Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Health Services

The report provides an overview of the Derby Aboriginal Health Service, which offers comprehensive health care services to Aboriginal people in Australia. It highlights the importance of access to primary healthcare and how it can be improved by the service itself through various programs and community health centers. The report also suggests that the Australian government should adjust funding between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Health Centres. Additionally, it includes references to relevant studies and articles on the topic, such as those related to pediatric hospital admissions in Indigenous children, otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and mental health and well-being in Indigenous Australians.

INDIGENOUS HEATH SERVICE THE DERBY
ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICE (DAHS)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
BODY OF EVIDENCE...................................................................................................................1
1. Choosing indigenous health service and documenting reasons.........................................1
2. Profile of Indigenous health service...................................................................................1
3. Critically reflect on Indigenous health service...................................................................4
4. Issues and challenges..........................................................................................................4
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Indigenous health refers to cultural, social, physical and emotional situations of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health of Australians. Some indigenous Australians have
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, mental health problems, chronic kidney diseases and
diabetes. The Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS) offers primary health services and
meets the requirements of aboriginal people (Choo, 2016). It has a purpose of management and
prevention of bad health and promotes well-being for families, societies and individuals. Its staff
manages programs in remote areas and there is a proper clinical management and corporate
services. DAHS is committed to its set morals and principles of self-determination,
empowerment, reconciliation, access and equity.
BODY OF EVIDENCE
1. Choosing indigenous health service and documenting reasons
In this report, The Derby Health Service (DAHS) is chosen because it provides services
to children, families with disabilities, people going through mental health problems. They
believe in patient-oriented care and each member of this organisation supports people who use
services. They are compassionate and good service providers. They always encourage motivated
people to join their team. Various changes are being made to provide the best care to local
people. DAHS aims at improving population's health and reduce inequalities by eliminating
discrimination, fostering better relations among people while carrying out their tasks (Dossetor
and et.al., 2017). They have to face some challenges but then they are focussed on individual's
well-being. Members of DASH deliver numerous health programmes for wellness of
community which consists of more than 3,000 community groups, charities and voluntary
organisations. It focuses on people suffering from diabetes, mental problems, learning
disabilities etc.
2. Profile of Indigenous health service
Brief History
Winum Ngari Aboriginal Corporation received funding in early 1995 from Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) in order to carry particular health planning
practices for aboriginal societies and people in Jayida Budu Ward of Malarabah ATSIC
Regional Council located in West Kimberley (Durham and et.al., 2018). This organisation was
1

established with some strategies such as conducting programs and services based on similar
health needs, having equitable access to services and self-management of aboriginal
communities and individual's with health related issues.
There were some determined reasons for its establishment like health requirements of the
Aboriginal People in Jayida Buru region exceeded the capability of main provider. Models and
scope of mainstream service provision were socially not appropriate (Foreman and et.al., 2017).
A committee named as Derby Aboriginal Medical Service (DAMS) Committee was established
in 1997 to support Winum Ngari and Administration.
Vision and Objectives
DAHS has holistic vision and objectives. It has a purpose to provide culturally
appropriate health care to people. Its services are based on social justice of access and equity.
They satisfy the requirements of Aboriginal people and individuals. Members of DAHS reflect
and address cultural values of the communities as well (Hinton and et.al., 2015). This
organisation has been established by Aboriginal people with a specific purpose to empower
families suffering with disabilities so that management and prevention of ill-health could be
considered and well-being of communities and families can be promoted. This further helps in
the process of planning, decision-making and service delivery of such people.
2
Illustration 1: Derby Aboriginal Health Service
(Source: Derby Aboriginal Health Service, 2018)

Programs of DAHS
Health programs of The Derby Health Service includes Jarlmadangarh Buru communities
and Pandanus Park and partnerships with Jurrugk Aboriginal Health Service that empowers
members of DAHS to support societies of Gibb River Road. In every 6-week, doctor and nurse
from DAHS make a visit to Kandiwal community (Hyde and et.al., 2018). Other than this, there
are allied health programs related to child and women's heath, emotional and social well-being,
renal and youth support.
Membership
The Derby Aboriginal health service council consists of twelve elected Board of
Directors. On a rotational basis, they are elected with half of the positions in one year and other
group in the coming year. They are appointed on the basis of membership which consists of
group of Aboriginal people (Marley and et.al., 2017). They take the responsibility of controlling
and directing various affairs related to organisational activities and programs. Important
decisions are made and changed accordingly. First committee was elected on September 17
which consisted of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Public officer and other
committee members. Maxine Armstrong is the Chairperson of the Derby Aboriginal Health
Service.
Contacts and Location
Contact and location of DAHS is given below:
1. Stanley Street, derby Western
Australia PO Box 1155 DERBY WA
6728
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [phone]
Clinics are operating at various areas
1. Regional Community Physician
Location: WA Health Department (Broome)
Service: Twice in a Month
2. Dietician
Location: Boab Health service
3

