A Comparative Study Of Australian Indigenous And Non Indigenous Education Essay Example for Free

A Comparative Study Of Australian Indigenous And Non Indigenous Education Essay Australia has a prominent discontinuity between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous life expectancy, educational achievement and employment opportunities. (Coag. gov. au. 2014) There is a pressing need for an Australian Indigenous Education Reform. This need for reform is especially necessary in remote and northern, socially disadvantaged Australian communities where attendance rates are low, along with low academic outcomes by Australian national standards. This reform needs to ensure consideration of Indigenous cultural needs and wants. The aim of this paper is to discuss the disparity between Australian Indigenous and Non-Indigenous persons’ Education and make recommendations based on the effectiveness of current reforms in place to minimise the inequality between the two demographics. The paper will look at attendance statistics of school aged children in primary school and high school, completion statistics of highest school qualifications completed, highest non-school qualification obtained and employment statistics for full time and part time Indigenous and non- Indigenous workers The most recent government implemented strategy will be briefly evaluated. Along with this, recommendations will be made. These suggestions can hopefully be modified and implemented in countries that have an inconsistency their in nationwide education statistics. Placing high importance on the improvement of Australia’s Indigenous and Non-Indigenous education disparities will create a ripple effect and improve Indigenous health and employment opportunities. Children who attend school on a daily basis will be exposed to health and wellbeing syllabus, putting their knowledge into practice within their community. Indigenous Primary school children with regular attendance will have an easier transition into secondary school, with the improved likeliness of achieving a higher non-school qualification thus positively affecting the distribution of workers in society. For the purpose of this paper, the following tables bellow will be referred to and the information within will be used to support and stimulate discussion. INDIGENOUS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RECORDINGS 3 TO 5 YEARS OF AGE AGE MAJOR CITY REMOTE AREA VERY REMOTE AREA 3 31% 12% 14% 4 63% 59% 55% 5 87% 77% 70% Table 1 Source: Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4713. 0). This table shows the percentage of three to five year old Indigenous children attending an educational institution such as a preschool or primary school in a major city, remote or very remote area. As expected, the attendance decreases as remoteness increases. There isn’t much disparity with the four and five year old age group’s attendance, however less than half three year old Indigenous children in a major city attend an educational facility in a major city and then this figure almost halves again when looking at children in very remote areas. INDIGENOUS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RECORDINGS 15 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE AGE MAJOR CITY REMOTE AREA VERY REMOTE AREA 15 77% 67% 53% 16 60% 49% 34% 17 44% 29% 16% Table 2 Source: Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4713. 0) The results in this table are noticeably alarming. In remote and very remote areas, 50% or under of Indigenous teenagers from the ages of fifteen, sixteen and seventeen years are attending school. If only 16% of seventeen year old Indigenous students are attending high school, then there is a very low chance of young Indigenous persons graduating from the final year of high school. In major cities, not even half of Indigenous seventeen year olds are attending high school. It’s highly unlikely that with an attendance rate is only 44% from seventeen year olds in major cities, that many of those students will continue on to complete a non-school qualification. HIGHTEST LEVEL OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY INDIGENOUS SATUS AND AGE AGE GROUP 18-24 25-34 35-54 55 and over total Indigenous Highest Level (%) Year 12 or equivalent 32 28 15 8 19 Year 11 or equivalent 14 13 9 2 11 Year 10 or equivalent 25 26 34 16 28 Non-Indigenous Highest Level (%) Year 12 or equivalent 71 68 76 27 45. Year 11 or equivalent 10 9 12 7 10 Year 10 or equivalent 13 16 29 26 24 Table 3 Source: Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006 (cat. no. 4713) The information gathered in the above table shows that the highest school level qualification of Indigenous people is Year 10 or the equivalent and for Non-Indigenous people its Year 12 or equivalent. As assumed, for Indigenous persons, the amount of Year 12 completions declines with age. Indicating that perhaps, programs put in place to support Indigenous education has been effective. However, overall, only 19% of Indigenous persons have completed Year 12. Further studies showed that 14% of Indigenous people had completed Year 8 or the equivalent as their highest school qualification. This was exactly double the amount of Non-Indigenous persons who had completed Year 8 or the equivalent and only 5% lower than the amount of Indigenous persons who completed Year 12 or the equivalent. The disparity between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous young people (age 18 to 24 years) who have completed Year 12 of equivalent is a huge 40%. These statistics of the highest school qualification received reflects on the results of highest non-school qualifications. . Indigenous (%) Non-Indigenous (%) Males Females Males Females Higher than a Bachelor degree 1. 0 1. 4 5. 9 5. 9 Bachelor degree 2. 9 5. 0 14. 3 16. 8 Advance Diploma or Diploma 3. 1 5. 3 7. 8 10. 3 Certificate III and IV level 15. 8 8. 3 25. 8 8. 5 Certificate I and II level 1. 4 2. 5 0. 7 1. 6 Certificate not further defined 1. 2 2. 0 1. 4 2. 7 Not stated or inadequately stated 17. 6 13. 9 6. 2 7. 3 No non-school qualifications 57. 1 61. 7 37. 9 46. 8 PERSONS AGED 26-64 YEARS WITH A NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION BY INDIGENOUS STATUS AND GENDER. Table 4 Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Australia, 2006 This table displays the non-school qualifications achieved by Indigenous and Non-Indigenous males and females. Following on from the highest school qualification results, it was not surprising to find that more Non-Indigenous Australians had received certificates III and IV, diplomas, advanced diplomas and Bachelor degrees or higher. It was disconcerting to note that more than 50% of Indigenous males and females had no non-school qualification. The majority of both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians had completed a certificate III or IV. Further research showed that Indigenous persons living in major cities, when compared to those in regional or remote areas, were more than two and a half times more likely to complete a non-school qualification (39% and 15% respectively). However, strangely for Non-Indigenous persons with a non-school qualification in remote communities, there was not a disparity as larger between those that lived in major cities (58% for major cities and 48. 6% for remote areas. LABOUR FORCE STATUS BY INDIGENOUS STATUS Indigenous Total (%) Full Time Employment 27. 7 Part Time Employment 16. 6 Non-Indigenous Full Time Employment 50. 0 Part Time Employment 19. 1 Table 5 Source: 2006 Census of Population and Housing, Australia, 2006 The above is a small overview of the overall percent of full time and part time employment for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. ABSENTEEISM Days Absent Total Days School Terms Missed Years of School Missed 1 day per week 451 9 2 years, 1 term 1. 5 days per week 676. 5 13. 5 3 years, 1. 5 terms 2 days per week 902 18 4 years, 2 terms 3 days per week 1353 27 6 years, 3 terms 5 weeks per term 1127. 5 22 5 years, 2 terms Average 5 days per term 220 5. 5 1 year, 1. 5 terms Average 10 days per term 440 11 2 years, 3 terms ABSENTEEISM OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME Table 6 Source: Cycles For Success DETE, SA, 2002 p. 44. The above table calculates the impact of absenteeism over a long period of time, highlighting the severity of prolonged absenteeism. Even a child who only has 5 days off a term, every term can be affected; they will miss a total of 1 year and 1. 5 terms, that’s a lot of curriculum covered in that time. An abridged version of Reasons for prolonged absenteeism from School attendance and retention Of Indigenous Australian students. †¢ Parental-condoned absenteeism, parents failing to accept their legal responsibilities †¢ Poor parental/carer attitudes towards schools †¢ Insufficiently valuing education †¢ Inadequate welfare support practices, especially in the early years of schooling †¢ Inconsistent approach to absenteeism between and within schools †¢ Unsuitable curriculum for some pupils †¢ Too few out-of-school/alternative curriculum places †¢ Bullying, peer pressure, ‘cool’ to skip school †¢ Lack of career aspirations and low self esteem †¢ Inconsistent policies and practices of local schools, education welfare services and schools’ policy documents on attendance †¢ Inconsistent referral policies between schools. †¢ Local unemployment, poverty, poor community facilities †¢ Differences between boys’ and girls’ aspirations and achievements (Purdie Buckley, 2010) MOST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED GOVERNMENT STRATERGY In December, 2013 Indigenous Affairs Minister Scullion released an announcement of a new two- year strategy to improve Indigenous school attendance. â€Å"A child attending school 70 per cent of the time is not receiving a proper education. A recent COAG report on education showed there had been no improvement in attendance of Indigenous students over the past five years and in some areas it is going backwards. It is horrific to think that in the Northern Territory, only 13 per cent of kids are attending school 80 per cent of the time. This has to change. † Minister Scullion said the two-year strategy, which is in addition to strategies discussed by COAG last week, would improve school attendance by engaging local people in each community to get kids to school. $28. 4 million will be provided over two years to: ? Employ Attendance Supervisors to manage and develop up to five School Attendance Officers in each community ? Appoint School Attendance Officers through the Remote Jobs and Communities Programme (RJCP) to work with families to get kids to school. Five officers will be engaged for each 100 enrolled children (scaled to suit local situations) ? Provide support for children to attend school with funds from the Indigenous Communities Strategic Investment and Community Development Funds for uniforms, vehicles and office space† Schlievs, M. (2011). Evaluation of Two Year Strategy RECOMMENDATIONS Introduce vocational training within schools Vocational training should be encouraged at a school level. It not only provides a post school pathway into a non-school qualification, but it provides incentive for everyday attendance and a valid reason to participate in school. Students who don’t intend on completing year 12 can obtain a non-school qualification before they leave high school, providing them with a means to enter a non- school qualification post-high school if they so wish. It will also allow students to go straight into employment post school. Schools can be set up to accommodate VET (Vocational Education and Training) and VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning). These structured programs run in schools allow high school aged children to engage in ‘hands-on’ learning in the classroom with small assessment tasks leading to a certificate. Many Australian Indigenous communities are low socioeconomic areas; if their high schools operate these programs within the school they are providing a financially viable way for students to review a non-school qualification. Adapt curriculum to incorporate Indigenous cultural needs and wants Many Indigenous students have poor attendance because the school curriculum does not appeal to them, their family or their communities’ culture. To have students actively engaged in school, both attendance and their education, the school syllabus needs to reflect the environment the children live in. Simple adoptions can make a large difference to a child’s education. For example, ensuring the level appropriate reading lists has Indigenous story books. There are a large range of Australian Indigenous children’s picture books and novels for older children that are