Healthcare workers have a responsibility to provide safe and appropriate care to all patients, regardless of race, religion or gender.  Healthcare should be available to all and have no discrimination as it is a basic human right. Hence, health care workers should be very aware of the cultural differences of the people who live in their region of work.

The aboriginal community consists of the indigenous peoples of Australia. They are not a single group, but rather consist of hundreds of groups that have their own distinct set of languages, histories and cultural traditions. They are the various First Nations peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as the peoples of Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt. Healthcare workers in Australia should be aware of and work on gaining an understanding of Aboriginal peoples in Australia.

Especially since the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience a significant gap in receiving healthcare treatments compared to non-Indigenous Australians. This gap is the result of many factors, mainly consisting of colonisation, systemic racism, and social and economic disadvantage. To provide effective care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, healthcare workers need to understand the cultural, historical, and social factors that contribute to this health gap. This article will provide you with an introduction to understanding aboriginal health for healthcare workers.

What is Aboriginal Health?

Aboriginal health refers to the health and wellbeing of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are part of indigenous community. This encompasses physical, emotional, spiritual and  social wellbeing and is connected to the cultural, social, and economic determinants of health. The health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is affected by a range of factors, including historical trauma, colonisation, discrimination on the grounds of race, social and economic disadvantage, and a lack of access to culturally safe healthcare services.

The Health Gap

The health gap between aboriginal people and non-Indigenous Australians is quite significant and consequential. Aboriginal people experience higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease whilst also having a lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians. They are also more likely to experience mental health issues and have higher rates of suicide.

Compared with non-indigenous Australians, indigenous Australians are:

2.9 times more likely to have long-term ear or hearing problems among children

2.7 times more likely to smoke

2.7 times more likely to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress

2.1 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday

1.9 times more likely to be born with low birthweight

1.7 times more likely to have a disability or restrictive long-term health condition

The reasons for this health gap are complex and multifactorial. However, some of the notable factors contributing to the health gap are:

Historical trauma- People in the aboriginal community have experienced significant trauma as a result of colonisation which include forced removal from their land, forced separation of families and the loss of cultural practices and languages. This trauma has had a lasting impact on their health and wellbeing, especially as they do not have as much access to therapeutic treatments as the non-indigenous people along with it being a stigmatised or a taboo topic.

Social and economic disadvantage- From higher rates of unemployment, lower levels of education, and poorer housing conditions and more, aboriginal people experience significant social and economic disadvantage which can contribute to poorer health outcomes and increase the risk of them catching an ailment.

Racism and discrimination- Unfair treatment due to discrimination can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of any person. As the aboriginal community has been on the receiving end of such unfortunate circumstances, this can contribute to stress and trauma in the long run along with a lack of trust in healthcare workers and services.

Lack of access to culturally safe healthcare- Many Aboriginal people do not have access to culturally safe healthcare services. This can be due to a lack of available services in remote and rural areas. A lack of understanding by healthcare providers of the cultural and social determinants of health or the lack of respect for traditional healing practices can deter indigenous people from seeking assistance from healthcare workers.

Understanding Cultural Factors

To provide effective health care to aboriginal people, healthcare workers need to understand the cultural and ethnic factors that contribute to their health and wellbeing. Aboriginal cultures are diverse and complex to which the healthcare providers need to be respectful and sensitive in accepting and working with these differences.

Some key cultural factors that healthcare workers need to be aware of are:

Kinship- This is a fundamental aspect of indigenous or aboriginal cultures. It is a complex system of relationships that exist between people, land, and the natural world. Understanding kinship is important in providing care that is respectful and sensitive to the cultural needs, as they deeply value relationships and have integrated connections with their peers and nature alike.

Country- as a central aspect of Aboriginal cultures, it refers to the land, sea, and waterways that are integral to the spiritual and cultural wellbeing of the aboriginal community. Therefore, health workers should consciously make an effort to understand the connection between the aboriginal people and their country as it is important in providing culturally safe healthcare.

Communication- The way in which aboriginal people communicate can differ from the way the non-Indigenous cultures do. They may have their own lingos and accents which healthcare providers need to respect. Being aware of these differences is an added advantage as it would help healthcare be more prepared to help indigenous people feel more at ease whilst treating them.

Medfuture, as a medical recruitment agency, can play an important role in helping healthcare workers understand aboriginal health in order for them to give effective healthcare service. A few ways in which Medfuture helps healthcare workers to gain a more thorough understanding of the indigenous community include:

Recruitment of Indigenous Healthcare Workers- Medfuture can actively recruit Indigenous healthcare workers to help bridge the gap between aboriginal people and the healthcare system. These healthcare workers can provide a valuable cultural perspective and help healthcare workers gain a better understanding of the cultural needs of the indigenous patients.

Placements in Aboriginal Health Services- by facilitating the placements for healthcare workers in aboriginal health services, Medfuture can allow healthcare workers to gain firsthand experience working with aboriginal patients and help them understand the cultural and social determinants of health.

Support for Cultural Safety- Medfuture can provide assistance and guidance to healthcare workers in order to ensure that they are providing culturally safe care. This can include providing access to cultural mentors, resources on cultural safety, and ongoing training and education.

All in all, aboriginal healthcare should not be neglected in the medical industry and as governments and people are now actively working towards a more inclusive environment, be it in healthcare or generally, it is important for healthcare workers to be more aware of the aboriginal community and how to effectively treat them. Thus, Medfuture can play an important role in helping healthcare workers understand Aboriginal health, by providing cultural awareness training, facilitating placements in Aboriginal health services and providing support for cultural safety. This will also lead to reducing the friction between the aboriginal community and the healthcare system, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for aboriginal people and an upliftment for all.