Analysis of the Australian Healthcare System and Indigenous Health

This report examines the Australian healthcare system, with a specific focus on the health experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It begins by acknowledging the historical impact of colonization on Indigenous health, including the disruption of culture, the introduction of diseases, and policies like assimilation and protection policies, which led to significant social and economic disadvantages. The report then provides an overview of the current Australian healthcare system, including the role of Medicare, private health insurance, and various healthcare providers. A key focus is on the inequities within the system, particularly the disparities in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The report then addresses the central question of how the healthcare system can better address these inequities, emphasizing the need for culturally safe practices, increased funding for Indigenous-controlled health organizations, and policies that address the social determinants of health. The report highlights the importance of community engagement, political leadership, and a commitment to dismantling systemic racism within the healthcare system to achieve better health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

AUSTRALIAN HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
The impact of colonisation on the health of Aboriginals and Torres strait islander people......3
Current Healthcare system..........................................................................................................5
How healthcare system can better address inequities ................................................................6
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
This assignment is demonstrated as to study the Australian health care system which is
associated to the aboriginal population. Aboriginal peoples they are known as indigenous
peoples of the islands such as Tiwi island, Fraser island , but further this exclude the Torres strait
island. There are many current gaps in the service provision and healthcare systems. There is
need of uncovering these gaps as well as determining certain ways in which number of involved
issues thus this could be effectively meet up with the targeted audience. There are numerous
programs which are in need of intervention in the field of healthcare in order to access better
Medicare facilities. This statement identifies perspective of indigenous group and its
requirements for the program delivery and service provision which are associated with the
indigenous priorities, beliefs, values and needs, therefore this explore many evidences about the
principles of best practice for the aboriginal groups services and health programs. The system of
healthcare assist the problems of indigenous community and to overcome current problems in
order to resolve such issues governments needs to implement effective plans and and along with
this involve groups of local community organization so, they could negotiate to address the
problems. The groups of indigenous population they are continuously striving for the well-being
and and the better health due to the reasons of significant social inequities. The aboriginal
community controlled health organization( ACCHO) they are well known for providing holistic
health services which are directly or indirectly convey the social determinants regarding health
and these organizations are responsible for funding programs that could improve healthcare and
its mission could be accomplished in a proper manner. The recent studies shows that social
determinants of health are very important contributors in order to gain better health
outcomes(Parker, E. and Fleming, 2020).
The impact of colonisation on the health of Aboriginals and Torres strait islander people
Colonisation this is defined as in inequity and disruption or break in Torres strait islander
and aboriginal cultures or in other words it can be called racism(Taylor, and et. Al, 2020)
Colonisation they mainly disturb the aboriginal society such as epidemic disease which could
cause immediate loss of lands , life and restriction in the community of aboriginal in order to
reserve or disrupt their own abilities to support themselves. The combination of these factors had
a huge impact by the 1930s and only 80,000 indigenous peoples were evaluated who were
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remained in Australasia. The social and physical environment this play an important role in the
lives of peoples whether they are living a life free of serious illness. This is a specific case for the
indigenous community who are still suffering from consequences of European settlement in
addition this impacted on chronic diseases and new infectious as well as social dislocation. In
2008 all government authority of Australia with the council of Australian governments, they
committed to work further in order to closing the gap which agrees to 6 specific timelines and
targets. These targets are usually set out for the national aboriginal reform agreement between
the territory governments and Australian government. This has been most detrimental among the
determinants of health which continuously influence on the Torres strait islanders and the
aboriginal population health outcomes today, In 1788, indigenous population was evaluated and
it was about 750,000 people in Australia. The peoples of Australia thinks that aboriginal
population was resisted from the beginning from British invasion and this resistance further
turned into brutal massacres which is called frontier wars. They had one main purpose to
breakdown Australia first people resistance. In the 1960 thousands of indigenous peoples which
includes children and women they were brutally slaughtered on the daily basis.
Assimilation policy
1. Indigenous children were taken away from their homes or families between 1910 and
1970 and they were assimilated into non-indigenous homes ans along with this they were
placed under state care. These assimilated children are called stolen generation and many
of them, they are still looking for their families. These children were brutally treated and
abused (emotionally, sexually and physically)(Taylor, and Guerin, 2019).Their identities
were changed i.e. names , they were not allowed to speak their own language as well as
not permitted to their culture.