written by Indigenous authors and based in Indigenous communities. If a child is reading a book with a setting they’ve never encountered before, it will become difficult to engage the child in activities and it will become easier for the child to become disinterested in their education and as a result their attendance will decrease. Art and storytelling are prominent features of Australian Indigenous culture, so is spending time exploring the natural environment and learning valuable lessons from community Elders in regards to understanding the natural resources in the area, such as edible plants. Unfortunately, these skills the children acquire in their home life aren’t reflected in school curriculum, making the children and their families feel not only that their culture isn’t valued, but attending school isn’t relevant to them and their community lifestyle. Encouraging more parent participation in children’s schooling It is easier for a child to attend school if the parent or guardian encourages, supports and helps further their education in the home. When parents are stringent on their child’s attendance, it assists the school in having the child attend each day. For a parent to be involved in the child’s formal learning, they must be a involved with the school community. Schools and educators acknowledge that learning first comes from the home, and in the case of Indigenous culture, it comes from the wider community. It would be very fitting for the school in Indigenous communities to run community days and activities in which the children and their families can participate, making it easier for families to accept the school as part of the community. Financial assistance outside of school educational assistance Indigenous students can miss large portions of school during the time of Sorry Business. When Aboriginal people mourn the loss of a family member they practice Aboriginal death ceremonies, or Sorry Business. The family will leave the community for an extended period of time, and if they choose to return to the community, they will move houses. This can cause a large amount of absence for a school child, or if they move to a new community, they may never enrol back into school again. It’s difficult for a child to catch up on such a prolonged absence. If, as part of the national plan for lack of Indigenous student absences, a funded educator could assist children a community centre, such as a religious place, health centre of community recreation centre to catch up on missed school work, it would be most beneficial. This program could also be used to provide extra assistance to children who are falling behind in their school work, before they decide it’s too difficult and never return to school. Initiatives such as this are respectful to the culture, but also combat the issue of students not returning to school after prolonged absence. CONCLUSION It is important to first discover what is causing the problem, before deciding on a strategy to solve a problem. Indigenous communities need to find out from their youth what would encourage them to attend and be engaged at school. Education is a foundation for any community, whether it is developed or developing. In the case of Australian Indigenous communities, school ages education doesn’t only assist a person achieve a qualification, it is important for social development, encouraging health and wellbeing in a community and will enhance future employment opportunities. There is a pressing need for an Australian Indigenous Education Reform. This need for reform is especially necessary in remote and northern, socially disadvantaged Australian communities where attendance rates are low, along with low academic outcomes by Australian national standards. This reform needs to ensure consideration of Indigenous cultural needs and wants. Any recommendations that have been made, can be adapted to assist with similar situations in various countries with remote education being behind the national benchmark in major cities. REFERENCES Abs. gov. au. (2014). Indigenous statistics for schools. [online] Retrieved from: http://www. abs. gov. au/websitedbs/cashome. nsf/4a256353001af3ed4b2562bb00121564/95ed8 14872649b0dca25758b000314ef! OpenDocument [Accessed: 12 February]. Abs. gov. au. (2014). Indigenous statistics for schools. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.abs. gov. au/websitedbs/cashome. nsf/89a5f3d8684682b6ca256de4002c809b/5cd416 49a06a3033ca25758a0080249e! OpenDocument [Accessed: 20 February 2014]. Coag. gov. au. (2014). Closing the gap in indigenous disadvantage | council of australian governments (coag). [online] Retrieved from: https://www. coag. gov. au/closing_the_gap_in_indigenous_disadvantage [Accessed: 20 February 2014]. Daretolead. edu. au. (2014). Attendance: research and approaches. [online] Retrieved from: http://www. daretolead. edu. au/RES_IS_ATT [12 February 2014]. Ferrari, J.. (2012). Reforms failing to close indigenous schools-gap. The Australian. Humanrights. gov. au. (2014). Statistical overview. [online] Retrieved from: http://www. humanrights. gov. au/publications/statistical-overview-aboriginal-and-torres-strait- islander-peoples-australia-social [Accessed: 12 February 2014]. Indigenous. gov. au. (2013). Minister scullion: government unveils plan to get remote indigenous children back to school | indigenous. gov. au. [online] Retrieved from: http://www. indigenous. gov. au/minister-scullion-government-unveils-plan-to-get-remote- indigenous-children-back-to-school/ [Accessed: 12 February 2014]. Kearns, K. (2010). The business of childcare. Frenchs Forest, N. S. W. : Pearson Australia. Kearns, K. Austin, B. (2007). Birth to big school. Frenchs Forest, N. S. W. : Pearson Education Australia. Mychild. gov. au. (2014). Programs for indigenous families | mychild. [online] Retrieved from: http://www. mychild. gov. au/pages/FamiliesProgIndigenousFam. aspx [Accessed: 3 January 2014]. Purdie, N. Buckley, S. (2010). School attendance and retention of indigenous australian students. issues paper no. ERIC. Schlievs, M. (2011). Aboriginal children in remote areas missing school for weeks. The Australian, September.

The Debate of Human Cloning Essay -- Cloning Clones Science Genetics E

Missing Appendix The Debate of Human Cloning Human cloning has become a hot topic for debate. As we progressed one step closer to successfully cloning and developing a human being, legislators and the general public have become more concerned about the ethical and moral implications of this procedure. The federal government has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement as to what policy to pass and enact. Thus, any current legislation on human cloning has been developed and enforced by individual states. The state of California is one of the few states in the United States that has a policy on human cloning. Human cloning is banned in the state of California. Because current policy does not allow for any human cloning to take place, many research projects have come to a standstill. Scientists have still been able to carry out certain cloning procedures that may not be viewed as ethical by the general public as a result of loopholes in current legislation. It is recommended that the current policy in place be revised to eliminate these loopholes and rewritten to permit human cloning to take place to generate the tissue and cells needed for therapeutic development and research to take place. The ban on human cloning should only apply when the procedure is used for reproductive purposes because current research has shown that it is not safe to use in humans at this time(Appendix A.1). With proper restrictions and guidelines in place, society stands to gain many benefits through permitting human cloning for the purpose of research. DRAFT April 17, 1999 M E M O R A N D U M TO: California State Legislators and Governor Gray Davis DATE: April 17, 1999 SUBJECT: Recommendation that the state of California continues its ban on human cloning but revise the current policy to permit human cloning for research. BACKGROUND On July 5, 1996, researchers in Scotland made history when they announced the birth of Dolly, the world’s first successful cloning of a sheep (Appendix A.1). The world was shocked. The ability to reproduce human beings without sexual reproduction was no longer only an idea to be explored in sci-fi movies and books. After over forty years of research and development, human cloning is quickly becoming a reality. The basic technique used to clone humans and animals, somatic-cell nuclear transfer, involves the insertion of DNA from a soma... ...MA. 1997;278: 13-14. 11) http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html 12) Wise, Jacqui. â€Å"Bills on Human Cloning Are Full of Loopholes.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 573. 13) http://www.usfca.edu/cloning/ 14) http://www.humancloning.org/ 15) Mayor, Susan. â€Å"UK Authorities Recommend Human Cloning for Therapeutic Research.† British Medical Journal. 1998;317: 1613. 16) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.894. 17) Bower, Hilary. â€Å"Public Consultation on Human Cloning Launched.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 411. 18) http://www.seattletimes.com/health-science/html98/clon_012098.html 19) Benatar, D. â€Å"Cloning and Ethics.† QJM. 1998;91: 165-166. 20) Josefson, Deborah. â€Å"US Scientist Plans Human Cloning Clinic.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 167. 21) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 415. 22) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 248. 23) http://www.ebglaw.com/newsstand/cloning.html 24) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.435. The Debate of Human Cloning Essay -- Cloning Clones Science Genetics E Missing Appendix The Debate of Human Cloning Human cloning has become a hot topic for debate. As we progressed one step closer to successfully cloning and developing a human being, legislators and the general public have become more concerned about the ethical and moral implications of this procedure. The federal government has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement as to what policy to pass and enact. Thus, any current legislation on human cloning has been developed and enforced by individual states. The state of California is one of the few states in the United States that has a policy on human cloning. Human cloning is banned in the state of California. Because current policy does not allow for any human cloning to take place, many research projects have come to a standstill. Scientists have still been able to carry out certain cloning procedures that may not be viewed as ethical by the general public as a result of loopholes in current legislation. It is recommended that the current policy in place be revised to eliminate these loopholes and rewritten to permit human cloning to take place to generate the tissue and cells needed for therapeutic development and research to take place. The ban on human cloning should only apply when the procedure is used for reproductive purposes because current research has shown that it is not safe to use in humans at this time(Appendix A.1). With proper restrictions and guidelines in place, society stands to gain many benefits through permitting human cloning for the purpose of research. DRAFT April 17, 1999 M E M O R A N D U M TO: California State Legislators and Governor Gray Davis DATE: April 17, 1999 SUBJECT: Recommendation that the state of California continues its ban on human cloning but revise the current policy to permit human cloning for research. BACKGROUND On July 5, 1996, researchers in Scotland made history when they announced the birth of Dolly, the world’s first successful cloning of a sheep (Appendix A.1). The world was shocked. The ability to reproduce human beings without sexual reproduction was no longer only an idea to be explored in sci-fi movies and books. After over forty years of research and development, human cloning is quickly becoming a reality. The basic technique used to clone humans and animals, somatic-cell nuclear transfer, involves the insertion of DNA from a soma... ...MA. 1997;278: 13-14. 11) http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html 12) Wise, Jacqui. â€Å"Bills on Human Cloning Are Full of Loopholes.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 573. 13) http://www.usfca.edu/cloning/ 14) http://www.humancloning.org/ 15) Mayor, Susan. â€Å"UK Authorities Recommend Human Cloning for Therapeutic Research.† British Medical Journal. 1998;317: 1613. 16) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.894. 17) Bower, Hilary. â€Å"Public Consultation on Human Cloning Launched.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 411. 