Banjo, Well these communities were artificially set up as places where it was expected we would eventually die out. Is this your point? Or should we take responsibility for our historical relocation / impoundment on these concentration camps now that we are all 'equal'?

Whites living in remote areas is a choice they make, for many of us it was the only means of survival available. Sorry if I sound all unappreciative.

Rainier,
The point I was making was that all people that live in rural or remote areas have to go to cities for specialist medical treatment.
You are obviously well educated, so in your case to further your education and professional career. Many people have to leave their home community for work opportunities. I have lived in rural areas all my life, but when my licence won't be renewed or illness comes I will have to move to an urban area. I am not looking forward to that, but its a fact.

So I don't see anything unusual in aboriginal women having to go to a city for the birth of a baby. Its the way modern medicine works.

I can't walk in your shoes, but that shouldn't and won't stop me from commenting on any issue if I consider it worthwhile. It does concern me if one section of our community is dieing 20 years earlier than the rest. It also concerns me that children are abused and neglected by their parents in any location.

I think education for the kids and Job opportunities is the long term solution but how to acheive that is the big question. My only idea is to look to those few successfull communities and see what they do or don't do.

Banjo makes a very good point. There are communities doing quite well for themselves. What are they doing differently? We'd probably know if they were the ones we saw on current affairs shows all the time.

eet on Wednesday, 21 February: 'If you speak to any remote area nurse you'll find that Aboriginals are the most prodded, tested and over serviced segment of the population in the country.'

eet on Saturday, 3 March 'I’ll say it again. Aboriginals are the most prodded, tested and over serviced segment of the population.'

Banjo on Saturday, 3 March: 'Firstly, eet said "ask any remote nurse and they will tell you etc. etc". He was emphasising that medical services in most aboriginal communities was adequate or more so in some cases.'

Banjo on Sunday 4 March: 'My closest large centre has a population of 24,000 approx and last i heard they were having trouble getting a specialist Obstertrician. I think to do with very high professional insurance costs for them. So I would not think it likely that small communities would get specialist medicos. I think those with renal failure would also have to go to the large centres for dyalisis. Its all part of living in rural and remote areas.'

FranGol today: I think eet's grand claim (and Banjo's endorsement of it) has just been blown out of the water - by Banjo. It's obvious that medical services are far from adequate in Indigenous communities.

So what motivates eet to make such a grand and unsustainable claim in the first place?

Its been very interesting and informing to read over some of the posts on this article. A lot seems to come back to the need to have solutions. I dont think there are any easy solutions. I have said in past debates that problems with any class in society needs to be dealt with on an individual level, and that results shouldnt be expected within a generation. As a product of a conservative farming background, I can actually begin to appreciate the impact of being seperated from what made you who you are. I consider myself very lucky to be in the position that only extreme circumstances will remove the basis of my identity. I see my husband struggle with depression on an ongoing basis because he HAS had that removed from him, through no fault of his own. I really can appreciate it, as I know how much my land means to me.

Yes, there are good NURSING services provided to a number of remote indigenous communities. This is not the same as good medical services. Perhaps it should not be though. The provision of services should always bear some correlation to the demand. Yes, it may be truer that those whites that live in remote areas have chosen to - notice that I say truer. Note though that these remote black communities with what facilities they do have, would not exist were it not for white man setting them up. Would better medical services be available to those blacks living there if they were still nomadic? Probably not. I do say probably though, as its not a given

FrankGol,

I'll try to join the dots for you once again. Aboriginals receive completely free health care. This means there are no restrictions on how often they seek medical help. This is a good thing and I'm not arguing against it. However, as has been found in the wider community, when people receive medical services for free they tend to over use them. Poor understanding of medical conditions among remote Aborigines tends to exacerbate the problem. Hence, Aboriginals get constantly tested for all kinds of ailments ie they are 'prodded' for tests. (Rainier, no need for expensive academic studies, this is simply economics 101.)

Many whites spend a great part of their lives in communities but don't die 20 years earlier. If it's purely because of medical services why aren't whites dying earlier too?

Where is the distortion?

I'm not sure if I understand your response to the 'disgusting' question. You seem to be implying the children were clean with clean clothes yet some teacher decided to make them wash out of racism. Your original post said:
"In my first placement I was disgusted to find teachers wouldn't teach until the children showered and got into white fellers' clothes."

It seems pretty straightforward to me. I think you're doing the distorting now.

"Why did you assume they were filthy and naked?"

Well, normally people shower and change clothes when they're dirty. I do however see your point. You're trying to tie me by association to the teacher who suddenly became a racist when the link between hygiene and health was pointed out to you.

Mmm, I see who's "twisting the facts"

“So what motivates eet to make such a grand and unsustainable claim in the first place? “

Oh, I see, it’s confirmed; must be racism! At last, your poverty of ideas is confirmed. You’ve resorted to the last bastion of the inept. When all else fails; cry racism.

Rainier,

I’m in awe of your intellect. When I finally work out what ‘intersubjective discourse’ means I might feel worthy of your presence.