INDH1006 Indigenous Cultures and Health Behaviours: Reflection

The culture of Australia constitute a multi-ethnic composition. Though chiefly influenced by the British Colonization in 1788, the cultural community of the subcontinent comprise of diverse civilization such as Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. They are considered to be the native inhabitants of Australia.

Colonisation had marginalised the Aboriginals which adverse consequence on their lifestyles, health and culture in general.  They were victims of racial discrimination and slavery which led them to lose self-determination in securing their original position in the society (Gwynne et al., 2016). Children belonging to the families of these indigenous culture remained impoverished that affected their emotional, physical and social well-being. The community could not avail the modern health facilities to treat serious illnesses or disability issues which attributed to their shorter life expectancy in comparison to the non-Aboriginal people. Colonization caused them to shift from their original ecological habitat which impacted their traditional lifestyle practices. The negative influence of high tobacco and alcohol abuse and low physical activity elevated their Body Mass Index and Blood Cholesterol level (Thomas, Bainbridge & Tsey, 2014). As their physiological and consequent psychological status declined, it impeded their socio-economic growth too.

In absence of concrete health-related information and statistics about their recent conditions of living, it is difficult for a medical practitioner to devise ways of healing them. However, considering the facts and socio-demographic evidence collected by researchers on their routine life, it can be stated that the Aboriginal community of Australia need proper education, training and most importantly, co-operation from the civil and enlightened non-aboriginal population to control, prevent and eliminate their life risks. The amount of care and support provided to these people in terms of health and employment can determine their rate of progress (Parker & Milroy, 2014). Organising medical camps to facilitate proper treatment of the aboriginal communities was a worthwhile step taken by the health workers. The Government of Australia had provided provisions for weekly diagnosis to treat long-term illness related to heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, depression and asthma. Culturally safe pre-natal and post-natal treatment is ensured in case of new born children and their mothers.

My role as a health worker, in Australia, has inspired me to collect relevant data on the adversities of life of the Aboriginal people and the prerequisites for their wellbeing. From these data I have gathered insight on not only the remedial measures for the Indigenous Cultural Communities in Australia but also on how I can improve my role as a health worker and effectively assist these people. By allowing multidisciplinary teams to engage in the treatment of the Aboriginal Communities, a holistic approach can be endorsed towards resolving this issue. I wish to state that proper collaboration with the Aboriginal Community Leadership is needed to achieve the health goals for their people (Gwynne et al., 2016). A treatment method which is in consonance with their values, beliefs, traditions and encompass practices relevant to their multi-generational legacies of physical and emotional well-being should be incorporated. This would not impose an idea of healing that is against their cultural sensitivities and also acknowledge the contribution of their leadership. Therefore, the care-model which I would be recommending is client-centric rather than health-centric (Eckermann et al., 2010).

References

Eckermann, A. K., Down, T., Chong, E., Nixon, L., Gray, R., & Johnson, S. (2010). Binan Goonj: Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health (3rd ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Australia. ISBN 9780729579360. Retrieved from https://www.elsevier.com/books/binan-goonj/eckermann/978-0-7295-3936-4

Gwynne, K., Irving, M. J., McCowen, D., Rambaldini, B., Skinner, J., Naoum, S., & Blinkhorn, A. (2016). Developing a sustainable model of oral health care for disadvantaged Aboriginal people living in rural and remote communities in NSW, using collective impact methodology. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 27(1), 46-53. doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2016.0032. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0c1b/1a22658d3c12baf06b4ec88c984323e31bd5.pdf

Parker, R., & Milroy, H. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health: an overview. Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice. 2nd ed. Canberra: Department of The Prime Minister and Cabinet, 25-38. ISBN: 978-0-9579494-4-7. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roz_Walker/publication/259715124_Working_Together_Aboriginal_and_Torres_Strait_Islander_Mental_Health_and_Wellbeing_Principles_and_Practice/links/59c3abb20f7e9b21a82fd663/Working-Together-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-Mental-Health-and-Wellbeing-Principles-and-Practice.pdf#page=54

Thomas, D. P., Bainbridge, R., & Tsey, K. (2014). Changing discourses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, 1914–2014. Med J Aust, 201(1), S1-4. doi: 10.5694/mja14.00114. Retrieved from https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/tho00114.pdf