18) http://www.seattletimes.com/health-science/html98/clon_012098.html 19) Benatar, D. â€Å"Cloning and Ethics.† QJM. 1998;91: 165-166. 20) Josefson, Deborah. â€Å"US Scientist Plans Human Cloning Clinic.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 167. 21) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 415. 22) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 248. 23) http://www.ebglaw.com/newsstand/cloning.html 24) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.435. The Debate of Human Cloning Essay -- Cloning Clones Science Genetics E Missing Appendix The Debate of Human Cloning Human cloning has become a hot topic for debate. As we progressed one step closer to successfully cloning and developing a human being, legislators and the general public have become more concerned about the ethical and moral implications of this procedure. The federal government has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement as to what policy to pass and enact. Thus, any current legislation on human cloning has been developed and enforced by individual states. The state of California is one of the few states in the United States that has a policy on human cloning. Human cloning is banned in the state of California. Because current policy does not allow for any human cloning to take place, many research projects have come to a standstill. Scientists have still been able to carry out certain cloning procedures that may not be viewed as ethical by the general public as a result of loopholes in current legislation. It is recommended that the current policy in place be revised to eliminate these loopholes and rewritten to permit human cloning to take place to generate the tissue and cells needed for therapeutic development and research to take place. The ban on human cloning should only apply when the procedure is used for reproductive purposes because current research has shown that it is not safe to use in humans at this time(Appendix A.1). With proper restrictions and guidelines in place, society stands to gain many benefits through permitting human cloning for the purpose of research. DRAFT April 17, 1999 M E M O R A N D U M TO: California State Legislators and Governor Gray Davis DATE: April 17, 1999 SUBJECT: Recommendation that the state of California continues its ban on human cloning but revise the current policy to permit human cloning for research. BACKGROUND On July 5, 1996, researchers in Scotland made history when they announced the birth of Dolly, the world’s first successful cloning of a sheep (Appendix A.1). The world was shocked. The ability to reproduce human beings without sexual reproduction was no longer only an idea to be explored in sci-fi movies and books. After over forty years of research and development, human cloning is quickly becoming a reality. The basic technique used to clone humans and animals, somatic-cell nuclear transfer, involves the insertion of DNA from a soma... ...MA. 1997;278: 13-14. 11) http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html 12) Wise, Jacqui. â€Å"Bills on Human Cloning Are Full of Loopholes.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 573. 13) http://www.usfca.edu/cloning/ 14) http://www.humancloning.org/ 15) Mayor, Susan. â€Å"UK Authorities Recommend Human Cloning for Therapeutic Research.† British Medical Journal. 1998;317: 1613. 16) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.894. 17) Bower, Hilary. â€Å"Public Consultation on Human Cloning Launched.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 411. 18) http://www.seattletimes.com/health-science/html98/clon_012098.html 19) Benatar, D. â€Å"Cloning and Ethics.† QJM. 1998;91: 165-166. 20) Josefson, Deborah. â€Å"US Scientist Plans Human Cloning Clinic.† British Medical Journal. 1998;316: 167. 21) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 415. 22) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p. 248. 23) http://www.ebglaw.com/newsstand/cloning.html 24) Furrow, Barry, et al. Health Law: Cases, Materials and Problems. St. Paul: West Group, 1997, p.435.

Economics Syllabus

CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations Correspondence related to the syllabus should be addressed to: The Pro-Registrar Caribbean Examinations Council Caenwood Centre 37 Arnold Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, W. I. Telephone Number: (876) 920-6714 Facsimile Number: (876) 967-4972 E-mail address: [email  protected] org Website: www. cxc. org Copyright  © 2008, by Caribbean Examinations Council The Garrison, St. Michael BB 11158, Barbados This document CXC A20/U2/08 replaces CXC A20/U2/03 issued in 2003. Please note that the syllabus was revised and amendments are indicated by italics and vertical lines.First Issued 2003 Revised 2008 Please check the website www. cxc. org for updates on CXC’s syllabuses. RATIONALE1 AIMS 2 SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO BE ASSESSED2 PRE-REQUISITES OF THE SYLLABUS3 STRUCTURE OF THE SYLLABUS3 UNIT 1: MICROECONOMICS MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY 4 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 12 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY 17 UNIT 2: MACROECONOMICS MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY27 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES28 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS36 OUTLINE OF ASSESSMENT44REGULATIONS FOR PRIVATE CANDIDATES 55 REGULATIONS FOR RESIT CANDIDATES56 ASSESSMENT GRID57 RESOURCES58 GLOSSARY59 T T he Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) are designed to provide certification of the academic, vocational and technical achievement of students in the Caribbean who, having completed a minimum of five years of secondary education, wish to further their studies. The examinations address the skills and knowledge acquired by students under a flexible and articulated system where subjects are organised in 1-Unit or 2-Unit courses with each Unit containing three Modules.Subjects examined under CAPE may be studied concurrently or singly, or may be combined with subjects examined by other examination boards or ins titutions. The Caribbean Examinations Council offers three types of certification. The first is the award of a certificate showing each CAPE Unit completed. The second is the CAPE diploma, awarded to candidates who have satisfactorily completed at least six Units, including Caribbean Studies. The third is the CAPE Associate Degree, awarded for the satisfactory completion of a prescribed cluster of seven CAPE Units including Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies.For the CAPE diploma and the CAPE Associate Degree, candidates must complete the cluster of required Units within a maximum period of five years. Recognized educational institutions presenting candidates for CAPE towards the award of the Council’s Associate Degree in nine categories must, on registering these candidates at the start of the qualifying year, have them confirm in the required form, the Associate Degree they wish to be awarded. Candidates will not be awarded any possible alternatives for which they d id not apply. T ? RATIONALEEconomics is the study of how society provides for itself by making the most efficient use of scarce resources so that both private and social welfare may be improved. The subject, therefore, covers the study of individuals, households, firms, government and international economic institutions as they attempt to make better use of scarce resources. The study of Economics enables individuals to develop a better understanding of the economic issues which affect them and the world in which they live. It will also enable students to offer informed comments on economic matters.The knowledge gained from this course in Economics will be of lifelong value to the student. The influence of the subject on all areas of activity should stimulate the individual to continue reading and conducting research in Economics. It is recognised that persons doing this course may be drawn from different backgrounds and may possess different interests. Some may wish to study Econom ics as preparation for further specialisation in the subject. Others may study the subject to complement other subject disciplines, such as, careers in finance, accounting or law.Some students may see the subject as one worthy of study in its own right. Students of Economics will be able to contribute, significantly, to economic and social development in the Caribbean and the wider world by acting as catalysts for wider awareness of social and economic issues. A study of Economics at the CAPE level will be of benefit to all students by introducing them to the philosophy which underlies everyday economic interactions. The study will also train the student to think logically, critically and impartially on a variety of contentious issues. AIMS The syllabus aims to: 1. promote understanding of the basic principles and concepts of economics which are accepted in large measure by economists while recognising that the field is changing continuously; 2. develop an appreciation of the variou s methods used by economists in analysing economic problems; 3. develop an understanding of the global economy and of the relationships between rich and poor nations with respect to international trade and finance and the most important international financial institutions; 4. ncourage students to apply economic principles, theories and tools to everyday economic problems, for example, inflation, unemployment, environmental degradation, sustainable development and exchange rate instability and to contribute meaningfully to any dialogue on these issues; 5. encourage students to apply economic theory to the critical issues which affect the small open Caribbean-type economy; 6. encourage students to evaluate contentious economic issues so that decision-making may be informed by logical and critical thinking; 7. sensitize students to the need for ethical behaviour in the conduct of economic transactions. SKILLS AND ABILITIES TO BE ASSESSED The assessment will test candidates’ ski lls and abilities to: 1. identify and explain economic theories, principles, concepts and methods; 2. interpret, analyse and solve economic problems using economic models and concepts; 3. develop structural and reasoned expositions and evaluate economic theories and policies. PRE-REQUISITES OF THE SYLLABUS Successful participation in this course of study will be enhanced by the possession of good verbal and written communications skills. A good foundation in Mathematics would be an asset to students doing this course.STRUCTURE OF THE SYLLABUS The Syllabus is arranged into two Units. Each Unit consists of three Modules, each Module requiring 50 contact hours. UNIT 1: MICROECONOMICS Module 1-Methodology: Demand and Supply Module 2-Market Structure, Market Failure and Intervention Module 3-Distribution Theory UNIT 2: MACROECONOMICS Module 1-Models of the Macroeconomy Module 2-Macroeconomic Problems and Policies Module 3-Growth, Sustainable Development and Global Relations Lists of reso urces are provided in the syllabus. The lists provide information that may be helpful for the study of each Module.It is advised that the topics listed in the sections do not necessarily follow sequentially. Teachers may thus introduce certain concepts before others. It is recognised that Economics may be taught using a strictly qualitative approach or a strictly quantitative approach. However, a proper mix of the two approaches is critical to the understanding of the subject at this level. Teachers are advised, therefore, that proper delivery of the subject would involve the integration of the two approaches. ? UNIT 1: MICROECONOMICS MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLYGENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: 1. appreciate the main problem of economics namely, the allocation of scarce resources and the inevitability of choice; 2. understand the laws, principles and theories governing demand and supply; 3. understand the basic tools of economic analysis. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: Central Problem of Economics Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of scarcity; 2. apply the concept of opportunity cost in a variety of real-life situations; 3. explain the concept of production possibilities frontier (PPF); . use the production possibilities frontier to indicate constant returns, diminishing returns and increasing returns; 5. account for shifts in the production possibilities frontier (PPF); 6. differentiate between positive and normative economics; 7. outline the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative mechanisms by which resources are allocated. CONTENT 1. The meaning of scarcity, free goods and economic goods. 