401206: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health - Nursing Assignment Help

Assignment Task:

Learning Outcomes:

1 Examine the meanings of health and illness from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. 

2 Appraise how historical events and government policies have influenced the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

3 Recognize and appreciate the health-related risk factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

4 Identify effective strategies for health promotion and health maintenance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait  Islander peoples. 

5 Explain the importance of cultural safety and culturally appropriate care and service provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

6 Apply critical reflection on own values and attitudes towards cultural safety and the provision of health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. 

Issue: In Module 1 an issue raised by Professor Lisa Pulver Jackson in her lecture caught my attention - Aboriginal life expectancy and the 10 -12-year gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. The data suggests that a non-Aboriginal person born in Australia will live 10-12 years longer than an Aboriginal person 

Feelings: 

Feelings before being exposed to the issue Before really listening to what Lisa had to say, my impression had been that Aboriginal people are typically don’t look after themselves and that there are problems with alcohol. I believed that everyone makes choices and if you make poor choices your health and life expectancy will be affected. I had decided that Aboriginal people’s poor life choices made them vulnerable to disease and an early death. I had never given much thought to why this might happen.

How did you feel now after being further informed about the issue? During the lecture, Professor Jackson Pulver talked about history, policy and statistics relating to unemployment, poverty, disadvantage, and racism connecting structural issues to life expectancy. I have heard about these social determinants of health but hadn’t really understood how important they are. The desire to live a long and healthy life is common to us all regardless of cultural background. I have been fortunate in life in that I have not had to face issues such as poverty and racism and I began to think about how things may look from an Aboriginal perspective.

Critical Evaluation: 

Was it good or bad? Why do you think this way? The realization that there are a multitude of factors outside the control of the individual that impact life expectancy made me reconsider the emphasis that I had placed solely on Aboriginal peoples’ choices. I had not really considered that these social factors play a significant role in the development and maintenance of the gap in life expectancy. I have taken this on board and am becoming more mindful of the opinions I have formed without really understanding the beliefs I hold about Aboriginal people and my tendency not only to ‘victim blame’ but to negatively characterize Aboriginal people.

How do you think you knew what you knew? I think there are racist undertones towards Aboriginal people in society and these have become imprinted in my thoughts. It’s easy to justify stereotypical attitudes if lots of people have them. It also takes courage to speak up against them.

Was your response to the issue or topic due to an experience and/or limited consideration or understanding of the issue? I do still think that there is a personal responsibility for health but having read the latest Close the Gap Report (reference). I realize that the life expectancy gap is not solely related to health behaviors but is also to do with factors identified in the Closing the Gap targets – they seem to operate in a complex unfair way to negatively influence Aboriginal people’s health and life expectancy.

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