Introduction This essay aims to assess the indigenous health outcomes based on the ‘Closing the Gap’ initiatives. It assesses three different health issues affecting Indigenous peoples with emphasis on on-going initiatives aimed at achieving equal health status between Australia’s populations. The essay also covers basic concepts of cultural competence and safety. It draws parallels between Australia and other foreign countries in an effort to assess to what extent recent changes in bridging the gaps have been effective: New Zealand, Canada and North America. The essay draws crucial health statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and several international journals and books that have contributes significantly in bringing to the
A Film Exploration into the effects of governmental policies on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people. Kanyini is a film directed by Melanie Hogan and explores how colonisation has contributed to the health gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. The historical context of the film gives insight into the health related issues that are endured by Aborigines. Linguistics and cultural differences are guiding the miscommunications and interpretations that are contributing to the health communication and health service delivery gap. The importance in understanding the social, emotional and cultural health factors pertaining to Indigenous health become evident in Randall’s account of colonisation.
Introduction Despite the progress that has been made in recent years in the quality of healthcare for the Indigenous people of Australia, there is still a considerable need for further improvements. Indigenous Australians currently endure more poor health, disability and injury than other Australians.They also die at a younger age compared with non Indigenous Australians. The socioeconomic disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people puts them at a higher risk of exposure to behavioural and environmental health risk factors as does the higher proportion of Indigenous households that live in conditions that do not maintain good health. Many of the Indigenous people also do not have equal access to primary health care and basic medical facilities . 1.
One of reasons for this failure is that health care practitioners luck of understanding the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders’ culture. That is why it is important health practitioners take cultural education and training. With proper understanding, special health care services can move forward and focus on the needs of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
Differing concepts of health and healing between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, culturally appropriate sexual health services and issues around trauma and trans-generational grief and loss are also factors which impact on their health. Health professionals require a proper understanding of the multiple facets of Aboriginal health and wellbeing, such as psychological, physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual in order for them to provide worthwhile and positive services which will enhance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Sexual health is a basic right and “Aboriginal people’s aspirations for health and wellbeing in relation to sexual health are reflected in the following principles: * Enjoyment and control of consensual (and potentially) reproductive behaviour in accordance with cultural values, kinship practices and individual
How to provide cultural safety care for people with mental illness Cultural safety- is the experience of the recipient of care provided allowing the patient to feel safe in health care interactions and be involved in changes to health services. It focuses on the capacity of the health system to improve health and wellbeing by integrating culture into the delivery of health services. The terms and word used to describe mental illness depends on individual beliefs. How to provide culturally safe care for people with mental illness (Aboriginal) b) Know what is normal, and what is not, in the Person’s culture * When assisting someone outside your own culture or community, it is very important that you take into consideration the spiritual or cultural context of the person’s behaviours. * Be aware that it is common for the experiences of Aboriginal people
COMMUNITY ASSIGNMENT- Dajarra Health Profile It is alarming in today’s modern era that residents in rural and regional areas of Australia continue to show poorer health than those Australians who live in metropolitan areas especially those who are of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander demographic where their health status remains unacceptable for the 21st century. Rural areas of Australia are continuing to experience difficulties in recruiting and retaining adequately trained health professionals with residents facing difficulties accessing health services. This report will discuss the outback Queensland community, Dajarra and investigate the health profile of the town which includes cultural diversity, potential health threats and raise
Indigenous Health Assignment Obesity is described as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or more. (1) It has become a dire issue in Australia, having the highest prevalence of obesity globally, (2) and affects both Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Accounting for 2.5% of the population, Australian Indigenous people are those that are accepted in community as having Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. (3) As with many aspects of Indigenous health however, there is a characteristic difference of incidences between the two population groups, with numerous underlying causes of obesity specific for the Indigenous people. Acting as a risk factor for several chronic diseases, obesity is of particular concern for society’s health,
Indigenous people in Australia have higher mortality rates than non-Indigenous Australians, poorer health, lower housing standards, lower employment rates, and lower standards of education. The Indigenous life expectancy is far below the Australian average and the age is lowered again by the amount of disease amongst Aboriginal people, which is more often than not caused by socioeconomic disadvantage (Pink and Allbon, 2005). For the period of 1996–2001, the life expectancy at birth for Indigenous males was estimated at 59 years and 65 years for Indigenous females. The life expectancy for Non-Indigenous Australians was 77 years for males and 82 years for Non-Indigenous females (Trewin and Madden, 2008). In 2007 The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the most chronic conditions among Aboriginal people were: diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, with each of which being a preventative disease, delayed or mitigated.
Tamara Harbour HLTHIR404D Work Effectively With Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander People Assessment Task: Portfolio: HEALTH Health can be defined in many different ways. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. (World Health Organization, 2003, website) The Indigenous health of Australians living in rural and remote areas, compared to those residing in developed and city areas, are poor and suffer from higher levels of poverty and crime, poor standards of education, higher unemployment rates and poor health. Data collected on the health status