2. (a)Definition of opportunity cost. b) Choice: what, how and for whom to produce. UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) ) The concept of opportunity cost applied to economic agents (individuals, households, firms and governments). 3. (a)Assumptions: maximum output attainable, g iven full employment and constant state of technology. (b)Regions: attainable, unattainable, efficient and inefficient levels of production. 4. Production possibilities frontier: slopes and shapes. 5. Use of production possibilities frontier to show growth and technological change. 6. Examples of positive and normative statements. 7. Different types of economic systems: traditional, market, planned and mixed. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESTOPIC 2: Theory of Consumer Demand Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of utility; 2. explain the law of diminishing marginal utility and the limitation of marginal utility theory; 3. explain the meaning of indifference curves and budget lines; 4. explain consumer equilibrium using the marginal utility approach; 5. explain consumer equilibrium using the indifference curve approach; 6. isolate the income and substitution effects of a price change; 7. explain effective demand; 8. derive the demand curve using both the marginal utility and indiffe rence curve approaches; 9. ifferentiate among normal, inferior and Giffen goods; 10. distinguish between shifts of the demand curve and movements along the curve; UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) 11. identify the factors that affect demand; 12. explain the meaning of consumer surplus; 13. explain price elasticity, income elasticity and cross elasticity of demand; 14. calculate numerical values of elasticity; 15. interpret numerical values of elasticity; 16. assess the implications of price elasticity of demand for total spending and revenue; 17. state the factors that determine the price elasticity of demand.CONTENT 1. Utility: total, marginal, cardinal (marginalist approach), ordinal (indifference curve approach). 2. (a)Explanation of diminishing marginal utility. (b)The main assumptions and limitations of Marginal Utility Theory. 3. Indifference curves and the budget constraint (budget lines). 4. The law of equi-marginal returns. 5. The point of tang ency of the budget line to the indifference curve. 6. Income and substitution effects of a price change. 7. Effective demand. 8. Deriving the demand curve using the marginal utility as well as the indifference curve approach. . Normal, inferior and Giffen goods using the indifference curve approach. 10. Shift versus movements along demand curves. 11. Price and the conditions of demand. 12. Consumer surplus including graphical representations. UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) 13. Price, income, and cross elasticities. 14. Calculation of values of elasticity. 15. Classification and interpretations (sign and size); including the drawings and interpretations of graphs. 16. The implications of price elasticity of demand for total spending and revenue. 17.Factors that determine the price elasticity of demand. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Theory of Supply Students should be able to: 1. identify the factors of production; 2. explain the term production functio n; 3. differentiate between the short run and long run; 4. explain the law of diminishing returns; 5. calculate total, average and marginal physical product; 6. explain the relationships among total, average and marginal physical product; 7. identify the stages of production as they relate to total, average and marginal product; 8. calculate total, average, marginal and other costs; 9. xplain the relationship among total, average and marginal costs; 10. explain why supply curves are usually positively sloped; 11. explain the concept of producer surplus; 12. explain the shape of the short run and long run supply curves; UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) 13. explain returns to scale and the concepts of economies and diseconomies of scale; 14. distinguish between a movement along the supply curve and a shift in the supply curve; 15. explain the concept of elasticity of supply; 16. calculate elasticity of supply; 17. interpret elasticity of supply. CONTENT . Factors of production: land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship. 2. Relationship between output and input. 3. Fixed and variable factors. 4. The law of diminishing returns. 5. Calculation of total average and marginal physical product. (See suggested teaching and learning activities). 6. Change in the relationship as input increases. 7. Production and its stages, as they relate to the total, average and marginal product including the use of graphs. 8. (a)Fixed cost, variable cost, total cost, marginal cost, average fixed cost, average variable cost, average total cost, sunk costs. ) The shape of the long run average total cost curve. c) Productive optimum. 9. The relationship between total, average and marginal cost including the use of graphs. 10. Relationship between quantity supplied and price. 11. Producer surplus including graphical representations. UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) 12. Relationship between marginal cost and the average cost in the short run and long run. Explanation of why the supply curve is the section of the marginal cost curve above the average variable cost and average total cost. 13. (a)Long run and economies of scale. ) Factors determining economies of scale. c) Internal and external economies of scale. d) Diseconomies of scale. 14. Price and the conditions of supply. 15. Concept of elasticity of supply. 16. Calculation of elasticity of supply. 17. Classification and interpretation (size of coefficient) including the drawing and interpretation of graphs. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 4: Market Equilibrium Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of the market; 2. explain market equilibrium; 3. calculate equilibrium price and quantity; 4. outline factors that cause changes in equilibrium; . evaluate the impact of price controls on market equilibrium; 6. analyse the effects of taxation and subsidies on market equilibrium. UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) CONTENT 1. The concept of the market. 2. Equilibrium price, equilibrium quantity. 3. Use of demand and supply data to calculate equilibrium price and quantity. 4. Changes in conditions of supply and demand. 5. The effects of price ceilings and price floors on equilibrium. 6. (a)The effects of taxation and subsidies on market equilibrium. (b)The incidence of an indirect tax.Suggested Teaching and Learning Activities To facilitate students’ attainment of the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in the teaching and learning activities listed below. 1. For topic 1, Central Problem of Economics, let students provide examples from personal life, the home, firms and government to demonstrate opportunity cost and the production possibilities frontier (PPF). 2. For topic 2, Theory of Consumer Demand, let students derive their own schedule and plot the demand curve for commodities which they use in their everyday lives. 3.For utility, use water or any other drink to show the different levels of satisfaction (utility). Use the data to derive total and marginal utility curves. 4. For the concept of elasticity, teachers may use two types of materials, one that could change in varying degrees and the other which remains the same regardless of circumstances. Teachers should then apply this concept to market conditions illustrating the concepts of elasticity and inelasticity. 5. For deadweight loss, teachers may use the graphs for consumer and producer surplus to show how market intervention may lead to loss welfare (deadweight loss). 6.For stages of production, allow students to derive the total average and marginal product curves using simulated data. Use the results of the graphs to point out the different stages of production. An example is given below. UNIT 1 MODULE 1: METHODOLOGY: DEMAND AND SUPPLY (cont’d) GRAPH SHOWING THE STAGES OF PRODUCTION [pic] (i)Stage 1occurs up to the point where APPL is at its maximum. (ii)Stage 2 occurs fr om the point where APPL is at a maximum up to the point where MPPL is zero. In this stage new workers add to total physical output. (iii)Stage 3 occurs when MPPL is negative. The producer will operate in stage 2.In stage 1 there is insufficient labour being used (up to the point where MPPL is at its maximum) and the output per worker is increasing. In stage 3 the producer gets no addition to total physical output from additional workers. It would be possible to have more total physical product with less labour applied to a fixed factor (say machinery). UNIT 1 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION GENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: 1. appreciate the distinction between the different types of market structures; 2. develop awareness of the causes of market failure; . appreciate the measures that can be adopted to reduce or eliminate market failure; 4. appreciate the arguments which suggest that government intervention may not necessa rily improve economic performance. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: Market Structure Students should be able to: 1. outline the goals of the firm; 2. explain how firms measure profits; 3. explain the concepts of average, marginal and total revenue; 4. explain the concept of market structure; 5. outline the characteristics of the different market structures; 6. distinguish among the different market structures; 7. xplain the factors that influence the pricing and output decisions of the firm; 8. calculate measures of industrial concentration; 9. interpret measures of industrial concentration. UNIT 1 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION (cont’d) CONTENT 1. Profit maximization, growth, satisficing, sales and revenue maximization, market dominance. 2. Total revenue, total cost, normal and economic (abnormal) profit. 3. Relationship between average, marginal and total revenue. 4. Types of market structures: perfect competition, monopoly including price discrimin ation, monopolistic competition, oligopoly and cartels. . Characteristics of the different market structures. a) barriers to entry; b) control over market and price; c) nature of the good; d) numbers of buyers and sellers; e) competitive behaviour and performance. 6. Focus on all characteristics of the different markets in addition to profit maximization. a) Examples of close approximations of market structures in the Caribbean. 7. Marginal cost and marginal revenue, total cost and total revenue, marginal cost pricing and average cost pricing. 8. Herfindahl Hirschman Index – the percentage of an industry’s output produced by its four largest firms (four-firm concentration ratio): pic] where si is the market share of firm i in the market, and n is the number of firms. 9. (a)Interpretation related to market structures. b) Limitations of measures of industrial concentration. UNIT 1 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION (cont’d) SPECIFIC OBJECT IVES TOPIC 2: Market Failure Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of economic efficiency; 2. distinguish among private goods, public goods and merit goods; 3. distinguish between social costs and private costs and social benefits and private benefits; 4. explain the concept of market failure; 5. explain what is meant by deadweight loss; . outline the causes of market failure. CONTENT 1. Inclusion of discussion of Pareto efficiency. 2. (a)Examples of private goods, public goods and merit goods. (b)Discussion of issues of rivalry and exclusion. 3. Social costs, private costs, social benefits, private benefits, external costs, external benefits. Use of graphical representations. 4. Divergence of social costs and social benefits and efficiency. Use of graphical representations. 5. Deadweight loss including verbal and graphical representations. 