2. Protection policies - The groups of indigenous community they were separated from
other Australians in order to relocate to reserves and their missions. There were many
events long ago was very important for the Torres strait islanders and Aboriginals
Australians. There are numbers of people alive today who;
 Who were not allowed to go in towns after 6:00 at night
 They were roughly removed from their families under government policy.
 There children were taken away
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 They were prohibited from hospitals and schools.
 When this indigenous population returned from wars they found that they do not have
same rights as others.
3.Self – determinants equal pay and census
Until 1967, The Aboriginals community were not counted in the government census, this was the
same time in Australia that indigenous population stockmen eventually they received the right
which was to be paid award wages(Saini, and et.al, 2017).
Although thousand of aboriginal peoples they served in the armed forces of Australia ,
especially during second world war, until 1962 indigenous group they did not had right to vote
and until 1967 they were not recognized as national citizen of their own country as well as
included them in national census. Also until 1992 high court of Australia declared the legal
instruction that land belonging to no- one, and this concept was invalid as applied to Australia.
There are many indigenous peoples those are living with clear conditions of economic
disadvantage due to the reason of lower employments and education levels. Theses factors are
interacted to contribute the poor health for the indigenous group of peoples. The substantial and
consequent differences they all measures welfare and health levels between indigenous and non-
indigenous Australians and this is called gap. In may 2014 council of Australian government
they agreed to close the gap which is existed in school attendance within 5 years.
Current Healthcare system
Healthcare care system in Australia is highly developed. This is one of the best health
system in the world, which provides safe, quality, as well as affordable for the group of
individuals. There are number of providers of healthcare in Australia such as nurses, medical
specialist, allied health workers and general practitioners. The team of medical experts they keep
the list up to date, best practice and safe. The healthcare is commonly given by the government
authority of Australia through the Medicare(Paul, Fradgley, and Baird, 2017). The term
healthcare is funded by the local government levels, and optional health insurance at national
level. Government spends nearly 67% through other programs and Medicare and on the other
hand group of individuals contributing more than half compared to non- government funding ,
the federal government has administered Medicare scheme which importantly covers the cost of
health care services whether they are primary or allied. Medicare this is a universal healthcare
scheme which mostly covers permanent residents and all Australian citizens along with other
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programs which covers particular groups such as indigenous Australians and veterans and in
addition there are mandatory insurance schemes which usually covers personal injury from
vehicle incidents or from workplace. A Australian healthcare system they have highly developed
structure, Medicare is mostly funded by Medicare levy which is approx 2% levy on residents
certain income or taxable income. In 1999 the government of Howard introduced about the
private health insurance, rebate scheme under this scheme government nearly contribute 30% of
premium of private health insurance which would covered by Medicare. The healthcare system
of Australia is recognized as highly developed organization for the purpose of development and
economic co- operation furthermore Medicare organization are facing some pressure due to the
reason of change in healthcare needs which includes increase in health costs or increase health in
demands as well as inequities and such kind of conditions further to improve outcomes. The
amount on expenditure on Medicare in Australia is about 8.8% and this is nearly same as OECD
average, in order to meet challenges which are barely rising cases of chronic disease in the strait
islander and indigenous peoples due to this reason Australia would be reducing health system
fragmentation in order to enhance the coordination of patient care. The health system is funded
in Australia and this is a combination of private health insurance and government funding. The
government funding is mainly done through Medicare scheme which is often sponsored out of
hospital medical treatment and the funds free treatment is given in public hospitals. In Australia
health insurances are often provided by organisation of health insurance which are called funds,
such insurances commonly covers the cost treatment which includes patient in a private hospital
and might provide extra care.
