NSG2IIH Assignment: Aboriginal Healthcare and Health Inequality

This report, prepared for the NSG2IIH Indigenous and Intercultural Health Assessment, addresses the significant health inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. It begins by exploring the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) in reducing health disparities, emphasizing the importance of self-determination and how the ACCHS model reflects Indigenous understandings of health. The report then delves into the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, examining their impact on improving healthcare quality and ensuring equitable access to services for Aboriginal communities. Furthermore, it provides real-world examples of challenges and successes in fostering positive relationships between Aboriginal communities and healthcare providers, including issues of stereotyping and racism. The report also discusses the Code of Conduct for nurses and midwives, highlighting how ethical guidelines can improve healthcare delivery and build trust. The report concludes by providing examples of nurse and midwife interventions to improve healthcare outcomes, emphasizing the importance of communication and culturally sensitive care. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the complex issues surrounding Aboriginal healthcare in Australia and potential strategies for improvement.

Running head: ABORIGINAL HEALTHCARE
Aboriginal Healthcare
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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ABORIGINAL HEALTHCARE
Table of Contents
Part A...............................................................................................................................................2
Answer 1......................................................................................................................................2
Answer 2......................................................................................................................................2
Answer 3......................................................................................................................................2
Answer 4......................................................................................................................................3
Part B...............................................................................................................................................3
Answer 1......................................................................................................................................3
Answer 2......................................................................................................................................4
Part C...............................................................................................................................................5
Answer 1......................................................................................................................................5
Answer 2......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Part A
Answer 1
Self-determination is an important aspects of individual in relating and identifying
oneself in the society. It provides the people the right to be in control of their destiny in the
society. United Human Rights Committee defines it as a tool of a guarantee of human right being
exercised among the people in a social group. In the indigenous groups of the Aboriginal Torres
Strait Islanders it is necessary to define various socio cultural hindrances that they may face in
the balancing of the rights in the society (Ahmrc.org.au, 2018). It can help them put forward their
issues in the country they live in to forge a sustainable relationship.
Answer 2
Contrary to the global definition of the Primary health care in the case of the aboriginals
in the society relates to maintaining their overall emotional and social security in the society.
One of the important issue in providing the healthcare to the aboriginals is their identification
issue with the healthcare providers who they feel are biased against them (Ahmrc.org.au, 2018).
The improvement of the overall health and living conditions of the individuals in the aboriginals
societies help in establishing the fact that sanitation and healthcare are important aspects in
establishing overall health of individuals in society (de Dassel, Ralph & Cass, 2017). This will
help in improving the social determinants of health among the Torres Strait Islanders improving
their identification with the country.
Answer 3
The use of the Healthcare Homes in Australia to provide Healthcare facilities to the
individuals in the society is one of the important healthcare facilities to be provided to the

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individuals in the society (Health.gov.au, 2018). The various services that are being provide by
the Healthcare facilities caters to the healthcare issues related to conditions like diabetes, heart
and lung conditions and arthritis. The healthcare homes focus on treating the conditions that need
long term treatment for condition that might need long term care. They are funded by the
government focusing on providing medicine and healthcare for the aboriginals who cannot afford
it (Nattabi et al., 2017). This let the aboriginals relate to their countries and socially relate to their
nation.
Answer 4
Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) and Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) have a
major role to play in the providing to the healthcare among the Torres Strait Islander and forging
a strong relationship between aboriginals and the society. They are the communication channels
between the policies to be implemented by the government and the people in the aboriginal
society. The AHWs and AHPs focus on the providing of the healthcare to people in the Torres
Strait Island and other aboriginal areas (Ahmrc.org.au, 2018). Moreover, they have a major role
to play in forging relation between people in Aboriginal society and the government in Australia.
The role of Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) and Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) in
the society focus on the development of the relation between the Torres State Islander and
improving ideals between the people in the society and their identity between them and the
society (Topp, Edelman & Taylor, 2018). AHWs and AHPs also help in the proper
implementation of policies of people in the society.

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Part B
Answer 1
The main objectives of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards are:
 Defending the people from harm
 Ameliorate the qualities of services providing for improvement of health.
 Give assurance mechanisms about the qualities of the services that are being provided to
the people in the society.
 The standard of the qualities that are to be met and safety measures are to be in place for
the people in the society.
 The quality improvement standards are to be provided to the people in society for
meeting developmental requirements of sustainable future.
These standards helped in the improvement of overall heath in the society of Torres State
Islanders. The policies help in even distribution of healthcare policies throughout the society.
The policies help in the proper implementation of the healthcare strategies and policies put in
place by the government for the people in the Aboriginal society (Gardner et al., 2018). The
maintenance of the standards helps in the assurance of the fact that the people get proper
treatment irrespective of their social situation. These policies help in the uplifting of overall
living conditions in the society (Qip.com.au, 2018). The improvement of the quality of
healthcare being provided to the people helps in assuring them of their identity and merging
them with the mainstream society in the country. The assurance to the people in the society helps
in the improvement of relation between the people in the urban society in Australia and the
Torres Strait Islanders.

