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Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander fathering discourses: what does the data tell us about educational involvement with their children?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 09:02 authored by Jacob PrehnJacob Prehn, Huw PeacockHuw Peacock
Primary caregivers play an important role in the lives of Indigenous children. They help them to grow up strong and achieve educational success. The colonisation of Australia has resulted in a negative discourse portraying Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men as drunks, low-achievers and poor fathers. This paper aims to challenge this stereotype by using data from the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children. A univariate and bivariate analysis is undertaken to examine Indigenous and non-Indigenous fathers and involvement in the lives and education of their children. Results show no significant difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous fathers and that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander fathers are positively engaged in their children’s education despite experiencing structural disadvantages. These findings challenge the discourse that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men are poor fathers. To help Indigenous children grow up strong, Indigenous fathers need support to overcome the negative effects of colonisation.

History

Publication title

Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues

Volume

22

Issue

3-4, September-December

Pagination

1-10

ISSN

1440-5202

Department/School

School of Social Sciences

Publisher

Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© Moondani Toombadool Centre, Swinburne University of Technology

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services not elsewhere classified; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education not elsewhere classified