Family and cultural inclusion are essential for the healthy development of young Australian Indigenous peoples with low cognitive ability. To date, this issue has received limited research attention. A secondary analysis of data collected in Wave 4 of Footprints in Time, Australia's Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, was conducted to help address this research gap. The study results indicated that in some areas, Indigenous children with low cognitive ability are at a higher risk of social exclusion than their peers. We discuss the policy implications of these findings with regards to addressing Indigenous disadvantage.
IntroductionIn Western societyThere is considerable evidence to suggest that , children with low cognitive ability, along with children and young people with a disability in general, are at increased risk of often exclusionded from participating in family events, significant cultural practices, political engagement and education and community-based activities (UNICEF, 2007; World Health Organization and UNICEF, 2012; World Health Organization and World Bank, 2011). This is potentially a of major concern for Indigenous children, as research shows that engagement and participation in Indigenous culture and kinship systems play an integral role to the healthy development of children (Kelly, Dudgeon, Gee, & Glaskin, 2009;Lohoar, Butera, & Kennedy, 2014;Maher, 1999; Wise, 2013).The World Health Organization (WHO) (Alderete, 1999) has identified how European colonisation and colonialism have had a drastic effect on the health and welfare of millions of Indigenous peoples around the world. European colonisation attempted to destroy Indigenous cultural identity through Euro-centric assimilationist policies and practices (Hollinsworth, 2013). These Page 3 of 30 assaults on Indigenous cultural heritage and family/community solidarity are considered root causes of Indigenous communities around the world reporting higher rates of ill-health, disease and disability than their non-Indigenous counterparts