6. Causes of market failure: a) monopoly; b) public goods and merit goods; c) externalities: positive and negative;UNIT 1 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION (cont’d) d) divergence between social and private costs and social and private benefits; e) imperfect information; f) asymmetric information: adverse selection and moral hazard; g) open access to resources; h) lack of property rights (squatting, streams, ocean); i) non-existence of markets (for trading). SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Intervention Students should be able to: 1. evaluate the measures used by government to correct market failure; 2. evaluate the measures used by the private sector to correct market failure. CONTENT 1.Measures used by government to control market failure: a) -regulation; – anti-trust policy; – taxation; – privatisation and deregulation; – state ownership; – subsidies; – legislation; – market creation (tradable permits); b) pros and cons of government intervention; c) -merits and demerits; – effectiveness of intervention in Caribbean societies (effect of small size in relation to policy making). UNIT 1 MODULE 2: MARKET STRUCTURE, MARKET FAILURE AND INTERVENTION (cont’d) 2. Private Sector Intervention: (a)corporate code of conduct; (b)corporate social responsibility; (c)voluntary agreements; (d)corporate ethics.Suggested Teaching and Learning Activities To facilitate students’ attainment of the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in the teaching and learning activities listed below. 1. For price discrimination, teachers could identify the first, second and third degree price discrimination using different examples from students’ experiences. Teachers should then illustrate by use of diagrams. 2. For the kinked demand curve model, teachers may use the daily newspaper or mobile phone industry as examples. UNIT 1 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY GENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: . understand what accounts for the returns that accrue to the owner s of the factors of production; 2. appreciate the issues surrounding poverty and the measures used to alleviate poverty; 3. develop skills in applying microeconomic analysis to critical social issues involving income inequality. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: The Demand for and Supply of Factors Student should be able to: 1. explain the rewards of the factors of production; 2. explain the concept of derived demand; 3. outline the marginal productivity theory; 4. apply the marginal productivity theory to the demand for land, capital and labour; 5. nalyse the factors affecting the supply of land, capital and labour; 6. analyse the factors determining rent, interest and wages; 7. distinguish between transfer earnings and economic rent. CONTENT 1. Rent, interest, wages and profits. 2. Derived demand. 3. (a)The assumptions and limitations of Marginal Productivity Theory. (b)Marginal Physical Product, Marginal Revenue Product and their relationship. UNIT 1 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY (con t’d) 4. The value of the Marginal Product: a) land; b) labour; c) capital – using present value (use of graphical representation required). 5.The fixity of land, the supply of loanable funds and the labour supply. 6. The demand for and supply of factors. 7. Numerical, graphical and verbal explanations of transfer earnings and economic rent. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 2: Wage Differentials Student should be able to: 1. explain the concept of wage differentials; 2. analyse imperfections in the labour market; 3. analyse the effect of labour mobility on wages; 4. explain the concept of compensating wage differentials; 5. explain the role of Government, Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations in the pricing of labour. CONTENT 1.Differences in wages within industries and among industries. 2. Imperfections on the demand side (for example, differences in marginal productivity) and on the supply side (for example, geographical immobility). 3. The mobility and immobility of labour; geographical (migration of workers), occupational. 4. Compensating (equalizing) differentials. UNIT 1 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY (cont’d) 5. The minimum wage rate; monopsonies; migration of workers; collective bargaining; trade union strategies, the role of employers’ associations; efficiency wage. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Income inequality, Poverty and Poverty AlleviationStudents should be able to: 1. differentiate between size and functional distribution of income; 2. explain the concept of income inequality; 3. explain the measures of income inequality; 4. explain the measures used to reduce income inequality; 5. distinguish between absolute and relative poverty; 6. outline factors that contribute to poverty; 7. explain why certain categories of people are more susceptible to poverty than others; 8. evaluate the different ways used to measure poverty; 9. outline strategies used by Governments to alleviate poverty; 10. analyse the economic costs of poverty; 1. assess the economic benefits of government intervention to alleviate poverty. CONTENT 1. Size and functional distribution of income. 2. How income is distributed. 3. Lorenz curve measurement of income inequality; and Gini coefficient (interpretation only). 4. Measures to reduce inequality: taxes, subsidies, transfers. UNIT 1 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY (cont’d) 5. Absolute versus relative poverty. 6. Factors that contribute to poverty including: a) social and physical environment; b) discrimination – gender, race; c) restrictions on certain economic activities; d) non-ownership of resources; ) family size; f) single parent; female- headed families. 7. Persons who are most susceptible to poverty: (a)people with special needs; i) physically challenged; ii) elderly; iii) youth; iv) single parent families; v) indigenous people; (b)reasons – Limited access to employment, level of training, legislation, availability of income to share among family. 8. Wa ys used to measure poverty: a) basic needs; b) poverty line; c) head count; d) UNDP Human Development Index (HDI). UNIT 1 MODULE 3: DISTRIBUTION THEORY (cont’d) 9. Strategies to alleviate poverty: a) transfer payments; b) free education and health care; ) housing; d) minimum wage legislation; e) equal employment opportunities; f) Government employment creation(special works programmes). 10. The cost of poverty, including: a) unemployed human resources; b) lower potential output; c) inefficient allocation of Government expenditure; d) social and environmental costs. 11. Economic benefits including: a) provision of education and health leading to development of human capital; b) improvement in well- being as measured by the UNDP (HDI); c) more equitable distribution of income. Suggested Teaching and Learning ActivitiesTo facilitate students’ attainment of the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in the teaching and learning activities listed below. 1. Use knowledge from topic 3, unit 1, Theory of Supply, to derive the demand curve for factors of production. 2. Teachers may use graphical representation of the Lorenz Curve to illustrate unequal distribution of income. Teachers should also relate the Lorenz Curve to the GINI coefficient. Also show the effect of taxes on the Lorenz Curve and the GINI coefficient. UNIT 2: MACROECONOMICS MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMYGENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: appreciate the notion of National Income accounting and the importance of these accounts for macroeconomic theory and policy; 1. understand the views of the classical keynesian and monetarists schools; 2. understand the factors that influence the level of investment in an economy. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: National Income Accounting Students should be able to: 1. explain the circular flow of income; 2. explain the concept of National Income Accounting; 3. explain the different ways of der iving National Income Accounts; 4. nterpret National Income statistics; 5. use National Income accounts to analyze the performance on an economy as a whole; 6. derive real GDP from nominal GDP; 7. explain the limitations of GDP. CONTENT 1. Economic agents. 2. Gross Domestic Product (GDP),Gross National Product (GNP) and other measures. 3. Calculation of GDP, GNP and their components (personal income, disposable income), Net National Income (NNI), and per capita income; avoidance of double counting. UNIT 2 MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY (cont’d) 4. Total measures: a) GDP at market prices; b) GDP at factor costs. 5.Use of National income accounts to measure economic performance over time and to make inter-country comparisons. 6. Calculation of real and nominal GDP using the price deflator. 7. Limits of National Income Accounts as a measure of well-being: a) non-inclusion of the informal sector (the underground economy, illegal activities); b) non-payment for do-it-yoursel f activities; c) non-accounting for externalities, environmental degradation (Green GDP); d) the fact that it measures changes in the value of output but not changes in the quality of life. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 2: Classical models of the MacroeconomyStudents should be able to: 1. explain why within the classical model, all employment is voluntary; 2. explain how full employment is restored in the classical model; 3. explain the factors that influence aggregate demand; 4. explain the factors that influence aggregate supply; 5. interpret the classical long run supply curve; 6. explain price level determination within the classical model; 7. use the classical aggregate demand and supply model to show changes in the price level and employment. UNIT 2 MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY (cont’d) CONTENT 1. Flexibility of wages and prices. 2.The role of wage price and interest rate flexibility. 3. The factors that influence aggregate demand: a) consumer spending; b) investmen t spending; c) Government spending; d) net export spending. 4. Factors that influence aggregate supply including changes in input prices and incomes. 5. The assumptions of the vertical aggregate supply curve. 6. The interaction of the classical aggregate demand and supply curves. 7. Shifts in the aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Basic Keynesian Models Students should be able to: 1. explain the consumption function; 2. xplain the relationship between saving and consumption; 3. calculate the simple multiplier; 4. explain the effect of changes in investment on national income; 5. explain the effect of government spending on national income; 6. describe the effect of withdrawals and injections on national income; UNIT 2 MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY (cont’d) 7. explain the relationship between net exports and national income; 8. determine the equilibrium level of national income; 9. explain inflationary and deflationary gaps. CONTE NT 1. Autonomous and induced consumption. 2. (a)Income = consumption plus saving. b)marginal propensity to consume and save. (c)average propensity to consume and save. 3. Simple multiplier [pic]. 4. Relationship between changes in investments and national income. 5. Government’s expenditure and its effects on national income. 6. (a)Concepts of injections and withdrawals in an economy. (b)The effect of injections and withdrawals on national income. (c)Small multipliers in the Caribbean context due to leakages. 7. (a)Relationship between net exports (x – m) and national income. b) Exports as an injection and imports as a withdrawal. 8. Determination of equilibrium income using: a) 45 o line or E=Y; ) withdrawals and injections approach; c) the Keynesian aggregate demand and supply curves (long run and short run). UNIT 2 MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY (cont’d) 9. (a)Full employment level of output. (b)Actual level of output. (c)Equilibrium level of national i ncome could be either below, at or above potential level of output. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 4: Investment Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of investment; 2. differentiate between the investment demand curve and the investment curve; 3. explain the accelerator theory; 4. outlinethe factors that account for the volatility of investment.CONTENT 1. Investment (induced and autonomous). 2. (a)Marginal efficiency of capital (investment demand as a function of expected rate of return). b) Marginal efficiency of investment (non-interest rates as determinants of investment demand, taxes, costs, stock of capital goods on hand expectations). 3. Accelerator theory of investment. 4. Determinants of investment: a) The accelerator; b) Durability; c) Irregularity of innovation; d) Variability of profits, expectations and interest rates. UNIT 2 MODULE 1: MODELS OF THE MACROECONOMY (cont’d) Suggested Teaching and Learning ActivitiesTo facilitate students’ attainment o f the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in the teaching and learning activities listed below. 1. For topic 1, teachers should pay special attention to the rules of accounting working from the GDP down to consumption and savings. Teachers should also deal with the concepts such as market price and factor costs, as well as real GDP and normal GDP. Make use of the circular flow diagram from the closed economy to the open economy. 