Aboriginal Health: Closing the Gap Policy, Determinants and Services

This assignment analyzes the Closing the Gap (CTG) policy, a governmental initiative aimed at reducing health disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Australia. The essay examines the policy's targets, such as improving access to healthcare and increasing life expectancy, in relation to a case study of Judy, a 57-year-old Aboriginal woman with type 2 diabetes and a leg ulcer. The discussion explores three social determinants of health impacting Judy's situation, including unemployment, poverty, and limited access to transportation, and how the CTG policy addresses these challenges. Furthermore, it defines the roles of the Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO), emphasizing their interrelationship in providing culturally sensitive healthcare services. The assignment utilizes relevant literature and statistics to support its analysis, highlighting the importance of the CTG policy in improving Aboriginal health outcomes and addressing systemic inequalities.

Running head: ABORIGINAL HEALTH
ABORIGINAL HEALTH
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note

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Introduction:
Health inequalities between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal population have become a
long-standing challenge that is affecting more than a thousand to the aboriginal population every
year. A range of literature highlighted that the morbidity rate of the aboriginal population is
substantially higher compared to a non-indigenous population where poverty, lack of health care
access, lack of employment and lack of health literacy are major contributing factors (Banham,
Karnon & Lynch 2019). As discussed by Campbell et al. (2018), chronic diseases such as
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases are developed in childhood in
Indigenous Australians, which is accounting for approximately two-thirds mortality rate gap
observed in between these two populations and contributing to early morbidity. Hence, for
reducing high disparities in health outcome between two populations, “closing the gap policy”
was designed by the government of Australia. The purpose of the assignment is to analyses
closing the gap strategy in the context of a 57 years woman Judy who was diagnosed with type II
diabetes and recently came home. This paper will also discuss the importance of closing the gap
policy, three social determinates of health that is affected by her situation and role of Aboriginal
medical services along with Aboriginal Liaison Officers in the following paragraphs.
Discussion:
Summary of closing the gap policy and associated target:
For decreasing the huge discrepancies between non-indigenous and indigenous
Australian in terms of the inaccessibility of health care, short life expectancy and lack of
employment, “closing the gap policy” was designed by the federal government
(Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au 2019). The policy is considered as the formal commitment which was

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made by a diverse layer of governing bodies in Australia (federal state, territory and local) after
assessment of the social justice report that was published in 2005. The report suggested a wide
range of physical and mental challenges experienced by the indigenous population that
contributed to their health inequalities (Www.humanrights.gov.2019). The report suggested that
the premature death rate of the indigenous population is 15% higher compared to the non-
indigenous population (Www.pmc.gov.au. 2019). The indigenous population 2.9 times as likely
to have a shorter lifespan compared to the non-indigenous population. Hence, in March 2008, the
population of two diverse communities is working together in order to reduce health disparities
by 2030 (Hill et al. 2017). The importance of the policy is that this policy aimed at
unemployment in 2018, access to the health services by 2020, increase life expectancy by 2031
(Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au 2019). Consequently, a significant number of indigenous individuals
will be able to seek help care services and employment opportunities.
Considering the target of CGT in relation to the patient, the target of access to the health
care service can apply to her. Since Judy worked as a primary school teacher for part time,
because of mobility issues she has now retired. In this context, access to health care services can
address her need for a dressing of leg ulcer and mobility issues. Judy lives far away from the
community health care services and she does not own any car. In this case, the target of the CGT
for giving access to the health care services can provide patient with the facilities of dressing of
her ulcer on daily basis and it will reduce her issues with transportation as health professionals
can address other needs of the patient (Smith et al. 2018).
Three social determinants in relationship with three benefits:

