Aboriginal Health Workers Role and Cultural Safety

This assignment delves into the crucial role of Aboriginal health workers in delivering culturally safe care to Indigenous Australians. It emphasizes the importance of working together with nurses to develop targeted care plans that respect patients' cultural preferences and values. The document highlights the need for effective communication, cooperation, and utilization of Aboriginal health workers' strengths and competences in healthcare settings.

Running head: ROLE OF ABORIGINAL HEALTH WORKER
Role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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ROLE OF ABORIGINAL HEALTH WORKER
Table of Contents
Introduction: 2
Discussion: 2
Conclusion: 6
References: 7

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Introduction:
Health care can be considered as one of the greatest necessities which each and every
individual should have an equal right to; however in case of the socially disadvantaged groups,
the health care quality and accessibility still lags behind that of the mainstream society. It has to
be mentioned that there have been many approaches taken to improve the health outcomes of the
health outcomes and care experience of the aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders and the
integration of an interdisciplinary team into the care scenario of these socially disadvantaged
groups can be considered most impactful. One of the community targeted initiatives can be the
Feltman tool for the diabetes prevention in the aboriginal communities (Browne et al., 2013 pp
321). This assignment will attempt to explore the key concepts associated with the practice scope
of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker, how it contributes to the care
outcomes of the indigenous patient population and the collaboration between the different
members of the interdisciplinary team can be enhanced.
Discussion:
According to the Browne et al. (2013), the nursing professionals have worked with the
aboriginal and Torres Strait islander workers ever since the role has been introduced in the late
1900s, and effective cooperation between the aboriginal health workers and the non-aboriginal
health workforce had been crucial for enhancing health outcome for aboriginals. However, ever
since there have been many issues in establishing collaborative harmony among the nurses and
the aboriginal health workers. In the early stages of this designation being introduced in the
Australian health care sector, the nursing professionals provided the training to the indigenous
health workers. However, the role of an indigenous health worker has now expanded

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exponentially, and has bifurcated as a valid independent health care role, by the intervention by
the state and territory authorities in the training purposes. In the policy eras of self determination
and self management provided the perfect setting where the role of an aboriginal health worker
was established as a prominent and irreplaceable sector.
A multitude of caring responsibilities have shifted from the nursing professional to an
indigenous health worker in the interdisciplinary care term for aboriginals and Torres Strait
islander. Along with that, despite there still being a little confusion regarding the role of an
Aboriginal health worker, the designation and its importance is consolidated now more than ever
by the virtue of the NATSIHWA professional practice framework. These health care
professionals shoulder the responsibility or providing the most of the primary care activities for
individuals, families and communities groups. Their work responsibilities in a general care
setting include providing general primary care, mental health care, outreach services, patient
education, cultural liaison, drug and alcohol addiction support, environmental support,
community support, vascular health care, maternal and perinatal health care, nutritional advice,
ophthalmological care advice, and lastly pharmacy health care (Natsihwa.org.au., 2018).
It has to be understood that apart from the aforementioned care activities that care carried out
by the aboriginal health workers the most important contribution by this health care profession is
by the means of cultural safety. It has to be understood that for the aboriginals, there have been
many social disadvantages that have affected the quality and accessibility of the care provided to
the aboriginals. Ever since the colonization in the Australian territories, the impact of racism,
discrimination, lack of education, low employment status, impact of traditions on the
understanding of health and illness imparts a significant effect on the health and welfare of
different individuals belonging to the aboriginal communities. The aboriginal health workers do

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not just provide care across life span to the aboriginals, their role is to act like a cultural broker
guiding a protecting the health care rights of the aboriginals (Drummond, 2014 pp 168). It has to
be understood that during the period of European colonization, the aboriginals were removed
from their traditional lands. Now it has to be understood that in case of aboriginal communities,
health is not just concerned with physical aspects of health; it is associated with spiritual,
emotional and cultural wellbeing as well. Hence the impact of the socio-economic factors has
made a huge difference on the health and wellbeing of the aboriginal. The fear of discrimination
and loss of cultural safety, the aboriginals often refrain from seeking out health care until the
point of unavoidable need. As a result the, the aboriginals reach the health care services with
more severe conditions and result into higher mortality rates when compared to the mainstream
society. There are particular health disparities among the aboriginals and non-aboriginals, and it
is linked to systematic and local factors, which reflect on to the care experience aborigianls face
(Daws et al., 2014 pp 553).
This is where the roles played by the aboriginal health workers come into the picture, it has
to be understood that in case of the aboriginal health and welfare, providing them cultural safety
is extremely important. If the care provided to the different indigenous individuals is not adjusted
with the cultural norms and ideas of their tradition and culture is not taken into consideration, the
optimal health outcomes cannot be reached. For the nursing individuals providing health care to
the aboriginals it is very different for them to understand the intricate cultural norms and their
traditional understanding of health and incorporate it into the care practices planned and
executed. The aboriginal health workers act as the much needed liaison or bridge between the
nurses and the aboriginal patients. It has to be understood that the level of understanding and
knowledge among these professionals is much higher than the regular nurses or physicians.

