Impact of Policies on Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing: A Report

This report analyzes the impact of policies and governmental responses on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians, considering the post-colonial history. It focuses on the holistic approach to Aboriginal health, encompassing not just physical well-being but also cultural, emotional, and social aspects. The report examines the effects of policies, particularly the "Closing the Gap" initiative, and the social determinants of health such as education, income, and housing. The report also highlights the need for effective policy-making and addresses the political factors that influence Aboriginal health. The report uses references to support the analysis and provides a comprehensive overview of the issues affecting Aboriginal health and wellbeing in Australia.

Running head: ABORGINAL HEALTH
Aboriginal Health in Australia
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ABORGINAL HEALTH
Aboriginal health, as the term, defines, is not just the physical well-being of the
individuals from the community, but also includes ther cultural, emotional and social well-being,
which enables the community and its people to thrive to their fullest potential with standard
health (NACCHO, 2006). From the Australian perspective, there are being many initiatives
taken to facilitate and improve the health services and conditions of the innate inhabitants of the
Australian population. One such initiative, being taken by the Australian Government was the
formulation of the National Aboriginal Health Plan, which was first started in 1983, and then
culminated into the goal of achieving health inequity among this section of the population
through their first plan of actions being aligned to the “Closing-the-gap,” in 2008. The term “
Closing the gap’’referred to bridging the gap between the health services and facilities , and the
aboriginal population group, that might arise due to an array of several factors or specifically
known as the Social determinants of Health, such as education , Income and employment ,
housing and environmental conditions (Crawford & Birdie, 2018). Summatively, the program
was considerably effective in assessing and addressing these prevalent social factors that impact
health, the predominant being the educational and income facilities. Thus the program was able
to establish health equity as a fundamental right of these inhabitants. However , on a broader
perspective, the gap between the aboriginal section and health , still exists and it requires a more
vigilent and effective policy making along with the addresal of the political factors , along with
the social determinants (Lee, 2017).

2ABORGINAL HEALTH
References
Crawford, H., & Biddle, N. (2018). Changing associations of selected social determinants with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health & wellbeing, 2002 to 2012-13. Canberra,
ACT: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), The Australian
National University.
Lee, V. S. (2017). Political determinants and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: don’t
leave your integrity at the political gate. Journal of public health policy, 38(3), 387-393.
NACCHO. (2006). NACCHO- Definitions. Retrieved 10 April 2020, from
https://www.naccho.org.au/about/aboriginal-health/definitions/