Discuss about the Health and Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander are the original inhabitants of Australia. Improving the health status of these two communities have proved to be an uphill task for the government of Australia. Advances in the overall health of aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders have not only been slow but also inconsistent. If no bold steps are taken then the health of both of these two cultures will reduce significantly especially owing to the fact that the population of the two Australian groups is growing at a very high rate.
For the health care services to achieve a state whereby each and every person is able to reach his or her full potential as human beings, then a health framework has to be developed that recognizes the important of cultural safety and tries to reduce the health inequality gap between minority groups in Australia like the aboriginal folks and the rest of the Australian residents. In my view, the best strategy is establishing aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community controlled health service. I believe there is a huge gap between the services that the health care providers offer and what the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders’ people want. The central reason why this is the case is because the health system has failed to adopt programs to aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders’ beliefs. Health and fitness should be defined from the point of view of the aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders.
Cultural differences should be recognized when carrying out any diagnosis. I am of the opinion that it is fundamental not to depend on too much on western psychiatric classification systems especially when trying to find, comprehend as well as work with symptom patterns of distress when it comes to aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders’ population (Purdie, Dudgeon, & Walker, 2010). Atkinson research on post-traumatic stress points out that there is a wide range of related cultural and relational trauma indicators that necessitate evaluation and keen scrutinizing. These indicators comprise of community disconnection, disjointed identity construction as well as complications in sustaining close relationships.
I feel that unless aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community controlled health service approach is adopted; it will be very difficult for the total well-being of the community to be achieved. The poor health standing of aboriginal and Torres Strait islander folks is not something new. Infant health, chronic and communicable diseases, life expectation as well as mental health are some of the areas that are highly affected by health inequality. This is the reason why a health framework that concentrates on bridging the inequality gap as well as recognizing the importance of culture and history (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health and Wellbeing Reference Committee, & Adams, 2004).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community controlled health service strategy is fundamental. A primary health care service introduced and run by the indigenous community will ensure that there is a delivery of holistic, broad as well as culturally fitting to the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community. The local residents also gain a sense of ownership and their confidence in the health care institution increases since they know that their medical needs will be met in a manner that they wish since some of the staff belong to the aboriginal and Torres islander community.in other words, the strategy allows them to exercise self-determination as far as their health is concerned (Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, & Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2013). This strategy will also ensure that more people from the two communities will be encouraged to take up health care services roles in their communities since the latest statistics worrying. According to research, there were only two hundred and four aboriginal doctors in Australia. Statistics also show that only one percent of trainee general practitioners in Australia are aboriginal. These statistics show that if these strategies are to be implemented, then demand for aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders would increase therefore encouraging many members of the community to join the medical profession (South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership, 2004).
As far as interacting with aboriginal and Torres Strait islander patients is concerned, I would first of all ensure that I am sensitive to their cultural beliefs when conducting my medical examinations. I would also encourage open communication to ensure that I understand what the patient wants to as to eliminate any possibility of a misunderstanding. I would avoid making assumptions by consulting with family members of the patient in case he or she is not in a position to answer some fundamental questions. According to research, exposure to psychological stressors is relatively higher in aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders when compared to other Australians (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). With this in mind, I would try my best to structure my treatment keeping in mind this fact such that do not just deal with the physical well-being of the patient but also other factors hence ensuring the total well-being of the patient. When dealing with aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health staff, I would endeavor to appreciate their differences and try my best to learn from them whenever I can. I would encourage collaboration between the patient, family, and health staff to ensure that the service delivered is at par with the expectations of the healthcare service consumer as well as the profession itself (Dudgeon, Walker, Scrine, Shepherd, Calma & Ring, 2014).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community controlled health service strategy will play a significant role in closing the health gap between this two communities and the rest of the Australian citizens who enjoy better health. First, I believe this strategy has the potential to generate a lot of demand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander medical experts who will be needed to operate these local health care institutions. As such, more people from these two communities will flock in medical training institutions to acquire various medical skills and by doing so the number of medical professionals from these two communities will increase significantly in the country and the patients in the local communities will be able to access health services (Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare, 2009).
Secondly, establishment of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community controlled health services which are started and operated by local communities will ensure that each and every member of the community is able to access health care services that are culturally appropriate and particularly sensitive to social, cultural and emotional well-being of the whole community (Queensland Health, 2012).
Thirdly, the establishment of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community organized health services will allow the communities to exercise some sense of self-determination hence leading them to be actively involved in making decisions that directly touch on their health and well-being (Healey, 2014).
Finally, the fact that the institutions will be established and run by the local community will ensure that the prices will be favorable to community members. As such, many of them will be in a position to access affordable health care services. This will increase the number of people frequenting hospitals for medical assistance, therefore, reducing the health gap (Australia, Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, & National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council (Australia), 2004).
All in all, the aboriginal people have faced tough times as far as their health and well-being is concerned. The Australian administrations have tried their best to change the situation but the transformation has been rather slow. I believe if community organized health services are established in Aboriginal and Torres Strait neighborhoods, then the people would be able to access holistic, broad as well as culturally fitting health care services that are unique to Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders. As far as interacting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders is concerned, I would encourage communication, excise cultural safety and encourage self-determination so as to ensure that I provide a holistic treatment to an individual. The health strategy would help close the gap by motivating community members to join the medical profession, lowering the cost of health care as well as ensuring access to culturally fitting health care service.
References
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Male Health And Wellbeing Reference Committee, & Adams, M. (2004). A national framework for improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. Canberra, [Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health].
Australia, Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, & National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council (Australia). (2004). Social and emotional well being framework: a national strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ mental health and social and emotional well-being : 2004-2009. Canberra, Dept. of Health and Ageing. https://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/F25CB4CC136ECC2DCA257052
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing: a focus on children and youth. ABS Web Site. Canberra, Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Australian Institute Of Health and Welfare. (2009). Measuring the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (Australia), Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, & Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2013). Strategies and practices for promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [Canberra, A.C.T.], [Closing the Gap Clearinghouse].
Dudgeon, P., Walker, R., Scrine, C., Shepherd, C., Calma, T., & Ring, I. (2014).Effective strategies to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. [Canberra, A.C.T.], [Closing the Gap Clearinghouse]. https://www.aihw.gov.au/uploadedFiles/ClosingTheGap/Content/Our_publications/2014/ctgc_ip12
Healey, J. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Purdie, N., Dudgeon, P., & Walker, R. (2010). Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Queensland Health. (2012). Review of evidence: the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Queensland. Brisbane, Qld, Queensland Health.
South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership. (2004). Aboriginal health: everybody’s business : regional resource package : a South Australian strategies for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people 2005-2010. [Adelaide], South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership.
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