Week 14 ~ Aboriginal Health ~ PBL J

Education - Jess

Employment - Raph

• In 2010, 202,700 indigenous people in labour workforce (this represents 56% of population) • 18% unemployed (36,600)• 46% employed (166,100)• Participation in labour workforce declines with remoteness

• Unemployment gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people 12.6%• In 2009, 63% of indigenous employees at lower salary levels while only 4.8% at upper salary level

Schemes to Help• Public Calling• Making it Our Business• Aboriginal Employment Strategy• Community Development Employment Projects

Socioeconomic status - Hannah

Housing - Sylvie

Transport (Access to health Services)Remoteness: 26% Ind v 2% N/IMed Practitioners: 281/100k v 312 metro.Specialists: 29 v 114/100k78% of communities > 78k from hospital

50% > 25k from Community Health Centre

Vehicular access/ability: 60% Ind v 85% N/I

Remote = 48% Ind (? N/I)

Transport (Access to Health Services)“transport difficulty” (getting from A to

B)◦12% Ind v 4% N/I

Reference: http://www.aihw.gov.au/access-to-health-services-indigenous/

Discrimination (1)

What is it and what are the facts?

•Refers to self-reported situations/places in which the person received unfair or racist treatment.

•Major contributing factor to poor Abs. health as studies have shown it to be directly associated with various adverse health conditions.

•In 2008, 27% of Indigenous adults (aged 15 years and over) reported experience of discrimination in the previous 12 months. Most commonly experienced in the:

general public (11%), police/security personnel/courts of law (11%), at work or when applying for work (8%).

•More specifically, discrimination was more common among those who:Have even displaced from their natural families 45% compared to 26%Are unemployed 41% compared tp those who are employed 25%.Had a disability or long-term health condition 32% compared to those without disability 22%.

Discrimination (2)

Effect of discrimination:•Recent research suggests that experiencing racism and discrimination can negatively affect areas of wellbeing such as mental and physical health

•Indigenous Australians who had experienced discrimination were: More likely to report higher levels of psychological distress (44% compared

with 26%), Be in fair/poor health (28% compared with 20%). More likely to engage in binge drinking (42% compared with 35%) To have recently used illicit substances (28% compared with 17%)

•These victims of discrimination were less likely to trust the police, their local school, their doctor and/or hospital and other people in general. Problems?

Need for changeHas adverse impacts on health + hinders equal access to healthcare.

•Improving community awareness•Strengthening political will•Improve cultural competence among healthcare workers•Health service redesign to facilitate optimal access to BOTH Aboriginal AND Torres Strait Islanders.

Cultural Identity - Sam

Leadership/role/structure - Vic

And Rebecca will be reflecting