Strategies to Improve Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing: A Report

This report delves into the significant health disparities experienced by Aboriginal Australians, highlighting gaps in life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and overall health outcomes compared to non-Aboriginal communities. It identifies contributing factors such as societal biases, communication barriers between healthcare providers and patients, and a lack of cultural competency within healthcare settings. The report emphasizes the importance of a multifaceted health strategy that incorporates cultural competency, health education, and addresses healthcare staff's attitudes. It proposes a strategy that includes cultural safety training, health promotion campaigns, and awareness programs to improve health literacy. The report concludes by advocating for comprehensive strategic planning and collaborative efforts to reduce disparities and achieve better health outcomes for Aboriginal communities, aligning with the goals of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

Running head: ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Aboriginal health and wellbeing
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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ABORIGINAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
According to the statement by the NACHHO or National Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health, the term health can be defined as the amalgamation of physical, emotional,
social and cultural wellbeing, and each and every individual belonging to the societal community
has equal right to achieving the aforementioned state of absolute health (Naccho.org. 2017). The
statement of NACHHO further illustrates towards the health care services provided to the public,
it dictates the health care services to be provide in a manner that will help each and every
individual in need for health care services, are provided with the ability and availability to
achieve their full potential as healthy human beings, facilitating the overall well being for the
community (Naccho.org. 2017). However I would like to mention that the health care delivery
scenario differs magnanimously.
The aboriginals have always received differential behaviour from the rest of the mainstream
society, and the disparity in the behaviour extends to the health care experience they achieve as
well. In most cases, the aboriginals do not get the opportunity to access the health care services
that are otherwise easily accessed by the non-natives residing in Australia (Mitrou et al. 2014).
This assignment will reflect upon the health care disparities that the aboriginal Australians are
subjected to and device a health promotional and preventative strategy that can help in reducing
the disparities and achieve what the NAIHO statement aspires for.
According to the statement of department of aboriginal affairs, the aboriginals can be
described as the any descendant of the aboriginal or Torres State Island community bearing a
biological connection with the ancient indigenous or native community of the Australia, and this
somewhat racial discrimination has been the sole source for the inequality that this community
has faced (Barclay et al. 2014). Considering the health care sector, there are conspicuous gaps in
the health care that the aboriginal community receives, and these gaps are represented in life

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expectancy, infant mortality rates, poor health outcomes along with very poor or considerably
non-existent health literacy in the aboriginals. The difference in the life expectancy of the
average men and women in the aboriginal communities and non-aboriginal communities is a gap
or 10 years. The infant mortality rates in aboriginal communities are 6.2% while the rate in the
non-indigenous communities is 3.7%, which is almost half of the rate that aboriginal community
has (Sherwood 2013). The potential preventable death rate is also 5 times more than what the
non-native communities have, and the aboriginal were also 4 times more likely to be hospitalized
for chronic conditions when compared to the non-native Australians and the rate of
hospitalization has increased 50 times for the aboriginal communities in the last five years
(Artuso et al. 2013). Hence it can be stated that there is a significant gap in the health care
delivery that the aboriginals receive, and according to the statement released by Australian
government, these gaps are, shorter life expectancy, high mortality rates, low health outcomes,
and nonexistent health literacy (Oliver 2013).
Now, exploring the contributing factors to these gaps or disparities in the health care sector
for aboriginals, there are a number of different external and internal factors associated with this
situation. First and foremost, one of the major facilitators can be the conservative notion in the
society for the aboriginals (Mitrou et al. 2014). Another very important aspect in the health care
disadvantage that the aboriginals face is the lack of effective interpersonal communication,
according to most of the authors, one of the most important reasons behind the disparities in the
aboriginal heath is the fact that there is a significant communication gap between the health care
provider and the patients and their families. The dialect is one influential factor in this scenario
(Kelaher et al. 2014). In most cases, either the health care providers are unable to interpret the
preferences or grievances shared by the patients; or on the other hand, the aboriginal patients and

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their families are often unable to interpret the instructions of the health care providers. And
lastly, the lack of cultural competency in the care provided and the lack of health literacy in the
aboriginals contribute to their compromised health status as well (Guy et al. 2012).
Now, according to the recent concept of equity in health care, each and every one has a
elemental right for optimal health care services. The disparities that dominate the health care
delivery for the Australian aboriginals can only be overcome with a robust and effective health
strategy (Mitrou et al. 2014). However, in my opinion, the strategy must address each and every
determinants of the aboriginal health status and contribute towards the goal of making health
care services easy, accessible and affordable for the aboriginals (Britt et al. 2013). The first and
foremost element in the strategy must incorporate the concept for cultural competency, from my
own personal experience, I can add that the major reason behind the aboriginals not opting for
health care services is due to the fear they have for their cultural safety and dignity. It has to be
understood that the aboriginals have deep rooted traditional values and beliefs regarding healing
and health, and the modern health acre techniques often clash with their traditional healing
principles. Hence, the health strategy must incorporate the cultural competency in designing care
for the aboriginals, involving a cultural safety liaison officer and language expert will be
extremely helpful in overcoming the communication gap (Bourke et al. 2012).
The second component of the strategy must take into consideration the absolute lack of
health education in the aboriginals. It has to be understood in this context that there are a number
of different government policies in place that provides primary health care services,
immunization and maternity help to the aboriginal women and children without a cost, although
most of the aboriginals have no knowledge of these benefits they are endowed. Hence in my
opinion, the best strategy to be implemented in order to improve the health of the aboriginals is a

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promotional or awareness strategy that will help the aboriginal individuals be aware of the health
statistics and benefits that the aboriginals are allowed by the government (Artuso et al. 2013). In
my opinion, the lack of health literacy in the aboriginals is mostly due to the compromised
education patterns observed in the aboriginals; hence the promotional strategies should involve
informative seminars, workshops and campaigns involving all the different age groups of
aboriginal communities (AIHW 2017). However care should be taken that the information about
preventative health care and healthy living is conveyed to the aborigines in a simple pattern that
will be easy for the aboriginals to understand. The promotional component must also incorporate
details like preventative health and hygiene, vaccination and immunization, primary health
priorities and neonatal care. Lastly, the strategy will also need to integrate the aspect of the
discrimination in the health care staff that is reflected onto the experience that the aboriginals
receive. Hence it is imperative for change to be incorporated into the outlook of the health care
providers to the indigenous communities (Artuso et al. 2013). This goal of the strategy can be
achieved through extensive motivational training and leadership development.
On a concluding note, it can be stated that the there are a myriad of health care disparities for
the residents of aboriginal and Torres state Island, and these disparities are deep rooted and
profoundly contribute to deteriorating health outcome for the aboriginals. However, with
adequate strategic planning and actions the disparities can be reduced and if all the associated
stakeholders contribute efforts the goal of NACHHO statement to provide adequate health and
living standards to the aboriginals can be achieved.

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