The Impact of Closing the Gap Policy on Contemporary Indigenous Health

This essay examines the Closing the Gap (CTG) policy in Australia and its impact on Indigenous health and well-being. The introduction highlights the health disparities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, emphasizing their need for equitable healthcare access. Task 1 delves into the CTG policy, its objectives, and the challenges encountered during implementation, such as issues with intervention and resource allocation. The essay further explores the impact of diabetes on an Aboriginal woman named Judy and the benefits she could receive by registering under the CTG policy, including access to affordable medicine and home-based care. The roles of Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALO) in the healthcare system are also discussed, particularly in referring patients to appropriate services. The conclusion reiterates the significance of the CTG policy in addressing health inequalities and promoting the well-being of Indigenous Australians, referencing the importance of the policy to improve the life expectancy of the indigenous society. The essay uses the case study of Judy to illustrate the practical benefits of CTG, such as access to home nursing care and financial assistance for medications. The essay also emphasizes the role of AMS and ALO in facilitating access to healthcare services for Indigenous communities.

CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS
HEALTH AND WELL BEING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
1. Closing the Gap policy (CTG).................................................................................................1
2. Impact of diabetes of Judy.......................................................................................................2
3. Benefits to the patients of being registered on CTG................................................................2
4. Reason of referred by AMS and ALO.....................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Aboriginal people are the person who belong from remote community of Australia and are
discriminated by Australian society. These individuals come to urban areas for the sake of
employment and to involve in quality health care services. Due to social determinants these
individuals fail to get equal benefits which is the core reason behind lacking care facility for
Torres islanders. Present study will discuss about “Closing Gap policy” for the indigenous
population of Australia. Furthermore, it will explain benefit of CTG policy for the Aboriginal
patients. Essay will describe relationship of AMS and ALO with health care system.
TASK
1. Closing the Gap policy (CTG)
Closing the gap (CTG) policy has been enforced by the government of Australia for
reducing inequality.. There are many aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are not able get
health care services like non-aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Council of Australian
government (COAG) has set some targets to minimise discrimination in heath, employment and
educational sectors. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are the people those who do not get
equal health care services in Australia.
Initially this strategy was implemented in the year 2005, but later on, many changes have
been made under this policy. In the year 2007, government of Australia has made modifications
in health care targets and has concentrated on wellbeing of Torres islanders. . It promoted
equality among all Australian society and aboriginal people (Vujcich and et.al, 2016). In the year
2008 former prime minister of Australia has signed the statement of “Close the Gap” for
promoting equality. Further, in year 2009, authorities have planned to prepare annual report and
present it to the parliament for monitoring progress.
One of the major significance of CTG policy is the support by government to minimising
gap and promote equality among aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and society of Australia.
This also helps in meeting with life expectancy targets that have been set by COAG (Rigney and
Hemming, 2014). This policy has improved expectancy rate of indigenous society by 0.80 years
per annum.
However, while working on CTG policy authorities faced huge issues and barriers.
Intervention was the major problem for them. Apart from this, dealing with local level authorities
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were very difficult because, they were not ready to offer equal services to Torres islanders..
Integration with health reform agenda was not so easy task because government has to make
huge changes in existing reforms in order to meet with objectives (Davis, 2015). Moreover,
social justice was another issue which created problem for the authorities to implement
modifications in policies effectively. Lack of availability of resources and accountability were
another barrier of policy alterations. . Despite of huge complications, CTG policy helps in
minimising health inequality and it assisted government in creating positive environment for the
aboriginal people in Australia (Macura, Secco and Pullin, 2015).
2. Impact of diabetes of Judy
Judy is 57-year-old Aboriginal woman and is suffering from type 2 diabetes. She has
recently faced leg ulcer and now she requires daily dressing. She lives alone and take care of her
health by own. Due her illness she was unable to visit hospital for dressing daily. She is very old
and in such age person fails to take care of his/her health properly. Diabetes is the long term
medical illness that enhances stress level of the patient ,it is essential for the diabetes patients
that to take insulin on time so that their health remain fine. It is essential to have one person with
the patient who can take care of them. Here in the case of Judy, she has two sibling but it is not
possible for them to always be with her (Bailey, Powell and Brubacher, 2017). People those who
are aboriginal Australians, they have to face huge complications because they do not get nursing
care so easily. Indigenous Burden of Disease Survey for Australia has given statement that due
of some long term consequences, still there are many aboriginal people who are facing health
inequalities.
CTG policy of Australian government has helped indigenous population in gaining
quality care in hospitals. When Judy went to hospital, she was addressed by local AMS and
ALO. If she registered herself under CTG policy, then it will get high quality care and nurses
will have to come to her home for daily dressing (Milne, 2017). Before this policy Torres
islanders were unable to get quality treatment in hospitals but now they are able to get high
quality services. There are many social determinates of health such as economic condition,
culture, environment, education etc. Close the gap policy is for improving life expectancy rate of
patients those who belong from aboriginal community. By registering under CTG policy, Judy
can get facility of home based care that helps in addressing long term consequences of diseases
(Closing the Gap, 2018).
