Some suggestions for how researchers and health services might do a better job of engaging with Aboriginal patients and communities have come from a research project spanning rural, regional and remote NSW. The suggestions include taking time to develop trust and relationships (including with community members outside of the health sector), recruiting Aboriginal staff, and [...]
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ABORIGINAL HEALTH
The difference between Close the Gap and Closing the Gap – and why it matters
Today is the seventh annual National Close the Gap Day, with a record 950 community events in homes, schools, universities, workplaces, community halls and public spaces to raise awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Close the Gap leaders are urging Federal, State and Territory Governments to renew their commitment to funding for the [...]
READ MOREOne more reason to stop discussing health as a “lifestyle issue” (racism)
In broader public debate, racism is not framed often enough as a health issue. Whether inflicted by individuals, organisations, services or cultures, racism can have profound consequences for the health of individuals and communities. One recent study found that just over half of young Aboriginal people living in Melbourne reported having experienced racism, and the [...]
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From Songlines to Twitter: communicating and connecting for Aboriginal health
One of the sessions at the Living Longer Stronger conference in Sydney next week will examine the potential of digital media and communications in improving Aboriginal health. (That’s the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW Chronic Disease conference, and its Twitter tag is #LivingLongerStronger.) In the article below, Justin Mohamed, chairperson of NACCHO (and [...]
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Why do I work in Aboriginal health? (And more news from the world of social media and health)
An Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW conference on chronic diseases in Sydney next month will include a session looking at the use of online media to connect with communities. The session will hear from Luke Pearson (Aboriginal media consultant), Tom Widdup (Oxfam), Vicki Wade (National Heart Foundation) and me. If anyone has [...]
READ MORECaring for country is also good for Aboriginal people
In its latest Croakey update, the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (better known as PHC RIS) highlights an article examining the relationship between caring for country and health. *** Healthy country, healthy people: Involvement in land management has positive health benefits for Aboriginal Australians Bradley Smith writes: Aboriginal people have jurisdiction over roughly [...]
READ MOREDid the Federal Government water down the report into dialysis in Central Australia?
A long-awaited report into the troubles facing Aboriginal people who require dialysis in Central Australia – at least some of which are a result of the enduring dysfunctional health divide between territory/state and federal governments – was recently released. The inquiry followed concerns about the lack of culturally appropriate services, and some heart-wrenching examples of [...]
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Study identifies environmental health issues for Aboriginal children in cities
…and another report from the Coalition for Research to Improve Aboriginal Health Conference being held in Sydney over the past two days. Anne Messenger reports: Early findings from a study into the effects of environment on the health of urban Aboriginal children have demonstrated the need for critical intervention points that can be scaled up, [...]
READ MORESome insights from the health impact assessment of the NT Intervention
On Friday, the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association released the long-awaited health impact assessment of the NT Emergency Response. You can find the full report here, and this is a Crikey article about it. Below are some extracts from the report which give a flavour of its contents: • Many community members felt they were being [...]
READ MOREA plea for support for Aboriginal patients in Central Australia
Below is an extract of an open letter that is being circulated to raise awareness of the plight of Aboriginal people in central Australia who are no longer able to access dialysis services in Alice Springs. It is from Sarah Brown, Manager of the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku, an organisation that provides support [...]
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