Indigenous Health Disparity and Control

Aboriginal Health Disparities and Control

• Key Definitions:

  • Health Disparities: Differences in health outcomes or healthcare access between different population groups influenced by various factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, ethnicity).
  • Health Inequities: Unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes arising from systemic injustices.
  • Health Equity: Commitment to eliminate health disparities, prioritizing the needs of those at greatest risk based on social conditions.

• Historical Context:

  • Acknowledge the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples despite the history of colonization, racism, and discrimination.
  • The burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is approximately 2.3 times that of non-Indigenous Australians.
  • Engagement with policies like assimilation, the Stolen Generations, and their impact on Indigenous health is crucial.

• Disparities in Health Outcomes:

  • Higher rates of psychological distress and chronic diseases among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  • Challenges in accessing health services due to cost, lack of availability, and culturally appropriate resources.

Community Attitudes and Health Disparities

• Recent Research (2024):
  • Negative societal attitudes, particularly regarding Australia's Voice referendum, correlate with health disparities.
  • Greater opposition to the referendum is linked to:
  • Poorer health outcomes.
  • Reduced healthcare access.
  • Increased engagement in risky behaviors (e.g., higher smoking and drinking rates).
  • Implications of this research highlight the need for structural changes to support cultural safety and improve healthcare access.

History of Aboriginal Health Services

• Significant Milestones:

  • 1967: Referendum allowing Aboriginal people to be counted in the census.
  • 1971: First census to include Aboriginal people.
  • 1975: Establishment of Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) in Redfern; marked the first Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO).
  • 1992: Establishment of NACCHO, replacing NAIHO.
  • 2008: Government Apology to the Stolen Generation.
  • 2020-2030: New national agreement for Closing the Gap involves collaboration with the Coalition of Peaks overseeing ACCHOs.

• Growth of ACCHOs:

  • By 2020, ACCHOs were delivering 3.1 million episodes of care annually.
  • Focus on holistic health encompassing social, emotional, physical, and cultural wellbeing.

Coalition of Peaks

• Purpose and Structure:
  • Composed of national, state, and territory non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations.
  • Aims to reshape governmental relationships with Aboriginal communities in addressing health disparities through the Closing the Gap framework.
  • Represents over 800 organizations dedicated to improving health and socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous populations.

Future Content

• Next week's topics will cover:
  • Closing the Gap: Policy and practice.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health data and its interpretation.

References

• Australian Government Health
• Closing the Gap related documents and reports (links provided in the transcript).