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National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan refers to an evidence-based policy blueprint that was developed by the government of Australia to facilitate the improvement of health programs for the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals from the time of its adoption up to the year 2023. Despite the commitments of the government to promote equality of its people, inequality still exists between the minority indigenous and non-indigenous communities across the nation. This is why there have been persistent complaints from the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders over disparities in health care services. Unlike their dominant non-indigenous communities, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hold the view that their vulnerability hinders free accessibility to health care services. It is for this reason that the government has come up with goals plans and strategies to resolve these challenges. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of the strategies designed to improve indigenous health outlined in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023
Just like any other country, Austria has indigenous communities who are obviously the minority group in the society. As disadvantaged groups, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander has been feeling discriminated from the mainstream society. Their vulnerability has made it quite challenging for them to compete other advantaged majority groups. As a result, they cannot equally get the necessary socio-economic services like others. When it comes to health care, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are not safe because they do not have access to the required services. This is why the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been recording higher levels of health issues in Australia. However, with the adoption of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Analysis of Strategies Designed to Improve Indigenous Health Outlined in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023
It is no doubt that the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023 is one of the best goal plans for the improvement of health care services for the indigenous communities in Australia. However noble it might be, the goal plan might be fruitful if not properly implemented as it ought to be.
Investing in increased Capability of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organizations (ACCHOs) to be Able to Meet Identified Needs
In order to enhance the accessibility to health care by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the government has sought to apply the policy of collaboration. This is a good strategy that can yield a lot of fruits if effectively implemented. Partnership is one of the most important strategies that can help in accomplishing any goal. Therefore, the commitment of the government to bridge the disparity gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous communities can be realized if the government recognizes the role of other concerned stakeholders and actively involve them in the implementation of these goals (Brown, O'Shea, Mott, McBride, Lawson & Jennings 2015). When different entities come together, they can pull up resources and achieve a lot. This is why the collaboration of the government and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (NACCHO) is commendable. NACCHO is one of the organizations that deserve to put in the forefront for advocating for the rights of the indigenous populations.
Since its establishment, NACCHO has been playing a significant role in the delivery of health care services to the indigenous communities. As a result of its continued commitments, collaborations with the government, the organization has managed to reduce the disparities that exist between the indigenous and their non-indigenous counterparts for many years (McDermott, Schmidt, Preece, Owens, Taylor & Esterman 2015). Through its partnership with NACCHO, the government will manage to realize its goals. It is NACCHO that has been closely working with the indigenous communities. Therefore, if entrusted with this duty, NACCHO can do a good job (Parker & Milroy 2014). After all, it is an organization that has been solely concerned with advocating for the welfare of the neglected Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal communities. It has put more efforts in empowering these communities and increasing their chances of acquiring high quality health care services just like the rest of the Australian society.
By partnering with NACCHO in implementing the plan, the government will be able to achieve its objectives because it will help in eliminating any resistance that might be experienced. The strategy will work because the indigenous communities will feel empowered (Hill, Grant, George, Robinson, Jackson & Abel 2012). There are higher chances of accepting NACCHIO because it involves the input of the local communities. During its entire lifetime, the organization has been engaging the indigenous communities in major decision-making processes (Jongen, McCalman, Bainbridge & Tsey 2014). So, by becoming part of this new idea, NACCHIO will greatly contribute in appealing to the indigenous communities to support the initiative as it is aimed at availing quality health care to them. This is why the partnership between the government and NACCHIO will facilitate the success of the implementation of the plan.
The other strategy that the government is adopting in its pursuit to reducing the disparities in health care delivery amongst the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals is the promotion of evidence-based health care. Indeed, this is a good idea that if properly implemented, can help in improving the quality of health care services amongst this discriminated group. In the goal plan, the government has indicated its commitments to enhancing the provision of health care services to all sections of the indigenous population (Russell 2013). For instance, to the healthy aging, the government plans to ensure that there is available health care to sustain an active, healthy, comfortable and autonomous population. To achieve this, adequate research should be conducted to ensure that health care interventions that suit the cultural context of these elderly individuals are attained at all times (Funston & Herring 2016). The use of evidence-based medical interventions can enable the government to support the gaining population that is greatly adored by the indigenous communities as role models who should be enjoying longevity.
