Addressing Health Disparities: A Focus on Indigenous Australians

This report examines the significant health disparities affecting Indigenous populations in Australia. It identifies health inequality as a major issue, caused by factors like low socio-economic backgrounds, lack of awareness, and inadequate access to quality healthcare. Common health issues such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, and mental disorders disproportionately impact Indigenous communities. The report highlights the impact of these disparities, including increased chronic diseases, lower birth weights, and negative impacts on individual, family, and national development. Contributing factors include impaired healthcare accessibility, illiteracy, and unemployment, alongside social, economic, and political factors. The report emphasizes the unique challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including higher mortality and morbidity rates. It concludes by stressing the importance of addressing these disparities through culturally safe healthcare and strategic interventions to improve health outcomes and promote equity.

Health disparities in Australia
Health inequality for indigenous people
Health disparities referred to as unequal provision or accessibility of health care. Health
disparities are a common issue in the health care system. Indigenous people are the most
vulnerable group which is likely to get affected by various diseases and infections. The
prevalence shows that the health gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people of the
whole universe is the primary cause for the health disparity (Durey, & Thompson, 2012). The
low socio-economic background is the main cause of the health disparities for indigenous
people. Unawareness is also one of the major causes of health inequality.
Common health issues that affect the indigenous people of the country are diabetes,
respiratory diseases, cancer, mental disorders and cardiac conditions which may require
hospitalization and treatment for a longer duration (Awofeso, 2011). The research on health
inequality states that two major factors contributing to the health disparities of the indigenous
people. Deprived living conditions and the absence of quality health care for indigenous
people are the two factors that impact health care for indigenous people globally. (Anderson
et al. 2013)
Impact of health disparities
Equal health care accessibility is the basic need of all humans. Health care is the fundamental
right of every human being. The impact of health disparities is drastic among the indigenous
people of the globe (Lee, 2017). Inequality in health care system increases the chances of
getting two major chronic diseases like cardiac disease and diabetes. Health disparity leads to
significant physical and mental conditions. Women from low socio-economic backgrounds
give birth to low birth weight babies when compared to women from the high socio-
economic background.

The impact of health inequality may affect the wealth of the population. The productivity of
the nation depends on the equal accessibility of health for all the citizens. Health disparity can
affect the whole population in case of severe epidemic diseases like Covid-19. Inequality in
health care system impacts the growth and development of an individual, family, community,
and nation.
Factors that influence disparities
Health disparity is a significant factor that affects the vulnerable people of the country.
Various factors influence the health disparities in the country which includes social,
economic and political factors. Impaired accessibility of the health care system is the major
cause of inequality in health care (Marmot, 2011). Generally, Indigenous people are affected
by the inequality of health care. Primary health care is the basic health care need provided for
all the citizens. In some areas, people are unable to access primary health care. Illiteracy and
unemployment are the two factors that contribute to health disparities in Australia (Awofeso,
2011).
Basic infrastructure for a healthy life is the nutritious food, ventilated housing and sanitation.
Lack of awareness and education affects the healthy life of vulnerable people (Artuso et al.
2013). Culture, socio-economic background, accessibility of health care services, educational
quality and transportation facilities are the social factors that influence health inequality
globally. Poor economic factors like lack of income, past experiences, inappropriate housing
structure, environmental factors, cost of health care, criminal issues, unemployment, and
illiteracy (Lee, 2017).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander
In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the indigenous people of the country.
Indigenous people are the most affected community in the country. Prevalence confirms that
the indigenous people receive poor health care services and die at a younger age which may

danger the loss of the indigenous community in the country. Mortality and morbidity among
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders are higher than the non-indigenous people. The
burden of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer is high among the
indigenous people of the country. Basic health care support like primary health care,
immunization, health education, and cost-effective medical support are inaccessible for many
of the indigenous people (Schultz, & Cairney, 2017).
The Australian Bureau of Statistics and the council of the Australian Government have
researched the health disparities. The major cause of health disparity is the gap between
indigenous and non-indigenous people. Beliefs, values, culture, and knowledge of the
indigenous people are different from the other community. Racism is also considered to be
one of the causes of health disparity in Australia (HealthInfoNet et al. 2019). The country
finds the gap which needs to be filled by implementing the strategies. The gap in basic health
care support impacts the education and employment of the indigenous people. Issues in
health, education, and employment significantly affect the development of the community.
Identifying the factors affecting the accessibility of health care and rectifying the same
improves the health of the community. Health care support with cultural safety promotes the
efforts of the government and fills the gap of health inequality among Australian citizens.

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