Indigenous household demography and socioeconomic status: The policy implications of 1996 Census data

The paper presents an analysis of indigenous household demography and economic status relative to non-indigenous Australian households. An innovative combination of economic analysis of 1996 Census data and ethnographic research is used, and reveals that indigenous households are experiencing substantial and multiple forms of economic burden in comparison to non-indigenous Australian households and that they display significantly different characteristics. The findings highlight a number of policy implications

Northwest Africa 11522: A New Paired Stone of Martian Polymict Regolith Breccia Northwest Africa 7034

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The economic status of Indigenous Australian families

A shorter version of this paper was presented to the International Year of the Family National Conference on 'Australian Families: the Next Ten Years', in Adelaide 20-23 November 1994. This longer paper presents a preliminary analysis of the economic status of Indigenous families relative to other Australian families. A methodological combination of economic analysis of current census data, and anthropological research is used in the paper, revealing that Indigenous families are experiencing substantial and multiple forms of economic burden in comparison to other Australian families. They also display significantly different structural and organisational characteristics which are assessed in terms of their economic impacts. Indigenous families are more likely to be sole parent families and have on average, a larger number of children and larger households. The adults are younger, have lower levels of education and are less likely to be in employment than other Australians. The poor economic position of Indigenous sole parents is highlighted, and the economic role of the aged, matrifocal families, young adults and children are considered. The paper concludes by examining the important policy and program implications raised by the research, and argues the need for an increased focus on the particular socioeconomic and locational circumstances of Indigenous families

The continuing disadvantage of Indigenous sole parents: a preliminary analysis of 1996 Census data

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of 1996 Census data relating to female Indigenous sole parents. It confirms results from the 1991 Census which show that sole parent families account for a larger share of Indigenous families than sole parents among other Australian families. Indigenous female sole parents tend to be younger, have larger numbers of children, less education and are less likely to be in employment than other Australian sole parents. All these factors have important implications for the economic status of Indigenous sole parent families and for any attempts to reduce welfare dependency and make them more economically self-sufficient. This preliminary analysis of inter-censal trend indicates that increasing numbers of such families are being formed and that they continue to have low income levels. Marginal increases in some areas of their educational qualifications and employment rate between 1991 and 1996, appear to be substantially offset by the greater proportion of female Indigenous sole parents leaving the mainstream labour force and identifying themselves as 'not in the labour force'. Indigenous sole parent families represent over one-third of Indigenous families with children; a proportion twice as high as for the wider population, and it appears that this proportion is increasing. Their access to education, vocational training and employment skills, and assistance with overcoming transportation and child-care barriers to participation in the workforce are especially critical to creating welfare exit options. The position of children within these families is a matter of concern and requires further community-based research and policy attention

The economic status of Indigenous Australian households: a statistical and ethnographic analysis

This paper presents an overview of the contemporary economic status of Indigenous households relative to other Australian households, based on an analysis of 1991 Census data and a review of ethnographic case study evidence. The analysis is expanded by a brief consideration of information on households from the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey. The paper complements an earlier one by Daly and Smith (1995) focusing on Indigenous families and is part of a longer-term project to investigate changes in the economic status of families and households over time. A multidisciplinary approach is employed, reviewing ethnographic case study research to give a qualitative depth to the quantitative analysis. The paper highlights critical differences in the socioeconomic status of Indigenous households relative to others and suggests a number of policy implications

Indigenous sole parent families: Invisible and disadvantaged

This paper identifies the key characteristics of Indigenous sole-parent families relative to other such Australian families and analyses the factors associated with their ongoing high levels of economic disadvantage using ethnographic research, the 1991 Census, the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (NATSIS), and the 1997 Department of Social Security (DSS) data

Developing Interventions for Children's Exercise (DICE): a pilot evaluation of school-based exercise interventions for primary school children aged 7 to 8 years.

BACKGROUND: Developing Interventions for Children's Exercise (DICE) is an initiative aimed at determining effective school-based exercise programs. To assess feasibility, we conducted a pilot study of exercise sessions which varied in duration and frequency. METHODS: Exercise interventions were delivered to Year 3 pupils (age 7-8 years; n = 73) in primary schools within Yorkshire, UK. Evaluations were conducted using focus group sessions, questionnaires and observations. RESULTS: The study revealed positive aspects of all interventions, including favorable effects on children's concentration during lessons and identified the value of incorporation of the DICE concept into curriculum lessons. Children appeared enthused and reported well-being and enjoyment. Areas requiring attention were the need for appropriate timetabling of sessions and ensuring the availability of space. CONCLUSION: The concept and sessions were well-accepted by teachers who confirmed their full support of any future implementation There appears to be potential for the encouragement and empowerment of teachers to support physical activity and healthy school environments, and to take an interest in the health of their pupils. Ultimately, these findings should assist in the design of successful exercise interventions in the school setting

A case study objectively assessing female physical activity levels within the National Curriculum for Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the National Curriculum for Physical Education (NCPE) lesson themes and contexts on the profile of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Fifteen, Year 9 PE lessons were assessed within the lesson themes of Outwitting Opponents (OO) (delivered through field hockey and netball) and Accurate Replication (AR) (delivered through gymnastics) using the System for Observing the Teaching of Games in Physical Education. Accelerometry identified MVPA within Physical Education Lessons (Actigraph-GTM1, 10-second epoch, MVPA ≥2296 counts/min). Among 112 females MVPA averaged 20.8% of available learning time. Significantly more MVPA was facilitated during OO than AR (22.7 vs. 15.9%, p<0.001, d=0.88). Within both lesson themes, warm-up was the most active lesson context while pre- and post-lesson general management were the least active. Contrary to expectations, neither small-sided nor modified games, vs. full sided games, increased MVPA within OO. During AR technical and applied skill practice resulted in low MVPA. Objective evidence has justified concerns about female adolescent MVPA within PE. At current levels an additional 17.5 minutes of MVPA per 60 minute PE lesson would be needed to meet the minimum 50% guideline

Initial effects of a free swimming pilot programme on the physical activity levels of young people.

Concerns remain over the physical activity (PA) levels of young people.1,2 Consequently, identifying interventions that are effective at encouraging young people to adopt and improve PA levels over the life course3 – especially those not meeting PA guidelines – is central to non-communicable disease prevention in later life.1 Efforts to increase PA levels through the promotion of swimming and aquatic activities for children and young people are one such option.4,5 Swimming has been referred to as the UK's ‘major participation sport’ and a mode of exercise that inactive groups contemplate when seeking to increase their PA levels.4 The aspiration to find effective and sustainable models of PA intervention necessitates rigorous monitoring and evaluation within the context where implementation takes place. With those thoughts in mind, this research set out to investigate the effectiveness of a local authority (LA) led pilot programme of free swimming (FS), with this paper reporting the initial key findings emerging from this study