keep you and your family safe from exposure to these toxins.

2009 Niche Finders. All rights reserved.
They accumulate in the food chain and end up in our bones, organs, blood, fat, urine, ovaries and sperm. If you are pregnant they are passed onto your baby child via the placenta or later through your breast milk. (Article #1 - outlines the results of a study of the umbilical cords undertaken by the Red Cross. You may be shocked by what you read.) What‘s scary is that over half these chemicals have never been tested for their toxicity on humans, especially babies? So what happens when they‘re all mixed together to become a shampoo, bubble bath or baby lotion? Yes, you’re right! They become a toxic concoction!
About now you’re probably thinking how heavy this all feels. I’m hearing you!
How good do you feel knowing you are becoming wiser, more informed and
conscious about what‘s happening in your environment?
How does it get any better than that?
Copyright © 2009 Niche Finders. All rights reserved.

IS YOUR BATHROOM AS SAFE AS YOU THINK IT IS?

Did you know?
The greatest risk of CHEMICAL EXPOSURE for the Average Person is found in the BATHROOM
There are at least 125 suspected CARCINOGENIC ingredients found in everyday personal care products and cosmetics
Everyday products such as shampoo, bubble bath, toothpaste and moisturizer or body lo-tions including baby products contain industrial chemicals which are used in products such as engine degreasers, anti-freeze and oven cleaners
Your children may be in danger from baby shampoos, skin lotions, baby wipes and tooth-paste. According to doctors and medical researchers in the United States, Japan, Switzer-land and Germany, two common ingredients found in ordinary shampoos and skin products may be linked to cataracts, cancer, eye damage and even blindness in young children!
Artificial fragrances in most products contain neurotoxic substances and are toxic to hu-mans. They also decrease sperm count and formation.
Sodium Fluoride one of the active ingredients in Rat Poison is in commonly found in over 300 different types of toothpaste including children‘s varieties
Ingredients in many baby products such as Methyl Paraben are linked to cancer, reproduc-tive/developmental toxicity, allergies, immuno-toxicity and more. Bio-accumulation of these toxins are particularly harmful to babies because of the amount and long term expo-sure from birth.

Every day we buy products laced with a cocktail of chemicals causing us, our families and the en-vironment great harm. They are sold in supermarkets, health food stores, retail outlets and on-line advertised as natural, organic and safe to use.
Most of us have believed the lies and the hype… But now we know what to look out for .
Check the ingredient labels on the products in your bathroom cupboard and find out what they really are?
Be Vigilant! Check the ingredient list on your products.
Copyright © 2009 Niche Finders. All rights reserved.

Time to check ourselves- b 4 we wreck ourselves

Did you know?
In 1901 Cancer rates were 1 in 8000 – they are now 1 in 3 and rising
Between 1965 & 1982 over 4M distinct chemical compounds were made
At least 250,000 new chemicals have been made each year since 1982. They are found in our water, the air we breathe, the food we eat, what we put into and on our bodies and under the sink.

Most of these chemicals have never been tested for their effects on humans, animals or the environment
A study of umbilical cord samples from the American Red Cross found that babies in-utero have an average of 200 known toxic chemicals in their blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and a chemical used in the production of Teflon. All this even be-fore being born! (See ARTICLE #1)
Girls are reaching puberty at a younger age, sometimes as young as seven
More boys are being born with genital deformities than ever before
PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis and other hormonal problems are rife
Diseases such as Alzheimer‘s, Parkinson‘s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other immune related diseases are far more prevalent than they once were
Since 1980, asthma has increased by 600%. The Canadian Lung Association and the Asthma Society of Canada identify common household cleaners and cosmetics as triggers
There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer, such as leukemia, since the addition of pesticides into household products.(Source: National Cancer Institute)

Allergies and skin conditions have increased 10-fold
1 in 3 children and adults now suffer from Asthma or respiratory illness
ADHD etc are now commonplace - 7.7 – 12.8m children in the US alone have mental health problems such as ADD, ADHD, DEPRESSION
People suffering from depression has risen from one in twenty people to one in five
There are up to 110 chemicals used on apples alone – so much for an apple a day… They can be kept in cold storage for up to two years before you buy them so they gotta keep them looking fresh and stop them rotting somehow!!
Approximately 710 chemicals in our water supply & Over 10,000 chemicals used in food processing and preservation which increases every year.

These are just a few of the published statistics. There is now scientific and medical evidence which supports the correlation between the increase in cancers, immune related diseases, asthma, skin disorders and more and the introduction of synthetic man-made chemicals into our environment since the 1930‘s. It‘s something we can no longer pretend isn't happening...
I know this is scary stuff but congratulate yourself because you now have the information to question what‘s in the products you‘re using on Yourself, your Children and in your Home?  Stay tuned now to find out more and more and more.
Copyright © 2009 Niche Finders. All rights reserved.