Service: Monthly
3. Critically reflect on Indigenous health service
In my work, I utilised resources and services of DAHS several times to provide support
and guidance to Indigenous clients and patients. Furthermore, after attending programmes and
doing research work, I am now well-informed to provide referrals for Indigenous clients. I was
also surprised about problems and complexities faced by these organisations regarding funding
and its competition with huge non-Indigenous serve centres (Hyde and et.al., 2018). DAHS
recently was unable to receive financial help for its running programme in one its region which
should be discussed further.
On the other hand, Indigenous Health services work for the betterment and well-being of
communities and individuals (Rickwood and et.al., 2015). Close relations between leaders of
DAHS, governments and training institutions is very important. Alcohol, chronic disease and
obesity are long term challenges and DAHS is carefully performing tasks to take a stand against
these issues.
4. Issues and challenges
The Derby Aboriginal Health Service has to be transformational and radical while
managing and delivering health and social care. Main challenge faced by DAHS is obesity and
creating more opportunities for conducting sessions related to physical activity. Another
important issue is maintaining strong relationship between factors like living poor quality
housing, being unemployed, low income, poor health and premature death. Better health and
good quality of life are driven by these range of factors. DAHS focus on stable well-being
(Smylie and Firestone, 2016). This can be only achieved through social, psychological and
physical resources. Another important challenge faced by DAHS is smoking amongst youth,
health inequalities between groups and people due to geographical, social and biological
reasons. High alcohol intake by youngsters also affect lifestyle of communities and create range
of diseases.
Another major challenge that can be considered is to compete for financial resources by
Indigenous organisations as compared to Non-Indigenous services. Some traditional methods
are being used at clinics like equipment used for diagnostics instead of machines and traditional
healing with herbs which are outdated (Hinton and et.al., 2015). For example: aboriginal people
are cured through the use of plants and physical hands instead of well-developed techniques.
4

There is a deficiency of mainstream healthcare services. Thus, factors like obesity, lack of
financial resources, smoking and major diseases are some challenges faced by The Derby
Aboriginal Health Service.
DISCUSSION
The Derby Health Centre is running smoothly towards strategic health plan for
Aboriginal people. Australian Government is in the process of ensuring diverse interests and
values for broad community and health professionals properly address their responsibilities. The
importance of taking a holistic approach to health care for identifying the influence of social
welfare challenges that were known. Programs related to Women well-being, chronic disease,
child health and smoking cessation are really appreciable. Its clinic services which includes
public health and community health services along with emergency medicine are enhanced
(Stoneman and et.al., 2014).
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that the report consisted of description on The Derby Health Service
that provides the best health care services to Aboriginal People in Australia. Evidence suggested
that access to primary health care can be improved by DAHS themselves by various programs
and community health centres. It also added about the Australian government who should adjust
funding among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Health Centres.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Choo, C. (2016). The Health of Aboriginal Children in Western Australia 1829–1960. In
Aboriginal Children, History and Health (pp. 102-116). Routledge.
Dossetor, P. J. and et.al (2017). Pediatric hospital admissions in Indigenous children: a
population-based study in remote Australia. BMC pediatrics. 17(1). 195.
Durham, J. and et.al. (2018). Using systems thinking and the Intervention Level Framework to
analyse public health planning for complex problems: Otitis media in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children. PloS one. 13(3). e0194275.
Foreman, J. and et.al. (2017). Sampling methodology and site selection in the National Eye
Health Survey: An Australian population‐based prevalence study. Clinical and
experimental ophthalmology. 45(4). 336-347.
Hinton, R. and et.al. (2015). Developing a best practice pathway to support improvements in
Indigenous Australians’ mental health and well-being: a qualitative study. BMJ open.
5(8). e007938.
Hyde, Z. and et.al. (2018). Mortality in a cohort of remote-living Aboriginal Australians and
associated factors. PloS one. 13(4). e0195030.
Marley, J. V. and et.al (2017). Validity and acceptability of Kimberley mum’s mood scale to
screen for perinatal anxiety and depression in remote Aboriginal health care settings.
PloS one. 12(1). e0168969.
Rickwood, D. J. and et.al. (2015). Changes in psychological distress and psychosocial
functioning in young people visiting headspace centres for mental health problems. The
Medical Journal of Australia. 202(10). 537-542.
Smylie, J., and Firestone, M. (2016). The health of indigenous peoples. D. Raphael (3rd ed.)
Social determinants of health: Canadian perspective, 434-469.
Stoneman, A. and et.al. (2014). Quality improvement in practice: improving diabetes care and
patient outcomes in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. BMC health
services research. 14(1). 481.
Online
Derby Aboriginal Health Service. 2018. [Online] Available
through:<https://crana.org.au/membership/connections/corporate-members/derby-
aboriginal-health-service/>
6