2. For topic 2, Classical Models of the Macroeconomy, teachers should use graphs to emphasize flexibility and the automatic return to equilibrium. . For topic 3, teachers could demonstrate the operation of the multiplier by using data to show the successive rounds of spending. Calculations and graphical representations of the multiplier are required. 4. Use the 45 ° line and average demand and average supply to show inflationary and deflationary gaps. 5. For topic 4, Investment, teachers may use tables to illustrate and expla in the accelerator, that is, the necessity to increase expenditure, constantly, for investment. UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES GENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: nderstand the reasons why an economy may be characterised by unemployment and how intervention may be used to improve economic performance; appreciate the role of the Central Bank in the economy; understand monetary and fiscal policy and their applications; understand the nature and burden of the national debt. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: Unemployment and Inflation Students should be able to: 1. explain what is meant by the labour force; 2. explain the unemployment rate; 3. distinguish between unemployment and underemployment; 4. evaluate the costs of unemployment; 5. explain the causes of unemployment; 6. valuate the policies used to reduce unemployment; 7. explain the causes of inflation; 8. distinguish between real and nominal variables; 9. explain how inflation is me asured; 10. explain the causes of inflation; 11. evaluate the effects of inflation; UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) 12. evaluate the policies used to combat inflation; 13. explain the relationship between the unemployment rate and inflation. CONTENT 1. Employed and unemployed. 2. The unemployment rate. 3. Unemployment and underemployment. 4. The effect on output, income and growth: additional financial burden on the state; social costs. . Labour immobility, other market imperfections, structural changes in the economy, inadequate aggregate demand, increase in labour force participation rate, seasonality, intervention. 6. Fiscal policy, monetary policy, wage subsidies, retraining programmes, investment tax credit, employment tax credit, government employment programmes, reducing market imperfections. 7. Inflation: general price level. 8. Real and money wages: a) real and nominal GDP; b) real and nominal interest rate. 9. The GDP deflator; the reta il price index; the producer price index. Calculations and limitations of the indices. 10.Demand shocks, supply shocks, increase in the money supply growth rate. 11. The costs and benefits of inflation: the impact of redistribution of wealth; impact of business activity and growth, impact on the balance of payments. 12. Income policy, monetary policy, fiscal policy and supply side measures. 13. Trade-off between inflation and the rate of unemployment: Phillips curve – stagflation. UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 2: Monetary Theory and Policy Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of money; 2. outline the functions of money; 3. explain the demand for money; . explain the supply of money; 5. explain monetary policy; 6. explain how the money supply is controlled; 7. explain how money is created in the banking system; 8. explain why residents substitute foreign for domestic currency; 9. explain the Quantit y Theory of Money; 10. outline the types of monetary policy; 11. describe the effects of monetary policy on national income; 12. evaluate the limitations of monetary policy. CONTENT 1. (a)The meaning of money. (b)Types of money: token and commodity. 2. Functions of money. 3. (a)Liquidity Preference Theory. (b)Motives for holding money (transactions, precautionary, speculative). UNIT 2MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) 4. The money supply (M1, M2). 5. Monetary policy – expansionary and contractionary policies. 6. (a)The role of the central bank in creating high-powered money (monetary base). (b)Instruments of monetary control: i) open market operations; ii) discount rates; iii) financing fiscal deficits; iv) reserve requirements; v) moral suasion; vi) interest rates. 7. (a)Excess reserves. (b)Credit creation. (c)The money multiplier. 8. The nature of currency substitution and hoarding. 9. The Quantity Theory of money. 10. (a)Tight monetary policy (in flation). (b)Easy monetary policy (unemployment). c)Balance of payments. 11. How monetary policy affects national income. 12. Limitations of monetary policy including the fact that it is: a) permissive, not compelling and only creates the environment; UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) b) difficult to control the money supply of foreign-owned commercial banks; c) difficult to eliminate lags in monetary policy; d) weakened by fiscal indiscipline. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Fiscal Policy Students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of fiscal policy; 2. outline the goals of fiscal policy; 3. explain the nature of the budget; 4. xplain the balanced budget multiplier; 5. outline methods of financing budget deficits; 6. evaluate the limitations of fiscal policy; 7. distinguish between discretionary and non-discretionary fiscal policy. CONTENT 1. The meaning of fiscal policy. 2. Fiscal policy as a means of addressing: a) aggregate demand; b) unempl oyment; c) inflation; d) balance of payments. UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) 3. The nature of the budget: a) taxation, revenue, transfer, expenditure; b) budget surplus and budget deficit; c) balanced budget. 4. Explanation of the balanced budget multiplier. 5.Methods of financing budget deficits including external and domestic borrowing. 6. Lags and potency of fiscal policy. 7. (a)Expansionary and contractionary. (b)Automatic stabilizers. Specific objectives TOPIC 4: Public Debt Students should be able to: 1. explain the national debt; 2. explain the cause of the national debt; 3. evaluate the effects of the national debt on the economy; 4. explain the burden of the national debt; 5. evaluate ways of reducing the debt burden; 6. interpret the debt service ratio; 7. calculate the debt service ratio. UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d) CONTENT 1. The national debt: ) stock/flow; b) fiscal indiscipline; c) domestic and foreign debt. 2. The causes of the national debt. 3. The effects of the national debt on the economy: a) output and investment decisions; b) exchange rate pressures; c) inflation; d) crowding out and crowding in. 4. The responsibility for debt repayment. 1. Management of the national debt: a) internal and external borrowing; b) taxation; c) debt rescheduling; d) debt forgiveness. 2. Interpretation of the debt service ratio. 3. Calculation of the debt service ratio (principal plus interest as a percentage of export). UNIT 2 MODULE 2: MACROECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND POLICIES (cont’d)Suggested Teaching and Learning Activities To facilitate students’ attainment of the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in the teaching and learning activities listed below. 1. For topic 1, Unemployment and Inflation, teachers should use the Phillips Curve to show the relationship between the unemployment rate and inflation rate. 2. For topic 2 (money multiplie r), show the various rounds in the money expansion process as done in the multiplier. Use Central Bank Acts and Reports for data gathering. 3. For fiscal policy, there is no need for students to derive the balanced budget multiplier.This should only be explained. 4. Teachers should emphasize the causes of the national debt and the burden it places on future generations. UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS GENERAL OBJECTIVES On completion of this Module, students should: 1. understand the basic concepts of growth and development; 2. understand the impact of imports and exports on the macroeconomy; 3. understand the balance of payments accounts and appreciate the causes and consequences of balance of payments crises; 4. become aware of the benefits and costs derived from current integration arrangements, such as CARICOM, FTAA and the EU; . understand the role and functions of international economic institutions. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 1: Growth and Sustainable Development Students should be able to: 1. distinguish between growth and development; 2. explain the concept of sustainable development; 3. outline the factors that determine growth; 4. outline the factors that contribute to sustainable development; 5. explain the concept of human development; 6. anaylse the structural characteristics of Caribbean economies; 7. analyse the impact of the region’s structural characteristics on sustainable economic development. UNIT 2MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) CONTENT 1. Differences between growth and development. 2. Current growth versus the well-being of future generations. 3. Differences between exogenous (technical change) and endogenous growth (capital accumulation, human capital). 4. Economic, social and environmental factors. 5. Indices of human development including mortality rates, literacy, per capita income, life expectancy. 6. Structural characteristics of Caribbean ec onomies including: a) small size; b) openness; c) composition of exports; d) resource base; e) poverty; f) economic dependence. . Implications for regional economies: a) dependence on aid; b) preferential trade agreements; c) foreign direct investment (FDI); d) vulnerability to natural and man-made change; e) changes in world prices. UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 2: International Trade Students should be able to: 1. analyse the role of imports and exports in a small open economy; 2. outline the factors that influence exports and imports; 3. explain the effects of foreign exchange earnings on a small open economy; 4. explain the theory of comparative advantage; 5. valuate the arguments for protection; 6. evaluate the arguments for Trade Liberalisation; 7. outline methods of trade protection; 8. explain the commodity, terms of trade; 9. interpret changes in the commodity terms of trade; 10. calculate the commodity, terms. CONTENT 1. The role of exports in creating domestic income and the role of imports in generating income for foreigners. 2. The factors which determine exports and imports including: a) international price; b) domestic production; c) domestic prices and exchange rates; d) international economic activity as it affects the tourism market in the Caribbean; UNIT 2MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) e) shifts in international demand and the emergence of substitutes; f) changes in International Income. 3. Foreign exchange earnings from exports: a) access to capital goods; b) the export multiplier; c) access to consumer goods; d) increased domestic production. 4. The theory of comparative advantage. 5. Arguments for protection including: a) infant industries; b) employment; c) food security. 6. Arguments for Trade Liberalisation including access to technology, availability of cheaper goods and services. Application of the theory of comparative advantage. . Methods of protection including: tariffs, quotas and other non-tariff methods. 8. Explanation of the commodity terms of trade. 9. Interpretation of changes in the commodity terms of trade. 10. Export price index divided by import price index multiplied by 100. UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 3: Balance of Payments and Exchange Rates Students should be able to: 1. explain the balance of payments; 2. distinguish between the current account and capital account; 3. analyze the causes and consequences of balance of payments disequilibria; 4. utline the policy measures for correcting balance of payments disequilibria; 5. explain exchange rates; 6. explain exchange rates determination; 7. distinguish between fixed and floating exchange rate regimes; 8. describe the effects of the exchange rate changes. CONTENT 1. Explanation of the balance of payments. 2. Capital items and current it ems. 3. The causes and consequences of balance of payments – disequilibria. 4. Policy responses to balance of payments crises including: a) devaluation; b) expenditure switching; c) expenditure reducing measures. 5. Explanation of exchange rates. 6.Determination of exchange rates. UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) 7. Fixed and floating exchange rate systems (fixed, free floating and managed float). 