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 Males and females have a life expectancy of approximately 11 years less than non- indigenous Australians. Experience greater levels of morbidity particular in relation to diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Health status 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  Asthma  Nutritional and metabolic disorders  Infectious and parasitic disease  Cancer  Respiratory diseases

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Biological determinants  Incidence of overweight and obesity is higher in indigenous populations;  Impaired glucose regulation - Type 2 diabetes is higher in indigenous populations due to ;  Incidence of high blood pressure is greater in indigenous populations;  Blood cholesterol is higher in indigenous populations.  Low birth weight Image source: galdu.org Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health

Biological determinants cont… There are a number of health concerns 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  More likely to smoke  More likely to abuse alcohol  More likely to use illicit drugs  Less likley to be physically active  Diets are high in processed carbohydrates and saturated fat  Participate in more unsafe sex practices  Have lower immunization rates  Have higher rates of domestic violence Image source: footprints.org.au

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Social determinants Indigenous people are more likely to have/ be:  Lower socioeconomic status  Lower levels of education  Poorer housing and / or over-populated housing  Unemployed  Socially isolated/ excluded due to racism, discrimination  poor food security  Poor access to safe water and sanitation  Less access to, and use of health care 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 aims to:  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).

Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health Unit 3: Australia’s health Revise Use the determinants of health to explain the health status of the indigenous population of Australia. Image source: cache.daylife.com