Aboriginal And Islander Health Assignment Report

Running Head: ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER HEALTH 1
ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER HEALTH
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ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER HEALTH 2
b) Describe when and how Aboriginal Medical Services evolved and how they align with
the principles of primary health care as outlined by the World Health Organisation
Australia is a nation that has failed to make inroads into health stats of its indigenous
population in the last 30 years period. There still exists lack of proper access to health
amongst Aboriginal people and massive rates of mortality amongst them, which is not
comparable with the non-indigenous population (NACCHO, 2019). The evolution of
Aboriginal health and medical services arose from the inability of mainstream health services
to unable to meet the needs of the indigenous communities. The medical services was also
devised in response to the reality that indigenous people remained excluded from mainstream
health services. The first Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) came into existence at Redfern
in 1971 after reflection of Aboriginal people aspiration for the environment of Redfern
intellectual life. The AMS Redfern was founded by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
community activists. It was initially formed as a ‘shopfront’ volunteer service on Regent
street in Redfern. It had mostly non-Indigenous doctors, nurses, students and nuns. Naomi
Mayers, joined as the secretary in 1972 and Shirley Smith was the first field officer and Late
Professor Fred Hollows was operational in bringing together doctors, volunteers and medical
students. The AMS now is governed by local Aboriginal community by means of elected
boards of management. The AMS had been a free service ever since its existence for the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait patients. It adheres to the principles of holistic healthcare aimed
at providing wellbeing and care for the entire community (Marles, Frame & Royce, 2012).
While they aimed at catering to local patients, they had a large number of patients visiting
them from several rural and remote communities for addressing their chronic issues in health.
The AMS aligns with the principles of primary health care as outlined by the World
Health Organisation (WHO). WHO outlines that all people based everywhere deserves right
within their community and this should form the fundamental basis of primary health care.

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Primary health care as defined by WHO encompasses an individual’s health needs throughout
their life time. The approach that was initially adopted by Redfern and other early Aboriginal
health services was innovative in nature which reflected the WHO aspirations at such time to
provide effective, accessible and appropriate need basis health care. Such health care was
focussed on prevention and social justice. The AMS distinguished themselves from the state
government-controlled services. AMC Redfern included health needs of an individual
ranging from physical, mental and social wellbeing with its approach being people-centric
rather than focussing upon the disease only. Its approach had three components as proposed
by WHO in its primary health care need components and includes meeting Aboriginal
peoples’ health needs throughout their lives. Addressing the broader determinant of health by
way of multisectoral actions and policies. Rendering healthcare through empowerment of
families, individuals and communities such that they can take charge of their own health
needs.

ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER HEALTH 4
c) Describe how social and emotional wellbeing is applied in an Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health service today
Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) includes one of the primary components of
health outcomes for Aboriginal Communities. There is still disparity in health between
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people residing in Australia and non-indigenous people.
The Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service (ACCHS) sector works at the core in
reducing the gap prevailing between the indigenous and non-indigenous people. They aim at
implementing Closing the Gap framework for reducing this disadvantage, with cross-
governmental sector initiatives and by way of making investments (Panaretto, Wenitong,
Button & Ring, 2014). They aim at improving the emotional and social wellbeing of the
Aboriginal community overall. They are reducing this gap with directing attention towards
primary health care services. They are undertaking early intervention, prevention and
coordination of care complements towards building of healthier communities. Their model of
community governance and comprehensive primary health care, they are reducing barriers
prevalent in health care, racism and healthcare outcomes for Aboriginal people. By
identification of the factors associated with social and emotional wellbeing affecting the
indigenous population ACHS designs its planning framework. The mainstream primary
health care providers continue to strive to increase the quality of overall improvement
initiatives by partnering with community-controlled initiatives. Closing the Gap framework
enables them to establish goals and devise policies towards achieving the gaps identified.
The ACCHS has an embedded and integrated SEWB screening with early identification
and management of such concerns as a part of their preventive focus. Their model of care and
program delivery is developed with research partners and governments. The key components

ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER HEALTH 5
of the model comprises of health promotion, cultural safety, clinical services and community
engagement that is nurtured by way of research, evaluation and planning activity (NACCHO,
2019). This ensures social and emotional wellbeing. Also, there is model of family-centred
primary health care for maternal and child health. Their outreach services ensures extended
team-based care individuals designated to family members or households. The models ensure
that problems of greater complexities is managed through every consultation practice as
compared to general practices. The ACCHS everyday aims at integration of various research
and medical literatures along with their implementation in everyday practice. With the
presence of screening procedure present in ACCHS, they have been able to arrive at
improved health outcomes. Moreover, the workforce and training provided ensures that the
service providers renders services aimed at reducing disparity and catering to social and
emotional wellbeing. Though ACCHS employed significantly lower number of indigenous
doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, there has been an agreement to increase
Aboriginal medical student placement in indigenous primary health care to increase
participation and for betterment of medical workforce. They also train workers such that they
are able to render services to the ingenious population in an appropriate manner. The ACCHS
is a key player in the indigenous community providing self-determined, responsible action for
enhancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and for designing framework for
healthy communities.

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References
Marles, E., Frame, C., & Royce, M. (2012). The Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern:
Improving access to primary care for over 40 years. Australian family physician, 41(6),
433. Accessed from <https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/june/the-aboriginal-medical-
service-redfern/>
NACCHO. [2019]. Aboriginal Health in Aboriginal Hands. Accessed from
https://www.naccho.org.au/
NACCHO. [2019]. Introduction-The need for NACCHO. ABOUT NACCHO. Accessed from
<https://www.naccho.org.au/about-nacho/naccho-history/
Panaretto, K. S., Wenitong, M., Button, S., & Ring, I. T. (2014). Aboriginal community
controlled health services: leading the way in primary care. Medical Journal of
Australia, 200(11), 649-652. doi: 10.5694/mja13.00005
WHO. [2019]. Primary Health Care. Home. Accessed from <https://www.who.int/health-
topics/primary-health-care#tab=tab_1>