8. The effects of exchange rate changes. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 4: Economic Integration Students should be able to: 1. explain the main forms of economic integration; 2. evaluate the costs and benefits of economic integration; 3. evaluate the objectives of Caribbean integration; 4. analyse the implications of international integration arrangements for Caribbean economies. CONTENT 1. Main forms of economic integration, including: ) free trade area; b) customs union; c) common market; d) economic union. 2. The costs and benefits of economic integration including trade creation and trade diversion. 3. The objectives of CARICOM and the rationale for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). 4. The significance of integration movements, for example European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for Caribbean Economies. UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TOPIC 5: International Economic Relations Students should be able to: 1. xplain the role and functions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); 2. explain the role of international financial institutions (IFI’s); 3. explain the term multinational (transnational) corporation; 4. explain the nature of foreign direct investment; 5. outline the potential benefits and disadvantages of foreign direct investment; 6. explain the term globalisation; 7. describe the factors responsible for globalisation; 8. evaluate the effects of globalisation on developing countries . CONTENT 1. The role and functions of the WTO. 2. The role of the IMF and World Bank in the International Financial System. . Explanation of multinational (transnational) corporation. 4. The nature of foreign direct investment. 5. Potential benefits and disadvantages, including: a) access to technology and capital; b) access to markets; c) access to management skills; d) repatriation of profits; UNIT 2 MODULE 3: GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RELATIONS (cont’d) e) transfer pricing; f) crowding out of domestic businesses. 6. The concept of globalisation. 7. Forces driving globalisation, for example, technological innovation, trade liberalisation, and liberalisation of capital markets. 8.Implications of globalisation for developing countries with particular reference to the greater Caribbean (greater competition, access to markets, access to technology, cheaper prices and greater variety of goods, loss of preferential markets). Suggested Teaching and Learning Activ ities To facilitate students’ attainment of the objectives of this Module, teachers are advised to engage students in examining the structure of the economies of the Caribbean and the problems of imports and exports using international partnership agreements and policies. Teacher should ensure that students could distinguish among; ) Terms of Trade; b) Balance of Trade; and c) Balance of Payments. ? OUTLINE OF ASSESSMENT Each Unit of the syllabus will be assessed separately. The same scheme of assessment will be applied to each Module in each Unit. Grades will be awarded independently for each Unit. Candidate assessment on each Unit will comprise two components: i) External Assessment undertaken at the end of the academic year in which the Unit is taken. This component contributes 80% to the candidate’s overall grade. ii) Internal Assessment undertaken throughout the course of the Unit. This contributes 20% to the candidate’s overall grade. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT | (80%) | |Paper 01 |Forty-five multiple-choice items, fifteen (15) on each Module. |30% | | |(1 hour 30 minutes) | | | | |Paper 02 |The paper consists of three (3) sections comprising six (6) questions spread across |50% | | |(2 hours 30 minutes) |all Modules in the Unit.Each section contains two (2) essay type questions from which| | | | |candidates are required to attempt one (1). | | | | | | |INTERNAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH UNIT | | |

Promoting Indigenous Family Health Essay

It is a known fact that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander populations don’t live as long as their western counterparts as shown by AMA Health Report Card (2011). ‘Closing the Gap’ (Calma 2008) is a campaign aimed at a national attempt to support and bring equity in health to our Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. In order to be successful in this we must identify the key issues causing this inequity and through public awareness and government campaigns such as ‘closing the gap’, we become closer to our goal of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders reaching a full and greater life expectancy. Health reform initiatives are used to promote health care within their communities and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders to be educated about their own health. As a nurse, in order to assist in this process, an understanding of family centred health care and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander concept of family must be utilized. With these two nursing skills, the local health initiatives and government campaign’s, we are providing the best opportunity and support for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities to take control of their health and ultimately ‘close the gap’. Key issues contributing to the ‘gap’ in health and life expectancy, as identified by AMA (2011), include; low income, limited education, low levels of employment, poor housing, affordability of health care, geographical access to health care and the acceptability of the health care practice to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (2013) is a local health reform initiative for Aboriginals and Torres straight Islanders that provides a culturally secure environment where they can access health care due to it’s geographical location, affordability and mostly acceptability. Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (IAMS 2013) has two centers within the Illawarra making it geographically accessible. The center is entirely aimed towards the better health of Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders, ensuring all health care is affordable and providing as much assistance and support where it may be needed to help these communities improve their health. The main key issue identified by AMA (2011) that is addressed within the IAMS (2013), is the acceptability. The two medical centers are entirely based on the care given to the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities, making them specialized and aware of cultural beliefs, customs and the correct communication techniques. The Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Services also employ Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander members of the community as their staff providing a culturally secure environment and a greater concept of family centred care and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander concept of family within their approach. The AMA (2011) states that Indigenous health workers are significant in facilitating the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders to better health. This also provides opportunities to the Indigenous communities to gain employment, contributing to the resolution for issues of low income and low levels of employment, as identified in the AMA Report Card (2011). Centers such as these provide Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander families a culturally secure, accessible and affordable method to be treated for their health issues in a more comfortable surrounding. On a larger scale the Department of Health and Ageing run by the Australian Government have many programs and health reform initiates in place to assist in ‘closing the gap’ as identified by Calma (2008). Element three of the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Annual Report (2011) have a goal of increasing the provision of maternal and child health services of Indigenous children and their mothers. To achieve this, the Child and Maternal Health Services component of their program includes $90. 3million to be used for New Directions Mothers and Babies Services (Department of Health and Ageing 2011). This initiative increases access for Indigenous mothers and their children to; antenatal and postnatal care, education and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting, monitoring of immunization status and infections, health checks and referrals for Indigenous children before starting school and monitoring developmental milestones. This initiative provides Indigenous communities with access to health care that promotes better health in the new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Australians, designed to assist with ‘closing the gap’ by raising a new generation with fewer health issues. With this, we are able to address key issues identified by AMA (2011). The main key issue addressed by this initiative is access. Consultations are held with Aboriginal Health Forums to assist in the identification of priority areas for child and maternal health services. In their annual report, the Department of health and Ageing (2011) state that this ensures that access is given those most in need considering, geographic location, affordability and acceptance. The second key issue identified in the AMA Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health Report Card (2011) addressed by this initiative is education. The funding provided builds a solid base for providing much needed education to mothers about their babies and already existing children. In order for a program such as this to be successful, health professionals allocated to educating Aboriginals and Torres Straight islanders must be equipped and prepared to deal with the problems faced by cultural barriers as well as being experienced in a family centred care approach (Taylor & Guerin 2010). Family centred nursing care is an important factor in the health outcome of any given patient (Bamm & Rosenbaum 2008). They also claim that there is no exact definition of family, instead, the meaning of family and their level of involvement in care provided, is determined by the patient themselves. The core concepts of successful family centred care are; respect and dignity, information sharing, participation, and collaboration (IFPCC 2013). These principles are the main constituents of effective family centred health care, and ultimately better health outcomes for the patient themselves (Mitchell, Chaboyer & Foster 2007). These concepts can be utilized, with a correct nursing approach, regardless of age, gender or cultural differences. To provide the best family centred care to Indigenous Australians, nurses must utilize the main concepts above, but also have an understanding of the Indigenous concept of family. The Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander population have strong family values, however, it differs from the usual nuclear concept of family in common ‘western’ society. Their family has an extended structure, and in order to provide adequate family centred care, this concept must be understood by health professionals on all levels, including nurses (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). This concept of extended family and their Indigenous ‘community’ as their family means that children are not only the concern of their biological parents, but the entire community. Care of the children in indigenous communities is the responsibility of everyone. Family members can be blood-related, through marriage or through their community, such as elders. It is normal for a combination of mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, cousins, brothers, sisters or elders to be involved into the care of the individual and these figures must be treated as their direct family even if not directly blood-related (NSW Department of Community Servies 2009). In order to provide family centred care, to not only Indigenous but also all patients, a therapeutic relationship and foundation of trust should be developed (Baas 2012). The principles of family centred care should also be incorporated, especially respect of the Indigenous culture and maintaining their dignity. Respect and dignity, combined with trust and a therapeutic relationship within the Indigenous community, information sharing, participation and collaboration should follow once enough trust has been developed. To gain the trust of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander patient’s and their family, firstly an understanding of their culture should be pertained. When needed, to be aware of such customs as ‘Men’s and Women’s business’, and to respect these practices within your care (Tantiprasut