NSB202 - Aboriginal Health Services: Healthcare in Queensland

This report examines Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in Queensland, Australia, highlighting their crucial role in delivering holistic and culturally appropriate healthcare to Indigenous communities. The report emphasizes the historical context, the need for resources, and the importance of self-determination in healthcare. It discusses the structure and function of ACCHSs, including their multifunctional services, comprehensive primary healthcare approaches, and the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (ATSIHW). The report also addresses the challenges faced by these communities, the impact of social determinants on health, and the importance of cultural safety in nursing practice. It emphasizes the need for the recognition and support of ATSIHWs, and the significance of self-determination in achieving health equity. The analysis concludes that ACCHSs are essential for improving health outcomes, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and comprehensive healthcare, urging for government support and appropriate measures. The report references various studies and resources to support its claims, underscoring the complexity and importance of culturally sensitive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The report is a student submission and is available on Desklib.

Running head: ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 1
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HEALTH
SERVICES (ACCHSs)
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 2
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HEALTH
SERVICES (ACCHSs)
Introduction
In Queensland Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reside in a remote and discrete
area whereby their population is estimated to be 20% (Fredericks, 2013). These communities are
in dire need of resources and service delivery. The service delivery aim at providing the right
incentives as it focuses on how to develop the community and its economy at large. In order to
control it, then delivering holistic and appropriate cultural services in the health
sector is one of their priority goals. Comprehensive primary healthcare was pioneered in
Australia by the health services controlled by Aboriginal community in the 1970s (Freeman et al,
2016). Comprehensive primary healthcare includes promotive, curative, preventive and health
equity.
Discussion
Aboriginal Health care is the basic which the local community started and operated to set
free the holistic and appropriate healthcare in a cultural way in the community controlled by
Board of Management locally elected. They are multifunctional services which employ several
medical practitioners. The multifunctional services offer various services to small
sectors which rely on the Aboriginal health providers and nurses for primary
healthcare services which are preventive (Gee et al, 2014).
The Aboriginal people are to be provided with competent and free medical services as
stated in clause 2.2 of the NACCO Constitution (Fredericks et al, 2014). It also assists member
organizations in the provision of a qualified dentist for the services. Member organizations are
also assisted in the acquisition of clinics where health services can be provided without charge.
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 3
The schedule ensures that these people are enabled to use the existing health services with
efficiency, quality in access and standards compared to that which is utilized by the wider
community. The environment should be well maintained to avoid some of the health crises. This
has been put in place to build dams, improve the drainage systems, sewage, and water
reticulation systems and all other environmentally friendly techniques.
Development and research in the field of epidemiology and biostatistics combine efforts
in providing the communities with evaluation, monetization and addressing specific diseases as
well as reviewing and strengthening the health procedures which directly affect the Islanders.
The constitution also promotes the expansion of the primary healthcare services of the local
community in accordance with the Aboriginal Health Strategy.
The interaction of other indigenous people: This brings about holistic needs due to their
culture regarding the health and well-being of society. In addition to this, association with
State and Territory peak bodies support the communities in matters dealing with health services
affecting the wellbeing of the Aboriginal people. They include the “Australian Capital Territory,
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia”.
Their services follow the approach of the Palliative. They ensure that the delivery of physical,
social and psychological needs (Cameron et al, 2014).
A general practitioner examines and treats the chronic and acute diseases and tries to give
advice on matters of the precautions, preventive care, and measures concerning those diseases to
the patient. There are several factors that contribute to the caring of patients suffering from such
illness. These factors may range from psychological, biological and social factors. They have an
experience that provides them with the appropriate skills to treat those people with multiple
health problems and provision of routine healthcare i.e. physical examinations and
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 4
immunization. Their experience exposes them to provide ongoing medical care that covers all
the age brackets in each patient regardless of the gender.
Aboriginal Community Control Health Services (ACCHSs) has developed exhaustive
and cultural healthcare to control it in the community (Baba et al, 2014). The “National
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization” describes the ACCHSs approach as
including illness prevention services and other related services in the health sector as well as
accessing the secondary and tertiary health services that include aged and disability care. The
shortcoming of health has been witnessed by the Aboriginal people and they reflect the
colonization history, poor government policies, social factors and contemporary structural.
ACCHSs also deal with activities such as specialist services which include Hemodialysis and
Optometry, anger, and support for the local teams. In both, compliance was improved majorly by
the involvement of consultations strategy. This strategy evolves that most of the problems were
able to be managed by the ACCHSs than any other general practices in the local and national
areas.
However, there are several differences that occur between these models of care.
Consultations at ACCHSs were the most likely strategy that involves improvement of the
compliance which includes the medical dosing, recalls from the appointment as well as family
members being active in the routine consultations. They are likely to deal with visiting homecare
conferencing and management of complex medical conditions as compared to the
consultations at General Practices. Such differences illustrate the integrated and coordinated
nature of the ACCHSs model. Many challenges were managed per consultations as compared to
consultations with the Aboriginal people. Challenges dealing with racism were also
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 5
managed. This had brought a lot of stress to the nurses and midwives. Other studies also
showcase that ACCHSs is integrated and coordinated, unlike General Practices.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (ATSIHW) play a major role
in the primary health workforce (Aspin et al, 2012). They normally provide basic or first health
care for individuals and skills in clinical practice. His or her role ranges from the treatment of
illness to health records maintenance. They also act as communicators and interpreters on behalf
of the clients plus other health workers and take part in case management and following up
various issues with healthcare providers independently. They provide education on various
health issues to individual clients and staff. This boosts the morale of the workers. They also help
in the provision of education dealing with the culture to the people outside such community as
well as assisting in planning, development, and implementation of health programs in the
community. The nurses need to consider recognition of the ATSIHW as a core part of the
primary health care workforce. They need to prioritize the worker workforce within the Islanders
health initiatives (Herring et al, 2013). In addition, the ATSIHW workforce increases in order to
meet the demand for the services. Improved access to thorough primary health care services is
one of the priorities to facilitate solutions in illness prevention and effective of the people with
the disease.
