“Our Family Will Never Be The Same”.

Earlier this year, protesters took to the streets over deaths in custody. But racism in the health system should also come under scrutiny say the family of Naomi Williams.

Thank you for this story @amymcquire https://primer.com.au/naomi-williams-family-racism-health-system/

"In Australia, more than a dozen studies have revealed that far from being confined to the justice system, institutional racism is common within the health sector, too."

Indigenous Australians are one third less likely to receive the same care as other Australians. They wait longer to receive elective surgery, and have poorer survival rates from cancer, because they’re less likely to be referred to a specialist and wait longer for surgery.

One in three Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders report that they experience racial discrimination in the health system “most” or “all” of the time.

“Naomi William’s case was the first case where a judicial officer found that prejudice had contributed to the death of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Coroners in other states have been less willing to explore issues of systemic racism,” says @GeorgeNewhouse

“Colonial violence includes not treating someone properly, not investigating their conditions, not giving them the right medication, turning people away from emergency departments. That’s violence. And it’s as violent as holding people down.” Dr Chelsea Bond @drcbond