Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health

This document discusses the difference between the Aboriginal Concept of Social and Emotional Wellbeing and the term mental health. It explores how social and emotional wellbeing is applied in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service today. It also examines the evolution of Aboriginal Medical services and how they align with the principles of primary health care.

Running head: ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 1
Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health
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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 2
Difference between an Aboriginal Concept of Social and Emotional well-being as opposed
to the term mental health
The Aboriginal Concept of Social and Emotional Wellbeing is that it describes the
cultural, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of an individual. The Aboriginal concept
acknowledges that connection to culture, spirituality, land, community and family are essential to
individuals and can have an effect on their wellbeing. The term also recognises the fact that an
individual's social and emotional wellbeing is affected by both past events and policies (Social
and Emotional Wellbeing - Health Topics, n.d.). Mental health has been used a lot to explain
how people feel and think and how they take part in and cope in their everyday life. This is
different from the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people whose concept of mental illness and
mental health is that it focuses on too many problems that an individual has instead of describing
all the factors that influence and make up the wellbeing of a person (Australia's First People -
Their Social and Emotional Well-being | UN Chronicle, n.d.).
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands view of mental health is that it comes from a
clinical or illness perspective and focuses most on an individual than how they live and interact
in their environment. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people use the term social and
emotional wellbeing as it covers all the aspects of health comprehensively. Therefore, this means
that they think of mental health as a component of a person’s social and emotional wellbeing
(Australia's First People - Their Social and Emotional Well-being | UN Chronicle, n.d.).

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 3
The Aboriginal and Torres Islander people believe that experiences that may affect their
wellbeing include social exclusion, sexual and physical abuse, stress, physical and emotional
neglect, trauma and grief, substance abuse, racism, discrimination, domestic violence and social
disconnection. The social wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people is influenced
by the connections to culture, land, community, mind and emotions, body, family and
spirituality. They believe that once these connections have been disrupted, one may have poor
social and emotional wellbeing. The Aboriginal and Torres Islander people think that because
those connections were disrupted before through previous government policies, they are more
prone to having a poor social and emotional wellbeing (Measuring the social and emotional
wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Table of contents, n.d.).
The connection to family members and the community refer to the aboriginal components
of wellbeing that are based in interpersonal interactions. This type of connection has always been
key to the functioning of the contemporary and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Islander people.
The connection to body entails physical wellbeing as well as the biological markers that explain
the physical wellbeing of a person. The connection to mind and emotions involves both an
individual’s experience of wellbeing and the emotional, psychological and emotional human
experience. The connection to spirituality refers to the experiences and beliefs that have a strong
connection with spirituality. Spirituality is also strongly tied to the connection to the land. The
connection to culture refers to the opportunity and capacity to maintain a healthy and robust
relationship to the Aboriginal and Torres Islander culture (Odd & Frommer, 2015).

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 4
The evolution of Aboriginal Medical services and how they align with the principles of
primary health care
In 1971, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services also referred to
Aboriginal Medical Services was formed in Redfern. The program was formed to ensure that the
health needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people were well addressed. From 1971, the
health services have been initiated, planned and managed by the Aboriginal people to ensure that
they receive quality and culturally appropriate care. Currently, there are 140 ACCHOs across
Australia which have provided an estimated 1.6 million episodes of comprehensive primary
health care. Similar to the first Aboriginal Medical Service, the subsequent ones are designed to
ensure a positive and culturally secure environment where they can receive quality health care
(Aboriginal Health | NACCHO, 2018).
The Aboriginal Medical Services uses a comprehensive primary health care model that is
in line with the principles of primary health care as indicated by the World Health Organization
in the Declaration of Alma Mata (World Health Organization, 2010). Firstly, the Australian
Medical services have improved access to health care that addresses the needs of the Aboriginal
people. This has been achieved through improving access to primary, secondary and tertiary
health care services as well as community services such as disability and aged care. There has
also been the introduction of programs such as nutrition, antenatal, oral health, social and
emotional wellbeing services. There has also been improved access to clinical services that help
in the prevention and management of chronic and acute illnesses. Improved access to these
health services aims at improving the health of the Aboriginal people by preventing illnesses and
promoting health (Coombs, 2018).

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 5
Secondly, the Aboriginal Medical services are committed to health equity as part of
development-oriented social justice. The program is committed to achieving health equity by
ensuring improved access to health care services that are culturally appropriate and addresses the
needs of the people. The program has also developed processes and structures that improve
health equity among the people by addressing all the social determinants of health of the
Aboriginal people. Thirdly, Aboriginal medical services ensure community participation in
defining and implementing health agendas. The aboriginal people were involved in the planning
and implementation of the program, and the majority of them do work for the program. The
program also ensures maximum community participation during the planning and delivery of
health care especially the preventive health services. This aims at ensuring that the services
offered are culturally appropriate and that they align with the needs of the Aboriginal people
(Social and emotional wellbeing, n.d.).
This also aims at ensuring that the Aboriginal people will utilise the services offered. The
program also ensures community control of health care services which lead to improved health
outcomes and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community. Lastly, Aboriginal medical services
embrace the intersectoral approach to health. For instance, it collaborates with the education
sector to ensure that the Aboriginal people are given training and employment opportunities. The
program also works with the government to ensure that that the inequalities experienced by the
aboriginal people are reduced (The quality of Australian Indigenous primary health care research
focusing on social and emotional wellbeing: A systematic review, n.d.).

