Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders Essay

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In Australian history the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia were not treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve, they have been the protectors of this land for many years before British colonised here, they lived from the land and they had a very strong community based life. After years of demoralising them and taking their basic ways of life away from them, we now have certain policies and procedures in place to bring the equality back. From the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Plan 2013-2023 the government is committed to improving health and wellbeing through closing the gap in health outcomes with the wider Australian population.
In the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Plan 2013-2023 they have discussed different areas that require action this will help the health plan develop and become effective, this health plan has pointed out many priority areas, these are three key of the priority areas that need to be focused on. Mothers and babies get the best possible care and support for a good start to life, Older people are able to live out their lives as active, healthy, culturally secure and comfortable as possible and Support by housing, education, employment and other programs focused on eliminating the cause of health inequality. This health plan shows that there are certain groups that are more vulnerable and in need than others. Mothers and infants are one of these groups, a reflective study from Bar-Zeev, Sarah (2013) in the care of maternity cases from two remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory of Australia from 2004–2006 show that maternal health outcomes were poor despite they had access to health services throughout pregnancy, birth, and the first 6 months postpartum suggesting quality of care rather than access issues. Adolescent and youth are the forefront for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders health, they are another group that are at risk. They represent more than half of the Indigenous population in Australia and they are in the age group that if they want to avoid certain diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes giving them the chance to educate themselves can help improve the health outcomes for generations to come. A study by Sawyer, M. G., et al. (2010) got Western Australian Aboriginal Youth to take the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire the results from this questionnaire were that Indigenous adolescents scoring in the higher range on the questionnaire that identified with different mental health issues. The Elders and aging community members are also a vulnerable they are the stakeholders to support culturally appropriate choices and approaches to health and wellbeing. According to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Plan they have a vital role within their communities, responsibilities such as passing knowledge, languages and customs. Many of the older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands have also been impacted by the historical policies that lead to the removal of children, the consequences of
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There are many things that can affect this. Social support can have a large impact on maternal health and parenting according to the Solid Facts friendship, good social relations and strong supportive networks improve health at home, at work and in the community. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are very community based, promoting culturally appropriate maternal health services as close to the communities as possible is going to have a positive effect on the mothers and their …show more content…
When the plan was released it was with the understand and knowledge that there was not going to be a quick fix to this problem it will require implementing many different strategies and changing perception and reaction of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Strategies such as addressing issues that are politically and socially challenging such as sexual health or strategies to address violence, self-harm and abuse, also strategies like provide an organising framework of health conditions that coordinate activities across primary care, specialist services and other non-health services, such as eye health, ear health, oral health and injury control. If we can put this strategies into place and implement them then over time we will see that we can close the gap this is the best

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