Footprints in Time, the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. Regional differences in family life, health practices and early education

Abstract

Often Indigenous people are asked to give an opinion as to what other Indigenous people think, feel and experience. The search for a quick answer denies the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ experiences, choices and lifestyles. One of the major points of diversity is that of location- urban, regional and remote. As participants in the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents talk directly from year to year about how they raise their children, the issues they face and their thoughts on a wide range of issues that impact on children’s learning, development and socialisation. This presentation gives an overview of some of the choices, experiences and issues that have been found in the first three waves of data from Footprints in Time, a study of around 1600 children across Australia. These are looked at by Level of Relative Isolation (LORI), which contrasts families living in urban areas (no isolation) to families in low, moderate and high/extreme isolation. This shows sometimes surprising similarities and differences in family composition and family life; use of health services and health practices; and childcare and early education.