This section introduces the research background on the health status of Indigenous Australians from 2000 to 2019, elaborates on the necessity and importance of the study, and also explains that the research was funded by a major project of the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education.

1 Introduction

This section introduces the historical background, identity, and demographic situation of Indigenous Australians, and elaborates on the purpose of studying the current health status, characteristics, and disparities with mainstream society of Indigenous people.

2 Literature Review

This section provides a comprehensive review of domestic and international literature in the field of Indigenous Australian health status research. Domestic research has gradually evolved from early translation work to independent studies, with the breadth and depth of research strengthening after the 1990s, and research topics further expanding in the 21st century. Relevant monographs such as "Ethnography of Australia" have explored Indigenous history, current status, and population evolution, while research papers focus on Indigenous policies, health status, and influencing factors. Although international research is abundant, the sources and quality of data have always been problematic. Studies show that the health status of Indigenous people is poor, with significant disparities compared to non-Indigenous people. Their health issues are related to factors such as colonial history and lifestyle changes. Chinese scholars have relatively limited research in this field, but with national development and the improvement of disciplinary layout, more attention should be paid to minority groups like Indigenous Australians to learn from their experiences and lessons, promoting the common development of different social groups.

3 Health Status of Indigenous People

This section provides a comprehensive analysis of the health status of Indigenous Australians from 2000 to 2019. First, from the perspective of average life expectancy, although the average life expectancy of Indigenous people is lower than that of non-Indigenous people, it shows an upward trend, and the growth rate in some periods exceeds that of non-Indigenous people. The average life expectancy of Indigenous men narrowed from being 11.5 years less than non-Indigenous men in 2005 to 8.6 years less in 2015. The average life expectancy of Indigenous women reached 75.6 years in 2015, which was 7.8 years less than non-Indigenous women, but the increase over the 10-year period was greater than that for non-Indigenous women. The life expectancy gap between Indigenous men and women is also narrowing. Second, from the perspective of health status, data collection improved after the 1980s. Surveys such as NATSISS and NATSIHS found a high prevalence of chronic diseases among Indigenous people, with 46% of Indigenous people suffering from at least one chronic disease, and the proportion with multiple chronic diseases showing an upward trend. Overall, Indigenous people self-assess their health as good, but the proportion rating their health as "fair" or "poor" is slowly increasing. In horizontal comparisons with non-Indigenous people, Indigenous people perform worse in most health-related indicators such as self-assessed health, number of chronic diseases, disability status, body mass index, and smoking rates. They perform slightly better only in alcohol control and meeting fruit consumption standards, but overall health status still requires improvement.

4 Discussion

This section discusses the health status of Indigenous Australians from 2000 to 2019. The life expectancy of both Indigenous men and women exceeds 70 years, with women exceeding 75 years. Male life expectancy is increasing rapidly, narrowing the gap with non-Indigenous people. The gender difference in life expectancy is similar to that in the United States but different from China. The health level of Indigenous people is lower than that of non-Indigenous people, with 46% suffering from chronic diseases, but 73% self-assess their health as good. Common chronic diseases include asthma, back problems, and arthritis, and the structure of diseases is changing. Indigenous people need to control disease conditions and mortality risks to improve life expectancy. The rising proportions of hypertension, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases among Indigenous people require attention.

5 Conclusion

This section summarizes the research conclusions, pointing out that Indigenous people need to exercise more restraint in their behavior to promote health, emphasizing the importance of enhancing their health awareness and behavioral changes. At the same time, it points out the shortcomings of the research, including data uncertainties and the lack of detailed studies on Indigenous people's interpretations of health, emphasizing the necessity of community participation and field surveys.