Aboriginal Health

The health of Australia’s Indigenous peoples is documented to be of third world standard. This paper identifies and highlights the factors that influence Aboriginal health and wellbeing. It explores and analyses how Aboriginal health, as a reflection of the broader social, economic, political and environmental factors, is influenced by colonialism, not just historically but as a living legacy. It discusses the continuing influence of colonialism in Aboriginal health policy and practice and how this has been an obstacle to Aboriginal health improvement. Strategies for health improvement, guided by the principle of self-determination and primary health care are discussed. Consideration is given to the voices of Aboriginal Health Workers on Aboriginal health issues and the importance of those voices as an expression of self-determination.

The negative influences of colonialism still exist today. Broome (1994 pg 23) states; “the meeting of two people from different cultures is bound to be marked by misunderstanding”. The nature of exchanges and responses of Europeans and Indigenous Australians happened as a gradual process throughout the early 1800’s. The processes of colonisation had such an impact on those already here. It is on

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(Reed and Trompt, 1991, page 313)

The social and cultural dislocation experienced by Aboriginal people has indefinably had a profound effected on Aboriginal people's mental well being. Western medicine tends to use a disease model for treating patients with more activity centred on a particular illness or focus on a part of a body that is abnormal.

While Aboriginal people in Australia have been setting a benchmark in Aboriginal medical services, other people throughout the world have been looking at different ways to provide health care. They decided to call this new approach ‘Primary Health Care’. Aboriginal people have had decades of change (“injustices”) being forced upon them. The word powerlessness and hopelessness comes to ones mind when consideration is given to the destruction that came from ‘European invasion’.

My findings show that early history and views of Aboriginal people have influenced the way in which Aboriginal people are viewed and treated today.

Reynolds, Henry 1987 (Frontier) page 167, Allen & Unwin

Australia Pty Ltd. In doing so it collected much information on the physical and mental health and living conditions of Aboriginal people. ly now, that non-indigenous Australians are starting to understand the breadth and magnitude of this process. These views and decisions have disadvantaged Aboriginal people over the years, but they are also key factors in unlocking the answer to addressing past injustices.

It is not possible to comprehend the current status of Aboriginal Health and wellbeing without first acknowledging the legacies and treatment of Aboriginal people in this country since European invasion.

In 1978, the World Health Organisation held a conference on health in Alma-Ata in the USSR. It takes more than Government policies to affect change, community attitude and commitment are fundamental to social change. They have been realising that health services were only providing adequate care for those people who had power and money.

Approximate Word count = 2040
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

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