Aboriginal Health Case Study

Introduction

Indigenous Australians experience unequal levels of educational, social and employment disadvantage. Due to many Indigenous Australians also often experiencing poor levels of health, it is common for them to die at much younger ages than non-indigenous Australians. A nurturing, healthy beginning with opportunities for personal development (such as education and employment) along with protection from physical and mental abuse are all key factors for a long and happy life (Indigenous Observatory 2015). Wilkinson and Marmot (2003) identified ten social determinants that affect the health outcomes and wellbeing of individuals and the general community. If a person feels safe, has a sufficient and stable job, and feels connected to

These were:

- Don’t know how – Health professionals expressed concerned about not knowing how to work with Aboriginal clients and communities. This included not knowing where to start and having difficulty implementing associated strategies to do so (Rural and Remote Health, 2015).

- Too Scared – Certain people in the study group were fearful of two main areas when working in Aboriginal health, unintentionally being racist and getting things wrong. (This included saying or doing the wrong thing or making incorrect assumptions). (Rural and Remote Health, 2015).

- Too Hard – The presence of barriers rather than the strategies of the health professionals was what made it difficult when caring for Aboriginal people. Emphasizing the importance of eating healthy and taking general care of ones-self were often made difficult because of these barriers (Rural and Remote Health, 2015). The 2012-13 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey found that less than one-half of Indigenous people reported eating the recommended amount of fruit every day (42%) and only one-in-twenty people (5%) ate the recommended amount of vegetables every day. Women were more likely than men to have eaten an adequate amount of fruit (44% and 40% respectively) and vegetables (7% and 3% respectively) each day (Australian Indigenous Health Info Net

This in turn affects the overall health of the client and their ability to satisfactorily work and function in their own families and communities. Community/rural nurses play a major part in the process of improving the overall health and wellbeing of these indigenous people and their communities. They help provide information and resources to their clients as well as referring them to specialists and other doctors if needed. By increasing an individual’s mental and physical capacity to function every day, they increase their chance of seeking out, obtaining and retaining employment or any other significant activity. This in turn improves their own personal Social Determinants of health of Unemployment (by gaining and retaining employment) and Social Gradient (by improving their living and social conditions with help from their new employment and newly improved health). By providing these services directly to Indigenous Australians, community nurses and indigenous health works are helping close the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous