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Aboriginal health critical reflections
Aboriginal health critical reflections
Aboriginal health critical reflections
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‘Ganyjuu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Family Support Services were established in June 2005. It offers Indigenous Family Support services in the Logan, Browns Plains and Beaudesert regions.’ Staff members at Ganyjuu are committed to maintaining a high class leading Indigenous Community Corporation which is dedicated to improving Indigenous family support needs in these areas. Ganyjuu works hard to offer the best culturally appropriate family support services to Indigenous and non-Indigenous families who care for children.
Indigenous Australians needs in regard to healthcare is one of the greatest challenges faced by healthcare professionals. The treatment of a patients condition tends to be the main focus of healthcare in a demanding and complex health system. Although it has being found that when taking then time there is actually essential ways in which the healthcare system can develop the needs of Indigenous Australians further. The Nursing Code of Conduct, statement four states, ““Nurses respect the dignity, culture, ethnicity, values and beliefs of people receiving care and treatment, and of their colleagues” (Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au, 2015). This is achieved by understand how social and cultural structures such as language, education, society and
The legacy of the role of social work and welfare services within the implementation of government policies in the past can still compromise relationships within communities, social workers are responsible for ensuring our practice is culturally responsive, safe and sensitive to stop this perpetuation of distrust in support services. As social workers it is important to commit to reconciliation, to addressing divisions and inequities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australian’s and improving these relationships. The strength and resilience of these communities are impacted by multiple problems including historical and ongoing dispossession, marginalisation and racism, along with past policies of forced removal and cultural assimilation all negatively contributing to many of the social issues we find affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today (Australian Association of Social Workers, 2017). As social workers it is a large role of ours to familiarise and understand the organisations, services and agencies who are planning and/or delivering Indigenous-specific services and to work alongside these groups,
It cannot be denied that our indigenous population has suffered severely since the colonisation of Australia. While the movement towards reconciliation is undoubtedly gaining widespread support, unfortunately many misconceptions are still prevalent and the future of many indigenous Australians is still uncertain. Disadvantage is still experienced by an unacceptable number of the population. Statistically, indigenous people have poorer health, opportunities for education, life expectancy, employment options and the majority live in the remote areas of Australia. As well as this
The issues that have caused disadvantage to ATSI culture include higher rates of infant mortality, poor health, low levels of educations and employment. These disadvantages have formed many gaps among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians that need to be readily fixed. Infant Mortality Infant mortality is defined by “the deaths of children less than one year of age” (Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS, 2012). Evidence supported by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2011) suggest that “the life expectancy of ATSI children is double compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts (6.2 deaths per 1000 births ATSI children; 3.7 deaths per 1000 births non-Indigenous
comm. , Decemeber 1) stated there were always outbreaks of diseases, such as hookworm, gastroenteritis, mumps, influenza and pneumonia and often these resulted in large-scale deaths. He also advised poor diets, a change in diet and sanitation conditions have contributed to the health issues today in Aboriginal peoples. Obesity is the main issue, which has resulted in heart diseases and diabetes. Alcoholism is another major health issue facing this community.
The delivery of Aboriginal health in Canada is complex and multi-jurisdictional depending upon whether one is First Nation, Inuit, and/or Métis; status or non-status; on-reserve or off-reserve; living in a territory or province; urban or remote; and whether a nation has settled a treaty or not. I commend Lemchuk-Favel and Jock (2004) for recognizing that an approach to Aboriginally-controlled health systems cannot be a one-size fits all solution. The case studies emphasize “the diversity in Aboriginal health systems necessary to accommodate vast differences in cultural expectations, health service needs, jurisdictional complexity, and geographic location” (Lemchuk-Favel & Jock, 2004, p. 28). I found it promising that several provinces and territories
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) represent the oldest continuous culture in the world, representing an evolving cultural spectrum inclusive of tradition and contemporary practices (National aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan 2013–2023, 2016). Experts estimate that the number of ATSI people were at more than 770,00 at the time of the invasion in 1788 (Korff, 2016). However, the Population fell to its low of approximately 117,000 people in 1900, a decrease of 84% (Korff, 2016). At present, 3% of Australia’s population identify as Indigenous (Korff, 2016).
Western colonisation has had a devastating affect on the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people. This is evident throughout the generations. Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people struggle with contemporary impacts of western cultures, largely in the Northern Territory. These impacts brought in by predominately white societies, have literally poisoned the persons who chooses to indulge. Since western society, illnesses and the death rate has increased within Aboriginal communities.
Critically Analyse components of the Closing the Gap campaign and identify how these components impact life opportunities of Indigenous Australians The Closing the Gap campaign aims to improve things relating to Indigenous education, employment, health and life expectancy. In regards to education Indigenous school completion rates are significantly low (Helm, 2011). There are a variety of reasons that many Indigenous students do not complete school some of the reasons are that some live in remotes areas which means lack of access to schools, lack of jobs to seek and there are not many adults who have completed secondary education. The Closing the Gap campaign has come up with ways to encourage Indigenous students’ engagement in school which should want them to go to school more often.
This sudden change still has an enormous effect on today’s Indigenous population. How is it fair that the oldest population of people die a decade younger than non-Indigenous Australians? The perpetuation of racism which is manifested in our society has left many Indigenous Australians in a disadvantaged position. Including through, limited access to education with adult literacy rates of just 30 percent and literacy rates of children under 15 more than 48 percent lower than non-Indigenous Australians, consequently means lower educational achievement rates and higher unemployment rates of 17.2 percent compared to 5.5 percent for non-Indigenous Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics , 2013 ). These facts must be recognised to ensure real equality and a fair-go for Indigenous people.
Canada is known for its amazing healthcare and it is considered one of the best in the world. In Canada, healthcare is ‘universal’ to its citizens under the Heath Care Act. However, not everyone has equal access to healthcare, Aboriginals being some of them. Aboriginals have trouble getting the access they need because of socio-economic status, geography, lack of infrastructure and staff, language or cultural barriers an more. Aboriginals on reserve face many barriers when it comes to access to healthcare, they include cost, language, distance, climate, education and more.
The World Health Organization (WHO, 2017) estimates that 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty. This concept of poverty is used to describe those who lack the means or resources to meet basic needs. In effect, those living in poverty are deprived of ready access to sufficient food supply, clean water, basic toilet facilities, safe housing or any health care that is generally the norm of living enjoyed by the broader community (Torpy, Lunm & Glass, 2007, p.1837). In saying this, it is obvious that poverty is a social determinant of health that causes health inequality for those across Australia. In general terms, the lower an individual’s socio-economic status (SES), the poorer their health.
There is within this area an Aboriginal health care centre called, Geraldton Region Aboriginal Medical Service (GRAMS). This service provides primary healthcare to the Yamaji people as well as other indigenous groups within the Geraldton, the Midwest and Murchison areas of Western Australia. The care they provide are Maternal and child health, Adolescent health, Men’s and women’s health, Sexual health, Chronic disease prevention, intervention and self-management, Mental health, Prison health, Ear, eye and oral health, Communicable diseases. (Coffin. Julie, 2015) This service fit in with the WA government’s strategic intentions plan which is firstly to Support the Western Australian community to become healthier.
I will have to learn how to set aside my feelings and emotions from my beliefs to give the best care for my patients. Aboriginal health practice seems too hard to understand, especially the chanting, usage of essence for rituals, other ceremonies that relates to their health practices. In addition, with the lack of experience, it might feel uncomfortable dealing with other cultures. Fear is also one of the issues that I will encounter by providing care, because I fear to provide care to the culture that I feel uncomfortable with, because I don’t believe in the same beliefs they have and that can create some