How healthcare system can better address inequities
The health of Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people has been influenced by colonial
policies and practises. There are certain inequities that are to be seen in health status of
aboriginal and Torres strait islander people is a representative of largest image relate with their
lack of human rights life in Australia. Political leadership is needed that could inspire
comprehensive society and that an reflect informed value of Australian people. Health care
consultation allows value to Ingenious Australians (Anderson and Abrahamson, 2017). But the
voice of disadvantage is heard more. For that there is a need of first recognise and then
breakdown the racism that occurs in many Australian healthcare system. Heath care inequities
occurs from unfair, and unjust treatments by governments, people and this results in macro
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politics structures and politics. Healthcare inequities have some approaches. These re discussed
below:
 Continue to support Aboriginals and Torres strait islander community. Controlled their
health organisations is a important part of healthcare system.
 Provides enough funding to support health strengthening.
 Efforts are continued to improve health outcomes.
 Implementation of cultural safety and quality of care system for Aboriginals and Torres
strait islander.
 Giving priority to public health health care system but also focus on improving quality of
hospital care, secondary and specialist services.
By considering inequity requires not just addressing disadvantages groups but ait also
level social gradient in health. By this middle group experience heath that is closer to top and
bottom both. It should be ensures that equal distribution of social determinates of health is a
priority of policies. Adoption of health in all policies at very level f government, they should
recognise that economic inequality is main health determinant. The increase in funds can
breakdown problems and issues concerned with inequities. There are various manner in which
various issues can be carried out in a successful manner for target audience (Delaney., 2018).
Aboriginals and Torres islander is considers to be a target audience. There is a lack of
appropriate population literacy levels and also there is a mode to communicate best utilization of
visuals in approach. Pictures and visual presentations are to be considers as a most to
communicate and interact with complex issues that can be handled through healthcare teams.
As similar, Aboriginals and Torres strait islander people are great exposure of disability due to
increasing exposure of various factors such as chronic disease, infectious disease, mental health
problems, accidents and violence etc. these factors are considers to be more prevalent where
there are higher rates of employment, lower level of income, living conditions and poorer diet
and poor access to healthcare. Moreover, these factors are to be related as risk factors,
government should focus on these factors. Also they they needs to focus on greatest disparity
where quality of life is reduced (Hollnagel and Braithwaite, 2019). To find institutional barriers
to health equality for aboriginals and Torres strait islander people in Australia healthcare system.
So for that some of external, evidence based assessment is important to inform.
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CONCLUSION
As per discussed above that before long ago community of indigenous peoples were treated
brutally and slaughtered badly , there children's were assimilated , no rights were given to them
as a Australians, and number of chronic disease were affecting them thus government of
Australia should devote all the rights to the indigenous group and as well as provide healthcare
system for them.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Anderson, J.G. and Abrahamson, K., 2017, January. Your Health Care May Kill You: Medical
Errors. In ITCH (pp. 13-17).
Delaney, L.J, 2018. Patient-centred care as an approach to improving health care in Australia.
Collegian, 25(1), pp.119-123.
Hollnagel, E. and Braithwaite, J., 2019. Resilient health care. CRC Press.
Jeon, Y.H., Casey, A.N., Vo, K., Rogers, K., Poole, B. and Fethney, J., 2019. Associations
between clinical indicators of quality and aged-care residents’ needs and consumer and
staff satisfaction: the first Australian study. Australian Health Review, 43(2), pp.133-141.
Parker, E. and Fleming, M.l 2020. Health promotion: Principles and practice in the Australian
context. Routledge.
Paul, and et. al Fradgley, Roach, and Baird, 2017, July. Impact of financial costs of cancer on
patients-the Australian experience. In Cancer Forum (Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 4-9).
Saini, and et.al, 2017. Addressing overuse and underuse around the world. The Lancet,
390(10090), pp.105-107.
Sibthorpe, B and et.al., 2018. Impacts of continuous quality improvement in Aboriginal and
Torres Strait islander primary health care in Australia. Journal of health organization and
management.
Taylor, J and et.al., 2020. Promoting health: the primary health care approach. Elsevier.
Taylor, K. and Guerin, P., 2019. Health care and Indigenous Australians: cultural safety in
practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.
(Parker, E. and Fleming, 2020). (Paul, Fradgley, and Baird, 2017),(Saini, and et.al, 2017)
(Sibthorpe, B and et.al., 2018) (Taylor, and et. Al, 2020) (Taylor, and Guerin, 2019)
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