Unit I: The Aboriginal and Torres Islander community

Running head: NURSING
NURSING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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While addressing my previous assessment, I had a limited knowledge about the
Aboriginal and Torres Islander community. Also, on account of my British upbringing my
knowledge in terms of the struggles and sacrifices that had been made by the Aboriginal and
Torres Islander (ATSI) community members through the generations had been insufficient.
As a result, throughout this Unit I have researched and read extensively on the historical
background of the ATSI community. I have studied extensively on the brutality and the
atrocious past that the ATSI community had been subjected to. I believe that the knowledge
acquired in relation to the Indigenous community has changed my existing perception and at
the same time has made me aware about the implication of maintenance of cultural safety and
cultural competence in healthcare practice.
ATSI community members form 3.3% of the total Australian population and have
been identified as the oldest residents of the Australian territory (Shepherd et al. 2017). In
order to develop an improved understanding about the contemporary life of the Aboriginals it
is integral to develop an insight into the cultural and the historical background of the
community. As per Kelaher et al. (2014), every community has a set of beliefs and traditions
that shape up the perceptions with respect to the basic amenities of life. Throughout the unit, I
have tried my best to understand and evaluate the meaning of illness, disorder and meaning of
availing healthcare services in context of the ATSI community members. In order to develop
an understanding regarding the same, the ABCDE cultural assessment tool that was
developed by Kagawa-Singer and Blackhall has been used (Giger 2016).
The evaluation of the research studies stated that the access to healthcare services
have largely remained poor despite initiatives undertaken such as ‘Close the Gap’ policy by
the Australian government (Dew, Scott and Kirkman 2016). The rationale for the same can be
mentioned as, lack of education and awareness among the Aboriginal community members
with regard to the advanced use of pharmacological interventions to treat a disorder (Dew,

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Scott and Kirkman 2016). The community members largely rely upon the use of alternative
therapies to cure a disorder or an ailment. Further, the root cause of a disorder is largely
believed to be because of a superstitious belief or due to an offensive act that offends or
displeases the God. This implies that the spiritual belief plays an integral role in the planning
of a care process to cure the disorder of the patients (Kendall and Barnett 2015). Access to
healthcare services is largely reduced on account of discriminatory healthcare attitude of the
care professionals that reflect compromise on the ground of cultural safety (Kendall and
Barnett 2015). Approximately 47% of the ATSI community members mention to have
experienced racial discrimination in the form of verbal abuse or testify to have subjected to a
racist remark that has made them turn down healthcare services (Dew, Scott and Kirkman
2016). Lack of consideration of the existing cultural traditions and beliefs and consideration
of the cultural and spiritual preferences of the community members had led to a poor access
to healthcare services. Further, the care professionals employed within the primary healthcare
settings often overlook the consideration of the brutal, atrocious as well as unstable socio-
political past of the ATSI community members and as a result the devised care outcome is of
compromised quality. In addition to this, it is extremely important to understand the manner
in which integral decisions with respect to healthcare decisions are taken by the community
members. Research studies mention that the integral decisions with respect to healthcare
decisions are undertaken majorly by the elderly member of the family (Kelaher, Ferdinand
and Paradies 2014). This suggests that inclusion of family members within the care process is
another integral requisite which is necessary to devise an effective care outcome for the
community members (Giger 2016). Care-providers must adapt a patient-centred care
approach but must involve the family members of the affected patient so as to ensure
improved care outcome for the patient as well as the family members (Giger 2016). Also,
another integral aspect that must be thoroughly considered while devising care plan to