This adds to the already astonishing poor health of Aboriginal children (2011.) The death of Charles, the families bread winner would have left his family with great financial burdens. His children may feel the need to internalise their feelings and burdens as a way of protecting the mother, this in turn will only heighten probability of developing depression and anxiety. As an indigenous Australian, mental health conditions make up 16% of the disease burden experienced (Australian bureau of statistics, 2011). Charles’ wife must support her family as the shift in responsibilities lays solely with her, this amount of pressure can cause stress which is a predisposition for obesity heart attacks and depression and…
(2009). Science and Research: Closing the Gaps in Aboriginal Health. Retrieved from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/sr-sr/pubs/hpr-rpms/bull/2003-5-…
Social determinants of health (SDH) are factors that determine health and wellbeing and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people these have been identified to be a history of health, racism, poverty, social class, education, powerlessness, employment, income, incarceration, housing and infrastructure, family separation, control over own health, land and reconciliation (Eckermann, Dowd, Chong, Gray, & Johnson, 2010, pp.168-169). This is why SDH are conditions where people born, grow, work, live and age and can are influenced by forces and systems like social norms (McMurray & Clendon, 2015, pp 10-11). Therefore, culture has a direct correlation with SDH as it shapes and defines how people see the world and their place in it. It is learnt…
2 Unit Personal Development, Health & Physical Education Preliminary Assessment Task 2016 Describe the nature and extent of the health inequities suffered by ATSI’s (8marks) (300 words) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples quality/extent of their health and life are detrimentally affected due to their generalised lack of knowledge and skills, genetics, attitudes and values, opportunity and education/location. Their are also other factors such as their socio-economical (employment, education, income) Sociocultural (family, peers, media, religion, culture) and Environmental (geographic location, access to health services, technology) status’ and factors which both accumulate to ATSI’s experiencing the largest gap in health outcomes…
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…
These factors differ from that of the perception of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders such as Mrs Akajen. To them health is about so much more than just the…
Health promotion and nursing interventions: Within the public health sector – aboriginal health is a national health priority. There are strategies, actions plans and initiatives that share a focal point of Aboriginal education/employment (Government of Western Australia, n.d.), health maintenance, disease prevention and management. A campaign that shares this goal is that of ‘Close the Gap’, a government funded promotion that employs a focus to reduce indigenous disadvantage with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement, and employment outcomes in order to reduce and eliminate disparities between western demographic groups with indigenous populations (Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet,…
Misconception – Aboriginal children are involved in foster care at the same rate as non-indigenous children in Canada Findings- A 2015 report entitled Aboriginal Children in Care- Report to Canada’s Premiers, was developed by the Aboriginal Children in Care Working Group. The report presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the child welfare system in Canada and explains how systemic inequities in social determinants of health lead to the over-representation of Aboriginal children in Canada. Important findings contained in this report include the following: Aboriginal service Delivery Models vary between the provinces and territories. This creates a number of definitions of what the term “child maltreatment” means and while…
The health inequality of the aboriginal people has been a long time concern for Australia. This essay will address some issues surrounding this topic. It will seek to explore the national strategy in regards to ‘Closing the Gap’ in relation to the aboriginal people of Australia. The differences between indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians are sought out in this essay. It will include existing national strategies, proposition of additional approaches and further suggestions of cultivating better health among the aboriginal people of Australia.…
This can be seen in the high poverty and unemployment rates in Aboriginals today, with the unemployment rate being up to 80% in some communities, and the poverty rate being 26% (Waldman, 2009) (Malley-Morrison, 2003). These statistics indicate that the economic situation of Aboriginals remains poor, and also indicate that the quality of life on reserves is poor. In fact, many communities today even face water contamination issues (Sawchuk, 2011).With the harsh economic state of aboriginal reserves, Aboriginals are unhappy and as a result have a high prevalence of suicide and alcoholism. The rate of suicide among Aboriginals is approximately five to six times Canada’s national average, and the rate of alcohol-related deaths is about four times higher than average (Sawchuk, 2011) (Waldman, 2009).…
Aboriginals all over the country are not receiving an adequate amount of healthcare compared to white or even ethnic Australians around the country. Aboriginal men and women, according to statistics from the Australian human rights commission, had a 24% passing rate of year 12. Aboriginal women also had an expected lifespan of 65, which is nearly 20 years less than the Australian life expectancy. Those who had their land taken away from them are living in unspeakable conditions and little access to amenities that other people in Australia can get with…
Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia have horrifying housing conditions and a lack of medical attention. We need to stop the marginalisation of…
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a holistic perception of health. According to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO, 2011), Aboriginal health involves the physical, emotional, social, and cultural well-being of the individual and the entire community he belongs with. The involvement of the whole community is considered to be the key standard in helping each Indigenous individual achieve their optimum potential. Whilst the health mainstream is embraced by the growing population, it is not a hidden fact that the Indigenous community are facing barriers in achieving their holistic health needs. These barriers include social, cultural and structural elements.…
Today, fundamental conditions and resources for health such as peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity can widely vary in the diverse aboriginal communities from sufficient to severely lacking. This is because little is known about the distinct influence of social determinants of health in the lives of Aboriginal peoples. In order to improve the health of the aboriginals, considering the diversity of the groups, each group must be considered unique from the next. The complex, intersecting and interrelated determinants and…
Income is one of the significant socioeconomic determinant of health. Many researches have demonstrated a low income to be associated with higher risk of the development of diseases between individuals (Southern Public Health Unit Network 2002). This is due to the fact that low income result in the inability to afford for a quality set of material conditions, including good sanitation such as drinking clean water, adequate quality, nutritious and fresh food and adequate housing with proper heating and cooling systems to maintain the adequate warmth, that are necessary for good health (Marmot 2002; Auld 2012). Furthermore, low income is co-related to lower levels of education indicating declined opportunity to be health literate. Consequently, these individuals and population groups are less likely to make healthy choices in their food consumption, use of sanitation facilities and behaviours including use of tobacco and alcohol (Auld 2012).…