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The case study suggested that Judy was diagnoses with diabetes type 2 and
developed leg ulcer that necessitates daily dressing. The case study also highlighted that she is a
widow and she is presently living in her own home. In this current context, the social
determinants of health which have influence on diabetes such as unemployment and poverty
since she will not be able to afford costly health care services and daily dressing due to ( Smith et
al. 2018). The third social determinant of health is inaccessibility to transportation as she lives
10km away from the health care center. Since she has no car and she does not rely on public
transportation, it will impact her diabetes progression (Healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au 2019). Due to a
lack of transportation and mobility issues, she will not be able to seek the necessary dressing for
leg ulcers and treatment for diabetes.
These social determinants can be addressed by closing the gap strategy since the policy
aimed to address these determinants by 2030. Considering the employment, the policy provides
occupation facilities to the job seekers who belong to aboriginal culture and hence, once
registrated, she can work as a part-time teacher that will resolver her issue with employment
(Nguyen, Chitturi & Maple‐Brown 2016). It will also empower her to live an independent life.
For addressing poverty, the financial facilities of the policy were designed which can address her
daily needs. After providing the financial facilities, she can seek medical services and involve
with her professional regarding self-management of diabetes (Clifford et al. 2015). For
addressing the need for transportation, closing the gap increases the equitable distribution of
primary care facilities such as accommodation, transportation, and proper sanitation. Proper
housing close to the primary health care services of the community will assist her in seeking the
clinical assistance of managing leg ulcers (Fisher et al. 2015). It will decrease the progression of
leg ulcers and recover quality of life. The barriers of the registration of the closing gap are that a

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shortage of indigenous health care staff employed in the countryside may impact the satisfaction
of the patient as the health care professionals from other cultures may fail to provide culturally
sensitive services.
Registration to closing the gap:
As discussed by closing the gap policy provide low cost pharmaceutical benefits scheme
(PBS) medicines for the population who are experiencing issues associated with employment,
transportation, and poverty. In this context, Judy’s doctor filled Fill out a form of closing the gap
registration form. During registration, Medicare care is required to bring in order to receive the
medication at a very low cost (Clifford et al. 2015). The registration facilitates her ability to
receive community services such as aboriginal medical services, low-cost medication and patient
transportation facilities.
Role AMS and ALO:
AMS are subsidized health care facilities that can provide various services to the
indigenous population such as management of communicable and chronic disease,
pharmaceutical supply system, 24 hours emergency care, early intervention, and immunization.
On a contradictory note, ALOs (Aboriginal Liaison Officers) are the medical officers
who provide cultural and emotional provision to the aboriginal population when they seek to
receive services. The officers facilitate accessibility of the health care services to the patient and
they also maximize the cultural awareness as well as sensitivity of the professionals for
addressing the cultural need of the population belong to the aboriginal community (Fisher et al.
2016). The officers facilitate the communication of the aboriginal individuals with the health

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professionals and assist patients to participate in the decision making for receiving culturally
sensitive service.
Interrelationship of AMS and ALO:
As discussed in the scenario that the patient was diagnosed with type two diabetes 2 and
experiencing leg ulcers. In this context, the patient is suffering in this case, to manage her leg
ulcer and diabetes, she referred to the AMS. These medical services include emergency care for
the management of leg ulcers, dressing and associated services for the management of diabetes
(Clifford et al. 2015). Judy can be provided with medication for the management of diabetes
following the standard protocol of pharmacological scheme. In this context, while Judy will seek
clinical assistance from health care, the aboriginal Liaison Officer will enhance the process of
receiving culturally competent care by incorporating cultural awareness and values (Nguyen,
Chitturi & Maple‐Brown 2016). Moreover, the aboriginal Liaison Officer will provide emotional
support to Judy and support Judy to understand the medical procedure of managing leg ulcers
and diabetes in a traditional way. The medical officer will certify that Judy will be given
culturally competent service that will recover her quality of life.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it can be said that Health inequalities of the indigenous population
have become a long-standing challenge that is affecting more than thanks to the aboriginal
population every year. Hence, closing the gap was designed by the formal commitment which
was made by a diverse layer of governing bodies in Australia after assessment of the social
justice report. In this context, three social determinants of health include lack of employment,
lack of access to health care and poverty. In this context, Aboriginal medical services can be

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provided to Judy where the aboriginal Liaison Officer can support her to receive culturally
sensitive service.

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