and Crawford 2003). This shows the patient and their family members, you respect them and their culture. Introducing yourself in a friendly and polite manner, including all family members present and always respecting cultural values is key to receiving respect back and developing trust. Acknowledge and actively listen to the needs of the Indigenous people and also their community in a culturally appropriate manner. As described in the practice resource for working with Indigenous communities published by DOCS (2009) showing respect for their elders and community leaders and involving them in important decision making processes will also show that you respect them, their culture and that they can trust you and eventually your advice regarding health issues. In order to successfully be accepted by the community, communication techniques need to be specialized to avoid offending any members of the family or misinterpreting their language. Gaining a basic knowledge of their community will assist in understanding the dominant family groups, language groups and preferred names. This ensures you don’t step out of your boundaries and remain respectful in your approach to their care. Including or consulting with Aboriginal health care workers regarding communication and Aboriginal-English would be beneficial to adequately understand their method of communication. Understanding non-verbal methods of communication and being aware of your own non-verbal communication is highly appropriate when consulting with Indigenous communities. Always speaking with respect, clearly, and avoiding jargon will deliver the best results when building a relationship within the tribes (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). Remaining open minded when consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities in aspects of communication and family relations will avoid incorrect assumptions. It is also high important to play an active role within the community and their events. According to NSW Department of Community Services (2009) within Indigenous communities’ word of mouth is a powerful tool, once an outsider is known as someone who listens actively and can be trusted, the community will be eager to work collaboratively and participate in your health approach (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). When the principles of family centred care; trust, dignity, collaboration and participation, have all been achieved and a therapeutic relationship within the community has developed, the community will listen to your health advice. When introducing a health concept to the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander families it is important to engage them actively into your care (NSW Department of Community Services 2008). Using appropriate communication techniques to explain health issues and the reasons they need to be addressed provides them with education and knowledge regarding why interventions need to be implemented. Allowing them to discuss their options and decide as a community is also important, forcing them to uptake medical help could be seen as disrespectful. Allowing time to answer all questions and concerns from various members of the family in a manner they can understand identifies that you are actively listening and honestly concerned for their health. Demaio and Dysdale 2012 show that continuity of involvement in their community, and providing a continuous support network will only further build their trust in your advice. The ‘gap’ in health and life expectancy between Indigenous Australians and ‘westernised’ Australians is a concerning issue within the country (Calma 2008). Health reform initiatives are funded by the government and local organisations to provide accessible, affordable and culturally safe health care to our Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. These initiatives are designed to address the key issues identified in the AMA Report Card (2011) regarding barriers to health care. Approaching Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander family communities utilizing the family health care principles and with a knowledge of their concept of community family and understanding of their culture increases positive outcomes in their health education and furthermore assisting to ‘close the gap’.

Pablo Picasso essays

Pablo Picasso essays Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born October 25, 1881 to Don Jos Ruiz Blasco (1838-1939) and Dos prodigious artistic ability and proclaimed that he would never paint again. Pablo entered many fine arts schools and even entered The Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. In October 1900 Picasso and Casagemas left for Paris, the most significant artistic center at the time, and opened studio at the Montmartre. Art dealer Pedro Manach offered Picasso his first contract: 150 Francs per month in exchange for pictures. This restless life with constant travels continued all his life, though later he would become more or less settled, but never finally settled. His original disproportion and abstractedness has captured the world over. Picasso was able to take very famous paintings and create his own masterpiece. One of Picassos paintings that have captured my attention, is The Old Guitarist. Another of Pablos works would be Acrobat On a Ball. The last selection would be Las Meninas. First, I chose The Old Guitarist. This painting is of interest to me because I play the guitar. Beyond the similar instrument, I enjoy the feeling of solace that the painting gives me. The slumped head of the man has me thinking that he is playing a song in his darkest hour. I think that overall darkness of hue that was chosen to paint this in did the idea more justice than if it were performed in lighter shades. Second, Acrobat On a Ball stood out to me from the hundreds of works Picasso has done. The reason this particular painting has leaped out at me would be that it seems very like a piece that Salvador Dali might paint. The closeness of the foreground figure with his back turned and the multiple layers of foreground , middle ground, and background give this impression. The ac ...

Get your financial life in order before the new year

Get your financial life in order  before the new year Are you finally ready to get your financial health in better shape? If so, then you’re thinking wisely, because it’s never too soon to start taking your relationship with money more seriously and plan for your future- like it or not, it’s going to come eventually, and those who prepare for it in advance will be ready to face it responsibly and with as little anxiety as possible. For most of us, the future can be an uncertain entity- what our professional and personal lives will look like as the months, years, and decades roll forward can be difficult to predict, and unexpected twists and turns along the way can derail our plans and force us to revise our goals along the way. This uncertainly can cause a great deal of stress, so it makes sense to have as much under our control and working in our favor as possible. Having a financial safety net of sorts to help see us through is obviously beneficial.Have we convinced you that it’s a good idea to start gettin g your financial life in order? If so, then keep reading, and consider using the following strategies to get you started on the right path.Get seriousOne of the most important aspects of getting yourself in good financial shape is to get in the proper mindset for doing so. Like most endeavors in life that require a change in behavior and extended displays of discipline, being in the right mental space at the onset, during the critical first steps, is an essential ingredient for success.So, in order to get started with the right attitude and mindset, try making a list of goals for getting your life in financial order. Both short- and long-term goals are fair game here. Do you want to pay back a loan or reduce your debt? Do you want to make a significant purchase sometime in the future that you want to be in better financial shape for, like a car or home? Are you preparing for a major life change, like a move or starting a family? Having a set of tangible (and achievable!) goals on yo ur radar can help you get in the right mindset for making smart financial decisions- both now and over the long haul. The truth is, sometimes it takes having a destination in your sights to make it through a long journey.Start smallFor most of us, we can’t simply buy our way to financial freedom- it’s more of a long, hard road than a quick sprint, and it’s a journey that often never has a definitive end. So, think of your initial move to get your financial life in order as a series of small steps in the right direction. Even if they don’t completely change your life in an instant, they’ll get you moving in the right direction and will help you develop fiscally responsible behaviors, build on your positive inertia, and bolster your mindset and discipline.Think of some small ways you can get started- perhaps save a little bit of money each week from each paycheck or find a few ways you can earn some extra money (a part-time job or selling some of you r unwanted stuff are great ideas). You can also try eliminating some unnecessary expenses in your life. Don’t look back- like any great journey, getting on the road to financial order begins with a single step.Get helpOne of the really nice things about getting your financial life in order these days is that there are more tools than ever before to help you stay on track. An army of app developers have devoted their efforts to creating financial planning, organizing, and saving tools that can help you get your finances in order and hit all of your money milestones along your path to financial freedom. A little Internet research to discover the latest and greatest apps that best meet your needs is time well spent. Many available apps are free or low cost, so testing some out and discovering the ones that work well for you through trial and error won’t be a monumental investment.You can also turn to friends and family for help- the truth is, having the important people i n our lives helping to keep us motivated can mean the difference between success and failure in a challenging situation. So, let your friends and family know about your financial plans, fill them in on how they can help, and use their support to achieve your goals.Getting your life in financial order may not be easy, and you may stumble and restart at times along the way, but it’s a journey worth taking, and one that’s best to start early. Use the advice and strategies presented here to help get you moving in the right direction when it comes to your money and finances.

Post Event Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Post Event Evaluation - Essay Example Businesses increasingly are supporting events to promote their services and products to the market and for charity activities. Different authors have defined events and theoretical constitutions of events. This enables us to classify the types of occasions are can be termed as events. According to Bowdin et al (2012), Governments now support and promote events as part of their strategies for economic development nation building and destination marketing. Other authors hold that events are more of social or staged activities. This means that events are composed of activities although mere activities ac not be categorised as events (Getz et al, 2007). This is because activities involve liveliness, energy and involvement but with events, there is a theme which accompanies those activities. The UK and various countries and cultures within it, have a rich tradition of rituals and ceremonies extending over thousands of years. These traditions, influenced by changes within society, have greatly influenced many events as they are celebrated today. Some of the events initiated in the UK in the traditional period still function religiously up to now. Example, King John initiated an event known as ‘The Lord Mayors Show’ in 1251 and which has continued to be pra cticed today. Currently, the lord mayor’s show is the largest parade of its kind in the world. LMS (2013) explains how the Lord Mayors Show has floated, rolled, trotted, marched and occasionally fought its way through 798 years of London history, surviving the Black Death and the blitz to arrive in the 21st century as one of the world’s best-loved pageants. While the ‘The Lord Mayors Show’ is categorized as a cultural celebration and a parade, it can be categorized as an event as it has been listed under the Getz et al (2007) ‘Typology of Events’. Getz et al (2007) provides further description towards these events as a joyful occasion and a day to observe