Aboriginal Health Services

2246 Words9 Pages
An Evaluation of the Services and Interventions Provided by the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney: Is the Health of Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities Improving? Isabella Kristensen The University of Sydney October 2014 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 INTRODUCTION 5 HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS HEALTH IN AUSTRALIA ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONTROLLED HEALTH SERVICES ABORIGINAL MEDICAL SERVICE WESTERN SYDNEY 6 INTRODUCTION AND DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW OF WESTERN SYDNEY HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERY HEALTH INTERVENTION: PERSONALISED CALENDARS FOR ON-TIME VACCINATION HEALTH INTERVENTION: COOKING CLASSES FOR DIABETES HEALTH…show more content…
Mainstream health services often do not provide culturally competent services, which influences the access and effectiveness of health care among Indigenous communities. The AMSWS provides culturally competent health services and specialised interventions aimed at issues specific to Indigenous communities in Western Sydney including low rates of on-time vaccination, poor nutrition and high rates of smoking. The AMSWS further provides recreational activities and employment opportunities to local Indigenous Australians to improve overall wellbeing and community cohesion. Significant improvements in the health of local Indigenous communities have resulted from the services provided by the AMSWS and it is likely that this will continue in the…show more content…
ACCHS are run by Indigenous Australians for Indigenous Australians in order to facilitate self-determination, which is considered the key to improving the socioeconomic disadvantage suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (HREOC, 2013). Cultural competency is a major issue in the delivery of health services to Indigenous Australians. Although there is no one definition of cultural competency, in the Australian health care system, it involves integrating Indigenous culture into health service delivery (Universities Australia, 2011). Health professionals must be able to provide health care according to the beliefs, practices, socioeconomic state and specific needs of Indigenous patients and their communities (Universities Australia, 2011). Mainstream health services often do not provide culturally competent services, which influences the access and effectiveness of health care among local Indigenous communities. ACCHS have proven to produce successful health outcomes among local Indigenous populations by providing culturally competent services, employment opportunities and recreational activities that facilitate community

More about Aboriginal Health Services

Open Document