The nurses in Australia are supposed to be aware of all the cultural diversities as it is
highlighted in the ANMC. The nurses need to be better prepared to contribute competently to the
Islanders health needs and provides care addresses in all the dimensions of the culture. Nurses
are monitored, covered and they are expected to be responsible to the community as they provide
quality healthcare through safe, ethical and effective practice as well as maintaining necessary
competencies in their practice. The nurses should engage in clinical placement but on the basis of
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 6
the agreement of the elders of the community by the Torres Strait Islander peoples and
healthcare professionals.
Self-determination is a right for every person to determine his or her political status and
pursue their cultural, social and economic development freely. The right of self-determination is
a right for every person in that country but it is not for the individuals in the country. In
accordance with the Australian people, self-determination captures the adoption and amendment
of the Australian constitution that runs from time to time, the existence and functions of the
The Australian States continues under the constitution and provision for self-governance of
territories.
The law in the Historic Mabo judgment recognized the self-determination basing its
argument on acknowledging indigenous people as the Australian first people (Moses, 2011).
The right to live according to the common values and beliefs that were set had lost and it is not
respected by others as it was, then this gives a problem in the current situation. The only possible
way of the indigenous Australians to have the freedom and overcome the legacy of colonization
and dispossession is to have self-determination.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was established and it brought
about successfully address of developing community capacity in areas where there are no jobs.
Furthermore, the Community Housing Infrastructure Program was assessed as one of the
efficiencies and effectiveness in delivering the major housing and infrastructure projects to
indigenous communities. The Indigenous communities determine their own priorities and make
their own decisions for their communities. They consistently outperform external decision
makers in areas ranging from law enforcement, economic development, health care, and social
service provision (Hunt, 2013).
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 7
When considering health outcomes for people, social factors are the root causes of all
evil. The impact of social determinants of health is well defined, researched and there is a broad
consensus of the significant effect that they have all individuals. Therefore, as currently
configured crucial considerations in policy and program attempts to close the gap may not be
present in existing health policy considerations (Kildea et al, 2010).
Conclusion
From the above-illustrated points, it is clearly defined that ACCHS leads to the delivery
of holistic needs and appropriate cultural health care to the community. It majorly focuses on
prevention, early intervention, and comprehensive healthcare. The government should take care
of its citizens. Any malpractices should be dealt with accordingly and appropriate measures
are taken.ATSIHW plays a very crucial role in improving the health outcomes of the people.
Their roles are found in the basic health care workforce, provision of clinical and basic care for
the community people at large.
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES 8
References
Aspin, C., Brown, N., Jowsey, T., Yen, L., & Leeder, S. (2012). Strategic approaches to
enhanced health service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with
chronicillness: a qualitative study. BMC health services research,12 (1), 143.
Baba, J. T., Brolan, C. E., & Hill, P. S. (2014). Aboriginal medical services cure more than
illness: a qualitative study of how Indigenous services address the health impacts of
discrimination in Brisbane communities. International Journal for Equity in
Health,13 (1),56.
Cameron, B. L., Plazas, M. D. P. C., Salas, A. S., Bearskin, R. L. B., & Hungler, K. (2014).
Understanding inequalities in access to health care services for aboriginal people: A call
fornursing action. Advances in Nursing Science,37 (3), E1-E16.
Fredericks, B. (2013). 'We don't leave our identities at the city limits': Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people living in urban localities. Australian Aboriginal Studies, (1), 4.
Fredericks, B., Maynor, P., White, N., English, F. W., &Ehrich, L. C. (2014). Living with the
legacy of conquest and culture: Social justice leadership in education and the Indigenous
peoples of Australia and America. In International handbook of educational leadership
andsocial (in) justice (pp. 751-780).
Gee, G., Dudgeon, P., Schultz, C., Hart, A., & Kelly, K. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander social and emotional wellbeing. Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice,2 , 55-68.
Herring, S., Spangaro, J., Lauw, M., & McNamara, L. (2013). The intersection of trauma, racism,
and cultural competence in effective work with Aboriginal people: Waiting for
trust.Australian Social Work,66 (1), 104-117.
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Hunt, J. (2013). Engaging with Indigenous Australia-exploring the conditions for effective
relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Kildea, S., Kruske, S., Barclay, L., & Tracy, S. (2010). ‘Closing the Gap’: how maternity
services can contribute to reducing poor maternal infant health outcomes for Aboriginal
andTorres Strait Islander women. Rural and Remote Health,10 (3).
Moses, A. D. (2011). Official apologies, reconciliation, and settler colonialism: Australian
indigenous alterity and political agency. Citizenship Studies,15 (02), 145-159.
Panaretto, K. S., Wenitong, M., Button, S., & Ring, I. T. (2014). Aboriginal community-
controlled health services: leading the way in primary care. Medical Journal of Australia
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Springer, Dordrecht.Freeman, T., Baum, F., Lawless, A., Labonté, R., Sanders, D., Boffa, J., ...
&Javanparast, S.(2016). Case study of an Aboriginal community-controlled health
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