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Answer 2
There are a number of examples that can be cited for the instances of improving the
relations between the Aboriginals and Australian society.
Example 1: One of the major issues faced by the people in the society is in the fact that they fear
to approach the hospitals for the fear of being victim of Stereotyping. One of the major issues
that the people face is that they are bound not to use the help of the health care offidcials as they
are denied medicine on the basis of them being substance abusers. One of the major issue in this
context is that the people are frequently biased against as there was a case where a a cancer
patient was denied painkillers for the suspicion of substance abuse. This greatly affects the
mentality of the person affecting their overall healthcare development.
Example 2: There are many other issues related to the racism which affects the relation of the
healthcare providers and the people in the society of the Torres Strait Islanders in Australia. One
Such case is that they are thought to be stronger that the general population of other social
groups leading to a major issue in their treatment patters. There have been cases of amputations
and operations of the patients without the administration of anesthetics leading to a number of
infections and often much displeasure to the patients.
Such activities are not conducive for the healthy relationship growth among aboriginals
and the healthcare professionals affecting the overall effectiveness of the policy.

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Part C
Answer 1
The Code of Conduct focusses on the behavior of the Nurses and Midwives with the
people in the society that they are interacting with. The Code of Conduct guiding their overall
behaviour include:
 Inculcation of Safety and Competency in the modes of practice in the society affecting
their contribution in the providing of healthcare in the society.
 They should respect the race culture and ethnicity of the person and not be biased
because of any stereotype about the person.
 Any personal information that is received about the patient should kept confidential at all
costs helping in the improvement of relationships between healthcare personell and the
people of the society.
 They should provide proper and accurate information to the patients about the overall
healthcare practice and policies that are there to benefit them.
 Give proper information to the patients helping them in taking informed decisions about
their condition.
 Building a relationship of trust and mutual respect among the people in the society
affecting the relations between the aboriginals and people in the Torres Strait Islanders.
These policies help in the improvement of the relation between the Torres Strait islander
aboriginals and help in forming a long lasting sustainable relationship in the society. The trust of
the people and their ability to make informed decisions about their diseases will help in
improving their overall condition in the society and working towards their overall welfare
(Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au, 2018). The nurses and midwives relations with people are also

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exceptionally important as they are in constant communication with the people in the society
affecting their overall development.
Answer 2
There are a number of cases where nurses and mid wives can intervene and improve the
healthcare of the people in the society.
Example 1: One of the major roles that the nurse can play is in improving the communication
channel between the patient and the healthcare providers helping in their overall health
conditions. The proper communication channels help in the open communication channels
between patients and healthcare providers which helps in the patients sharing their issues and
getting proper treatment. Moreover, the nature of the interaction of the nurse will also help in
improving the faith of the person on the healthcare professionals who are treating those getting
proper results and improvement of the healthcare in the society. The communication channels
also help in the treatment of the diseases in a better way with proper knowledge of symptoms.
Example 2: Midwives too play a major role in the improvement of the healthcare among the
people in the society and reducing the neonatal death rates. One of the major issues in this
context is that midwives can build a proper communication channel and convince aboriginal
women to take help of proper healthcare facilities in case of any situational problems. The
midwives can also understand the health of the children and get them proper medical attention
improving the overall rate of death of the children in the society.

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References
Ahmrc.org.au. (2018). ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IMPROVING ABORIGINAL
HEALTH. Retrieved from https://www.ahmrc.org.au/media/resources/research/298-
aboriginal-communities-improving-aboriginal-health/file.html
de Dassel, J. L., Ralph, A. P., & Cass, A. (2017). A systematic review of adherence in
Indigenous Australians: an opportunity to improve chronic condition management. BMC
health services research, 17(1), 845.
Gardner, K., Sibthorpe, B., Chan, M., Sargent, G., Dowden, M., & McAullay, D. (2018).
Implementation of continuous quality improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander primary health care in Australia: a scoping systematic review. BMC health
services research, 18(1), 541.
Health.gov.au. (2018). Department of Health | Resources for practices and ACCHS. Retrieved
from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-care-homes-
resources
Nattabi, B., Matthews, V., Bailie, J., Rumbold, A., Scrimgeour, D., Schierhout, G., ... & Bailie,
R. (2017). Wide variation in sexually transmitted infection testing and counselling at
Aboriginal primary health care centres in Australia: analysis of longitudinal continuous
quality improvement data. BMC infectious diseases, 17(1), 148.
Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. (2018). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Professional standards. Retrieved from

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https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/professional-
standards.aspx
Qip.com.au. (2018). National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards - QIP -
Quality Innovation Performance Limited. Retrieved from
http://www.qip.com.au/standards/national-safety-and-quality-health-service-nsqhs-
standards/
Topp, S. M., Edelman, A., & Taylor, S. (2018). “We are everything to everyone”: a systematic
review of factors influencing the accountability relationships of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health workers (AHWs) in the Australian health system. International
journal for equity in health, 17(1), 67.