Primary Healthcare in Action

This article discusses the social determinants of health, primary healthcare principles, and cultural competence and safety in the Kalumburu project. It also highlights the impact of the project on mental health and the importance of community participation.

Running head: Primary Healthcare in Action
Primary Healthcare in Action
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Social Determinants of Health that helped to determine the need of the project:
The two important social determinants of health that were addressed in these
programs are:
1. Social Isolation and Exclusion: Several studies supports the adverse effect Social
Isolation and Social Exclusion can have on the mental and physical well being of individuals.
Holt-Lunstad bet al. (2015) suggested that risks of mortality can increase due to social
isolation, while Cacioppo and Cacioppo (2014) also pointed out the effect of social relation
on health, and how isolation can have ‘toxic effects’ on the well being. Similarly, Smith and
Victor also highlighted the adverse effects of isolation on the mental and physical well being
of people. Studies by Miner et al. (2016) also showed that isolation can also be a predictor of
child abuse. Workshops were set up to provide support and build cooperation within the
community, involving all community members. Studies by McMurray and Clendon, (2015)
also supported the concept of community health and wellness programs to ensure the
wellbeing of the indigenous Australians.
2. Social Support: The project in Kalumburu also aimed to ensure social support to the
community. The focus of the project was to collaborate indigenous research centre for
learning and educare (CIRCLE), as a safe zone where individuals can share their stories and
experiences. It also enables the providence of social support to the communities to encourage
them to share their stories. The project set up a journey towards healing, incorporating
activities such as painting, dancing and storytelling. Also, the community was educated on
the ill effects of drugs and alcohol, enabling the members to make healthier lifestyle choices,
identifies how addiction can affect them and their community, and quit the addictive
behaviors (2015).
Primary Healthcare Principles that guided the project

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The main Primary Health Principles that guided this project were:
1. Health Promotion: This was a significant PHP that was addressed in the Kalumburu
project. The health and well being of the individuals of the community members were
promoted through the strengthening of the socioeconomic conditions which can foster good
health. The activities included building the community, through participation of the
community members, educating them, and also encouraging the youth to develop their
bonding with their culture. Also, the children were taught the old ways of life, thereby
fostering their well being through the development of cultural ties. Such an approach is
supported by studies which show education, community partnership and improving cultural
bonding as effective strategy for health promotion (Eldredge et al., 2016; Bloch et al., 2014;
Varcoe et al., 2017).
2. Community Participation: Building of the community through participation of all the
members of the community was an essential focus of the project. The project highlighted the
motto “it takes a healthy community to raise a healthy child”, to emphasize the importance of
a strong and healthy community to foster an environment of safety, which prevents
maltreatment and abuse of people, especially the children. This is supported by Lewallen et
al. (2015) which highlighted the importance of a safe and healthy environment foe the well
being of individuals, and by South (2015) who suggested the importance of community
partnership to ensure health and wellbeing of people.
A national Health Priority area which will be impacted as a result of the program:
The Kalumburu project addressed the concern of mental health of the members of the
community, and how it can be caused due to social exclusion and the lack of social support.
The project also emphasizes on how problems related to drug abuse and alcoholism can cause
domestic violence or child abuse, and also increase the risk of mental health issues in the

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members of the community. Such aspect can be supported by evidences from many studies
that show community involvement and community building activities which can help to
address mental health problems of individuals (Betancourt et al., 2015; Grob, 2014).
Furthermore, strengthening the ties of the young members of the communities to their
cultural roots can also help to improve their social bonding and address the mental health
concerns of the community and individuals. According to Parker and Milroy (2018), the
mental wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Island People can be improved through the
strengthening the capacities of these communities, and strengthening and supporting their
traditional cultures to foster development of their cultural ties.
Importance of Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety in the program
Cultural competency is an attribute that allows care providers to effectively deliver
healthcare services addressing the cultural, social and linguistic needs of the patients
(Hpi.georgetown.edu, 2018). The Kalumburu is an indigenous community, who were facing a
crisis situation, with an increase in the cases of violence and abuse, community building
programs were initiated to encourage the individuals reach out and form strong community
ties. One significant example of such an action was the inclusion of a journey to healing,
through the implementation of painting, dancing, story-telling, which allowed individuals to
share their experiences and stories with others, within a circle of healing. This also
incorporated the aboriginal values of community strength and their relation to the
land/environment.
Cultural Safety is a competency which allows the identification of the cultural and
social differences in the provision of education and health service. It also fosters an
environment that is safe for individuals, where there are no risks of assault or abuse or of the
denial of their identities, and ensures a shared respect, meaning, knowledge and experience as

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well as a sense of cohesion in the community (humanrights.gov.au 2018). The importance of
ensuring the well being of the children was also aligned to the Aboriginal traditional belief
that all children are sacred, and highlighted the necessity of the parents to protect their kids,
even in ways in which they themselves might not have been protected before as children.
This was significant to ensure a loving and caring environment for the children.

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