Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Indigenous health Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health

Health status Experience greater levels of morbidity and mortality Infant mortality almost 3xhigher than the rest of the population Reduced quality of life Injury death rates are 3xhigher than the rest of the population Males and females have a life expectancy of approximately 11 years less than non- indigenous Australians.

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Major burdens of disease Indigenous populations have a total death rate of between 4 and 7 times higher than non- indigenous Australians. Significant differences can be seen in:  Type 2 diabetes  Maternal health  Asthma  Chronic conditions (asthma, arthiritis and CV disease)  Nutritional and metabolic disorders  Infectious and parasitic disease  Cancer  Respiratory diseases  Mental health

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Biological determinants Biomedical  Incidence of overweight and obesity is higher in indigenous populations;  Insulin resistance (pre-cursor to Type 2 diabetes) is higher in indigenous populations;  Incidence of high blood pressure is greater in indigenous populations;  Blood cholesterol is higher in indigenous populations. Image source: galdu.org Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health

Biological determinants cont… Biomedical cont …  Indigenous mothers more likely to experience maternal complications;  Low birth weight infants double in indigenous populations;  Risk factor for morbidity during childhood Genetics There are a number of health concerns and biomedical factors for which indigenous populations have a genetic predisposition. These include:  Type 2 diabetes  Blood alcohol levels  Cardiovascular disease Image source: cache.daylife.com

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Behavioural determinants Attitudes  Attitudes towards ‘western’ health care practices  Lower immunisation rates for those under 6 years Beliefs  Consumption of traditional foods e.g. turtle meat Image source: footprints.org.au

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Behavioural determinants cont… Lifestyle High levels of risk taking behaviours are prominent in indigenous populations. These include:  Alcohol consumption  Smoking rates  Family and domestic violence  Driving behaviours  Dietary intake and food choices  Levels of physical activity Image source: diversetravel.com.au

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Social determinants Environment Environmental factors are a key determinant in the lowered health status of indigenous Australians. This is evident across all sectors of the environment  Physical environment  Social environment  Political environment Image source: zandrarosen.se Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health

Social determinants cont … Environment The physical environment in which many Indigenous people live is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. For example:  Poor housing  Over-populated housing  Higher rates of infectious disease  Lack of sewerage  Lack of running water  Roads and transport  Opportunities for physical activity Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health

Social determinants cont … Environment Indigenous Australians experience greater disadvantage in many elements of the social environment. For example:  higher rates of unemployment  low socio-economic status  poor educational achievements  lower rates of home ownership. Knowledge  Education around health behaviour is limited  Prevention of disease  Management of health concerns Image source: bobbybridger.com

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Strategies There are numerous strategies aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of indigenous Australians. These include:  Croc Eisteddfod  Close the Gap  NATSINSAP  Stop Sly Groggin’ Image source: tntdownunder.com

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Croc Eisteddfod A new medium for the expression of youth culture Addresses health, education, employment, sports, arts and reconciliation. Croc Eisteddfod provides indigenous children with the opportunity to:  Engage with positive role models  Explore career opportunities  Engage in a drug and alcohol free environment  Develop leadership skills. Image source: austlii.edu.au

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Close the Gap Close the Gap is an initiative launched in 2007 to eliminate the inequalities in indigenous health. This initiative relies on the collaboration of all levels of government in conjunction with non-government agencies such as Oxfam and the Red Cross. Image source: oxfam.org.au

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Close the Gap cont … This strategy has a clear set of aims and intentions to improve the health status of indigenous Australians.

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Close the Gap cont…  to close the gap in life expectancy within a generation  to halve the gap in mortality rates for indigenous children under five within a decade  to ensure all indigenous four-year-olds in remote communities have access to early childhood education within five years  to halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for indigenous children within a decade  to halve the gap for indigenous students in year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020  to halve the gap in employment outcomes between indigenous and non ‑ indigenous Australians within a decade.

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health NATSINSAP NATSINSAP is a framework for action to improve the nutritional and overall health status of Indigenous Australians. Burden of disease associated with nutrient consumption is greater in indigenous populations, elevating the risk of CVD, T2 diabetes, obesity. Image source: ruralstar.com

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health NATSINSAP cont … NATSINSAP has seven priority areas to improve the nutritional status of indigenous Australians:  Food supply in remote and rural communities  Food security and socioeconomic status  Family focused nutrition promotion  Nutrition issues in urban areas  The environment and household infrastructure  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition Workforce  National food and nutrition information systems

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health A campaign developed by the Western Australian government to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol consumption in indigenous communities (with a focus on remote communities).