The other section of the population that can benefit from the principles of evidence-based care is the expectant mothers. For a very long time, there has been a high level of maternity-related deaths. Unlike the privileged non-indigenous communities, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders do not benefit from quality maternity care (Doolan, Najman, Henderson, Cherney, Plotnikova, Ward, Kemp, Dev & Smirnov 2015). However, this can be resolved if the plan is implemented by carrying out adequate research on the uniqueness of this community and what makes it so vulnerable to such challenges. Research is a powerful tool that if done, can help in providing enough information on each of these communities. No unnecessary deaths should be entertained if the government is really committed to attained health equality in the whole country by 2031. It is on this premise that evidence-based health care is commended as a well-thought strategy that will help in achieving the goals set in the plan (Mitrou, Cooke, Lawrence, Povah, Mobilia, Guimond & Zubrick 2014). When appropriately applied, evidence-based practice can help in addressing serious issues such as smoking, alcoholism, malnutrition, lifestyle, cultural beliefs and other related behaviors that expose the indigenous populations to communicable and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, diabetes, and AIDS. As a result, it will be much easier for the healthcare providers to carry out essential procedures like diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Health care services that are tailored towards meeting the needs of a specific community within its context can be effective in benefiting the target population. The government should not hesitate to allocate enough funds resources to support research. It is an agreeable fact that evidence-based health care is appropriate for the modern society that is currently exposed to many challenges (Gubhaju, McNamara, Banks, Joshy, Raphael, Williamson & Eades 2013). The context in which the indigenous communities live exposes them to challenges that might not be facing other people. Thus, evidence-based practice will be a viable strategy in the implementation of the goal.
The government of Australia, having acknowledged the uniqueness of its indigenous communities, has come up with a plan to provide culturally-safe health care services to the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals. Since the plan will be enrolled for the unborn, infants, adolescents, adults and the aging populations, it needs to be designed to fit each particular society. Just like any other community, Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals have sets of cultural values that influence their day-to-day life (Tieman, Lawrence, Damarell, Sladek & Nikolof 2014). In this regard, to meet their needs, health care services should be safe for their culture. This is why the government has decided not to impose any service on them, but to ensure that a multicultural approach is adopted while serving them (Donato & Segal 20130. After all, the plan is based on the principles of Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which advocate for the welfare of this marginalized class of people in the society.
Actually, the consideration of the cultural practices of the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals is a feasible idea. It will help in accomplishing the overall goals of the plan. As a community, these people have cultural traditions that play a very significant role in their identity (Baba, Brolan & Hill 2014). When designing a treatment plan for the indigenous communities, different aspects of their culture such as spirituality, language, healing process, kinship system, ancestry, and herbal medicines should be regarded. Better results can be accomplished if the healthcare providers serving the community are empowered to be culturally-diverse and tolerant professionals who can serve the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals without any prejudice or discrimination (Fredericks, Lee, Adams & Mahoney 20150. It can help in winning the confidence of the health care workers by making them to accept the services. This is a clear proof that this strategy can be appropriate in the implementation of the plan.
One of the core values that will determine the success of this plan is transparency. To show its commitment to eliminating the existing gap racism in its health care system, the government of Australia has come up with plans to enhance accessibility to the marginalized Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals. However, to ensure that this is done, measures have been put in place to promote transparency, accountability and efficiency (Dempsey, Elliott, Gorton, Leamy, Yeganeh & Scott 2015). Apart from collaborating with the local community and community-based institutions, the government has taken the imitative to provide a well organized leadership structure.
At the same time, to promote transparency in the implementation of the plan, the government of Australia has committed to be providing an annual report to the public through the parliament. At the same time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Health Performance Framework will be availing a bi-annual report to the Australians. This will help in ensuring that the plan is implemented in a clear and transparent manner (Gajjar, Zwi, Hill & Shannon 2014). A constant provision of progress reports to the general public will help in promoting accountability at all times. It will make all the concerned officers to be responsible and accountable for whatever activity done. The strategy will thus guarantee the success of the plan for the benefit of the deserving Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals.
The design of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023is the best thing to happen to the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals. For a very long time, these indigenous communities have been facing lots of discrimination. Their inability to access health care services has made them to be vulnerable to all sorts of ailments. However, with the implementation of this plan, the Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginals will breathe a sigh of relief. However, this will only be accomplished if the government of Australia demonstrates a commitment in applying appropriate strategies.
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