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Hence they can better understand the concerns and grievances of the aboriginals and can help
them attain a better health care experience (Ahcsa.org.au., 2018).
Another very crucial role played by the aboriginal health workers is the language assistance
provided to the nursing individuals. It has to be mentioned that there are close to 100 aboriginal
languages practiced in the aboriginal communities and Torres Strait island dwellers. The lack of
English proficiency is one of the key contributing factors behind the social disadvantages faced
by these people and even in case of the health care services, the lack effective communication
often lead to misdiagnosis, medical errors and reduced patient satisfaction which in turn
contributed to reduced health outcomes for the aboriginals. With the primary care intervention by
the aboriginal health workers the burden of lack of effective communication is reduced
drastically and better care delivery is ensured for the aboriginal care settings
(Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au., 2018).
Despite the strengths being brought forth by the aboriginal health workers in the
interdisciplinary team there are a few limitations as well. It has to be understood that, the most of
the aboriginal health workers are mostly recruited from the culturally diverse backgrounds so
that they can have extensive understanding and knowledge about the aboriginal culture and
traditional understanding of health and healing. Hence, they often have difficulties co-operating
with the rest of the health care team belonging to the mainstream society. The discrimination and
cultural difference accompanied by language barriers leads to a communication gap and disrupts
the co-operative harmony of interdisciplinary team, and this unacceptable gap is facilitated by
the myriad of health inequalities among the two societal groups (Wilson et al., 2015 pp 2739).
An interdisciplinary team of health care providers are incomplete without aboriginal health
workers. The diverse range of benefits provided by these health professionals cannot be ignored;

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along with reducing the work pressure of the nursing professionals in the aboriginal health care
scenario, the aboriginal health workers provide assistance in effective communications and
providing cultural safety and comfort to the aboriginals, an integral aspect of health and
wellbeing when it comes to aboriginals. There is need for better communication and co-operation
between the nurses and aboriginal health workers, so that a more targeted and culturally safe care
can be provided to the aboriginals with the aid of aboriginal health workers (Daws et al., 2014 pp
555). It has to be understood in this context that alike different health care professionals,
aboriginal health workers also have individual strengths and competences. Hence the work
distribution must strategically utilize the strengths and skills of the aboriginal health workers
based on their cultural safety training and competence (Downing, Kowal & Paradies, 2011 pp
254).
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be stated that one of the most important roles in the
interdisciplinary care setting for the indigenous populations is the role of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander health worker. It is very important for them to health acre team to connect
with the aboriginals and their spiritual and emotional connection with their cultural norms and
the traditional concepts of health as well. The aboriginal health workers along with reducing the
workload of the nurses help to build the bridge that can reach the aboriginals and understand
their preferences and grievances, and in turn help to derive a care plan that addresses their care
needs without violating their cultural safety.

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References:
Aboriginal Health Worker Role - Aboriginal Health Council. (2018). Aboriginal Health Council.
Retrieved 15 March 2018, from http://ahcsa.org.au/our-programs/aboriginal-health-
worker-role/
Browne, J., D’Amico, E., Thorpe, S., & Mitchell, C. (2014). Feltman: evaluating the
acceptability of a diabetes education tool for Aboriginal health workers. Australian
journal of primary health, 20(4), 319-322.
Browne, J., Thorpe, S., Tunny, N., Adams, K., & Palermo, C. (2013). A qualitative evaluation of
a mentoring program for Aboriginal health workers and allied health
professionals. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 37(5), 457-462.
Cultural Safety Framework - National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
Association (2018). Natsihwa.org.au. Retrieved 15 March 2018, from
https://www.natsihwa.org.au/sites/default/files/natsihwa-cultural_safety-
framework_summary.pdf
Daws, K., Punch, A., Winters, M., Posenelli, S., Willis, J., MacIsaac, A., ... & Worrall-Carter, L.
(2014). Implementing a working together model for Aboriginal patients with acute
coronary syndrome: an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer and a specialist cardiac nurse
working together to improve hospital care. Australian Health Review, 38(5), 552-556.
Drummond, A. (2014). Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and
health practitioners. Yatdjuligin, 163.

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Downing, R., Kowal, E., & Paradies, Y. (2011). Indigenous cultural training for health workers
in Australia. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 23(3), 247-257.
Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health « Health facts « Australian Indigenous
HealthInfoNet. (2018). Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au. Retrieved 15 March 2018, from
http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-facts/summary
Wilson, A. (2012). Addressing uncomfortable issues: The role of White health professionals in
Aboriginal health. Adelaide, Flinders University. 25-35.
Wilson, A., Magarey, A., Jones, M., O'Donnell, K., & Kelly, J. (2015). Attitudes and
characteristics of health professionals working in Aboriginal health. Rural Remote
Health, 15(1), 2739.