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3. Benefits to the patients of being registered on CTG
There are many benefit of registering under close the gap policy. Benefits to Judy are
explained below:
Government of Australia has introduced PBS co-payment program under CTG in the year
2010. Main agenda of this program is to offer medicine at lower cost to aboriginal people. This
program is worth for the people those who belong from aboriginal community and are suffering
from chronic illness. Judy is suffering from type 2 diabetes which is the chronic medical problem
(Information for General Practitioners on the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package, 2018). She
can get benefit of getting treatment at lower cost under CTG program. Every year government
of the nation contributes $1.6 billion funds on Indigenous chronic disease package (ICDP). This
money is utilised by authorities for providing affordable medical services to indigenous people .
Medical professionals give CTG prescription to patients in which patients, the individuals are
liable to get free medical services in hospitals. Judy is 57-year-old lady , CTG prescription
allows patients to receive health care services at lower cost. Judy can get advantage by
registering herself under CTG program. she can enhance chances of getting free check-up for her
disease and getting proper care plan so that she can improve soon. The practice incentives
program (PIP) is an health initiative for indigenous people which offers facility of regular
follow-up of patients and provide them attractive incentive for their courage (Vujcich and et.al,
2016). This program aids aboriginal patients to get early detection of chronic disease and
receive timely treatment for the same. Under this strategy, Judy can get training and necessary
education regarding her medical illness so that she can take care of herself easily.
Social determinants are the factors related with income, age, working environment,
community of the person. Due to these determinants health inequality gets increased in the
society. These components create unfair situations for Aboriginal population (Macura, Secco and
Pullin, 2015). By registering herself under CTG, Judy can avoid this inequality and can get
quality care from medical professionals. This can support in maintaining her dignity and getting
care at home daily.
4. Reason of referred by AMS and ALO
AMS health care Mortgage Corporation (AMS) is the health care organization works with
the motive of serving capital needs of hospitals at national level. This offer is an extraordinary
lender service so that care homes can work for betterment of Aboriginal patients. On other hand,
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ALO is home health care centre that provides innovative home based health care options to
patients (Information for General Practitioners on the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package,
2018).
In the case of Judy, she is 57-year-old lady; she is suffering from type 2 diabetes. She is
unable to visit hospitals daily because of her leg ulcer thus; ALO has referred her so that she can
get home based treatment. AMS and ALO have been referred to Judy because the services
follow instruction of the Australian government. These bodies have to run their operations as per
the guidelines of higher authorities and CTG policy. It is essential for health and social
organizations to follow regulations and policies strictly. Government has introduced CTG
program for reducing health inequality between aboriginal and non aboriginal population in
Australia. Social determinants are the major cause of restriction in care services for aboriginal
people (Bailey, Powell and Brubacher, 2017). This creates difficulty for person in living healthy
life. Belonging from rural community is the main determinant because due to this factor they fail
to get education and quality care services. When they move to urban areas then people do not
give them good treatment. CTG program is the beneficial strategy for Torres islanders, as the
individuals are now able to get equal care in hospitals. Due to legal pressure, AMS and ALO
were referring Judy.
Both AMS and ALO have a strong relationship with the health system. ALO
continuously work for offering home based clinical care to the patients those who are unable to
visit hospitals (Rigney and Hemming, 2014). Whereas AMS provides capital support to the
health care organization so that hospitals can serve high quality services to the patients. Both
these units fulfil requirement of healthcare sector, so that patients can get timely care. This helps
in improving life expectancy rate of people by offering them high quality care.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it can be concluded that closing the Gap is the Australian government
strategy for protecting rights of Aboriginal people and minimizing health equalities in the
country. It outlined about indigenous patients, who suffer from chronic disease and are liable to
get free medical services by registering themselves under CTG program.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bailey, C., Powell, M. and Brubacher, S., 2017. Reporting rates of child sexual abuse in
Indigenous communities in two Australian jurisdictions. Child abuse & neglect. 68.
pp.74-80.
Davis, M., 2015. Closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage: A trajectory of Indigenous
inequality in Australia. Geo. J. Int'l Aff. 16. pp.34.
Macura, B., Secco, L. and Pullin, A. S., 2015. What evidence exists on the impact of governance
type on the conservation effectiveness of forest protected areas? Knowledge base and
evidence gaps. Environmental evidence. 4(1). pp.24.
Milne, E., 2017. Implementing Indigenous education policy directives in Ontario public schools:
Experiences, challenges and successful practices. The International Indigenous Policy
Journal. 8(3). pp.2.
Rigney, D. and Hemming, S., 2014. Is ‘Closing the Gap’Enough? Ngarrindjeri ontologies,
reconciliation and caring for country. Educational Philosophy and Theory. 46(5). pp.536-
545.
Vujcich, D. and et.al., 2016. When There is not enough evidence and When evidence is not
enough: an Australian indigenous smoking Policy study. Frontiers in public health. 4.
pp.228.
Online
Closing the Gap. 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-system/closing-the-gap/>.
Information for General Practitioners on the Indigenous Chronic Disease Package. 2018.
[Online]. Available through:
<https://ahcsa.org.au/app/uploads/mp/files/resources/files/ctg-practice-detail-cards-
all.pdf>.
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