Statement from the Heart Reflection Essay 2022

Running head: STATEMENT FROM THE HEART REFLECTION 1
Statement from the Heart Reflection
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Assignment Word Count: 1376 words

STATEMENT FROM THE HEART REFLECTION 2
Statement From the Heart Reflection
The plight of the Indigenous Australians, referred to as the Aboriginal and Torres
Islander People, is engulfed in an entirely complex scenario. Their rights and recognition within
the political and government systems of Australia have been usurped largely (von Schoenberg,
2018). Statement from the Heart is a critical issue that addresses the exclusion of the Aboriginal
and Torres Islander People from development of key decisions by the Australian government.
The exclusion and discrimination leaves the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People powerless
and lacking any aspect of significant recognition within the mainstay of the Australian
government (Brennan, 2018). The statement is a call for action through constitutional reforms to
deliver substantive changes to the recognition status of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People
effectively. This essay will reflect on the significance of the Statement from the Heart to
professional practice as well it is relation to Closing the gap as applicable in the Australian
context.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart entails the aspirations, cultural fabric and the
spiritual aspects of a people that have been drowned and ignored over time. The statement is an
indication of the dissatisfaction of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People by the treatment
they receive from the Australian government. The desire of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander
People to hold onto their culture spiritually to realize justice and self-determination amid the
influences that are gradually disregarding their ways of life and excluding them from the
mainstream of decision making processes in the Australian government. As a future medical
professional, I understand the statement the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People are not
satisfied by most of the government policies including healthcare service policies. Therefore,

STATEMENT FROM THE HEART REFLECTION 3
there would be a need to incorporate person-centered approach while dealing with Aboriginal
and Torres Islander People patients to ensure adequate cultural sensitivity and awareness
(Brennan, 2018). This would require cultural competency to incorporate the ideas and views of
the patients while making medical decisions. I believe this approach would successfully improve
patient outcomes and their quality of life in general. Effective healthcare professional practice
should incorporate the contextual realities in the environment and community like the case of the
Aboriginal and Torres Islander People.
Statement from the Heart is a clear indication that the rights of the Aboriginal and Torres
Islander People are being violated largely. As a health professional, I would act to evaluate
practice and identify the areas of concern in relation to protecting the rights of the Aboriginal and
Torres Islander People (Kelaher et al., 2017). One of the major areas for concern is the aspect of
culture. I would be a major advocator to ensure that the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People
are accorded culturally competent care. All healthcare services should respect and appreciate the
cultural characteristics of Indigenous Australians (Brennan, 2018). I believe, recognition of a
people’s values and rights begins by first appreciating their ways of life. Further, I would
endeavor to collect the views of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People regarding the care and
treatment they receive from the healthcare channels. The feedback would be significant towards
addressing their needs as well as communicating their health needs and concerns to higher other
authorities for consideration. I would be committed to realizing patient-centered care through
using the views of the health service consumers to advocate for healthcare improvements that
responds to the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People. This is because, as a
healthcare professional I would be tasked to ensure recognition of the voices of the Indigenous
Australians that have been ignored for long.