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 6
How social and emotional wellbeing is applied in an Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Service today
Social and emotional wellbeing is applied in an Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Service today through the application of the model of social and emotional wellbeing.
The Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service acknowledges the fact that culture is
critical in the delivery of health care services. The program, therefore, offers services that are
culturally appropriate to ensure that the Aboriginal people consume the healthcare services they
provide and hence improving health outcomes. The program also acknowledges that the social
and emotional wellbeing of the Aboriginal people is influenced by factors such as cultural
dislocation, discrimination, grief and loss, violence, social disadvantage and trauma and abuse.
Therefore, the program offers effective care using multi-dimensional solutions such as social
support and counselling, building a family and existing community capacity and strengths as
well as culturally informed practices (Aboriginal Health | NACCHO, 2018).
The Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service promotes the social and emotional
wellbeing of the Aboriginal people by maximising on the benefits of the protective factors that
support and connect an individual's wellbeing while reducing the exposure to certain risk factors
especially those that expose the aboriginal people to mental health conditions. The protective
factors play a crucial role in strengthening and improving the social and emotional wellbeing as
well as mental health wellbeing. Some of the protective factors that Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health service uses to improve on the social and wellbeing of the Aboriginal people
include ensuring improved access to culturally competent, culturally safe and adequate health
services. Secondly, the program creates support groups and community controlled services and

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 7
interventions. Lastly, the program offers culturally appropriate family-focused services and
programs (Aboriginal Communities Improving Aboriginal Health, 2015)
The social and wellbeing of the Aboriginal people at risk of mental illnesses are
promoted by the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service by ensuring that they have
access to contemporary and traditional healing practices. Secondly, the program ensures that
there is equality of mental health outcomes among all the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people.
This is key to ensuring that all people acquire mental health services (Social and emotional
wellbeing, n.d.). Lastly, the program ensures that mental health problems are detected early
enough and hence preventing the progression of the disease. This is achieved by offering health
education on the importance of visiting health facilities for screening. This is also achieved by
offering mental health checkups and programs regularly (National Strategic Framework for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional
Wellbeing, 2017),
The program promotes the social and Emotional wellbeing of the people by giving
person-centered care where the Aboriginal people are involved in the planning, monitoring and
development of care to ensure that they address their needs. In the program, the aboriginal
people and their families are involved in the decision making concerning their care and treatment
alongside health care professionals to achieve best health outcomes. This helps in ensuring that
the people feel included in the program and hence this will ensure that they utilise the health care
services which will positively impact on their health (Lowitja Institute, n.d.).

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 8
References
Aboriginal Communities Improving Aboriginal Health (2015). An Evidence Review on the
Contribution of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to Improving
Aboriginal Health. Retrieved from
https://www.ahmrc.org.au/media/resources/research/298-aboriginal-communities-
improving-aboriginal-health/file.html.
Aboriginal Health | NACCHO. (2018). https://www.naccho.org.au/about/aboriginal-health/
Australia's First People - Their Social and Emotional Well-being | UN Chronicle. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://unchronicle.un.org/article/australias-first-people-their-social-and-
emotional-well-being
Coombs, D. (2018, December 07). Primary Health Networks' impact on Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Services. Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8500.12357
Lowitja Institute. (n.d.). Health policy and systems. Retrieved from
https://www.lowitja.org.au/quality-improvement-indigenous-phc
Measuring the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
Table of contents. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-
australians/measuring-the-social-and-emotional-wellbeing/contents/table-of-contents
National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health
and Social and Emotional Wellbeing. (2017). Retrieved from
https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/mhsewb-framework_0.pdf.

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH 9
odd, A., & Frommer, M. (2015). NSW Health Aboriginal Health Impact Statement: References
and resources about aboriginal people and aboriginal health. New South Wales Public
Health Bulletin,14(7), 147. doi:10.1071/nb03042
Social and Emotional Wellbeing - Health Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-topics/social-and-emotional-wellbeing/
Social and emotional wellbeing. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/indigenous/Health-Performance-
Framework-2014/tier-1-health-status-and-outcomes/118-social-and-emotional-
wellbeing.html
The quality of Australian Indigenous primary health care research focusing on social and
emotional wellbeing: A systematic review. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/october-2017-volume-27-issue-4/quality-australian-
indigenous-primary-health-care-research-focusing-social-emotional-wellbeing-
systematic-review-2/
World Health Organization. (2010, Nov 02th). The core principles of primary health care.
Retrieved from https://www.who.int/whr/2003/chapter7/en/index1.html