Aboriginal Health Information
The following information confirms that Aboriginal people suffer from poor health in Australia compared to the rest of the population. This information is not given to provide advice about how to care for your personal health or how to treat a personal illness. If you are concerned about your health, please contact your local Aboriginal Medical Service or local GP
Definitions
Aboriginal health : Means not just the physical well being of an individual but refers to the social emotional and cultural well being of the whole community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being thereby bringing about the total well being of their Community. It is a whole of life view and includes the cyclical concept of life - death - life.
Aboriginal Community Control : Means the empowering of a community through the adoption of appropriate organisational structures which enable all Aboriginal people in the local Community the opportunity to be represented as members and to be involved in the decision making process and, therefore, the right to participate and contribute to the goals, structure and operation of its health services.
In general, health data currently under-represents the health experience of Aboriginal communities and, unfortunately, health status may be worse than the figures indicate.
Women's health
For the period 1999-2001, life expectancy at birth for Indigenous females was estimated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to be 63 years compared with 82 years for the total female population. The leading cause of death for Indigenous women in 1999-2001 was ICD-10 group 'diseases of the circulatory system' (the group includes heart attacks and strokes), for which group the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was 2.8 (that is, there were 2.8 times more deaths than expected from rates for the total Australian female population).
Neoplasms (cancers) were the second most common causes of death for Indigenous females living in Queensland, WA, SA and the NT in 1999-2001, with an SMR of 1.6. Indigenous females between the ages of 35 and 64 years of age experienced age-specific death rates from diabetes 33 times those of the corresponding age groups in the total Australian female population. For deaths due to external causes, the leading specific causes were transport accidents (28%), assault (22%) and intentional self-harm (15%). For intentional self-harm, age-specific rates for Indigenous females were similar to or lower than those for the corresponding total Australian female age groups except for the 15-24 years age group where the age-specific rate was four times that of the total Australian female population. For assault, the Indigenous female age-specific death rates ranged between 7 and 13 times those for the equivalent age groups in the total Australian female population. For diseases of the respiratory system, the rate for Indigenous females in the 35-44 years age group was 10 times that of the corresponding age group in the total Australian female population.
Lifestyle factors can place the physical and mental health of Indigenous women at risk. The 1995 National Health Survey reported that Indigenous women are less likely than non-Indigenous women to drink alcohol, but those that do are more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels. The 1995 and 2001 National Health Surveys also reported that approximately 46% of Indigenous females over the age of 18 years who lived in non-remote areas said they smoked.
Men’s Health
Past policies and practices over many generations have been instrumental in shaping Aboriginal men’s lifestyle. Forced removal from traditional lands and forced removal of children from families has had a devastating impact on all Aboriginal peoples.
The role of Aboriginal men within their community and family structures has therefore changed dramatically as they were forced to adopt a lifestyle completely alien to their own.
The resultant unresolved frustration and grief often lead to substance misuse and despair. These are further perpetuated by the high rates of imprisonment of Aboriginal men, and contribute to the separation and breakdown of family structures.
Overall, based on NSW 2001 death registration data, Aboriginal men’s life expectancy at birth is around twenty years lower than that of the wider NSW population. Aboriginal men are dying much younger than other non-Aboriginal males and the death rates for Aboriginal males are higher than those for non-Aboriginal males for every age group especially in the 15-54 age range where Aboriginal male death rates are three to seven times higher.
If Aboriginal men are to improve their health and help bring about the well being of their communities, they must once again be given the opportunity to become empowered to regain their dignity, determination and pre-colonial state of health.
Mother and Baby Health
The following statistics are from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Bureau of Statistics:
- More than 20% of Indigenous births are to women less than 20 years old
- Fertility rates of 2,133 births per 1000 Indigenous women compare with 1,745 per 1000 for all women.
- Indigenous women are more likely to have larger families.
- Indigenous infant mortality rate is 2.8 times higher than overall Australian rate.
- The incidence of low birth weight and premature babies is higher for Indigenous than non-Indigenous women
For more detailed information go to the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Diabetes
Diabetes is between two and four times more common among Indigenous people than among non-Indigenous people. Indigenous people are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes at a much lower age than non-Indigenous people and deaths from diabetes are much more common for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people. In recent years in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, diabetes accounted for 11 times as many deaths as expected for Indigenous males and 18 times as many deaths as expected for Indigenous females based on total Australian male and female rates.
For more detailed information go to the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Eye health
Eye conditions that affect the Indigenous population include refractive error (requiring glasses for correction), cataract (clouding of the lens), trachoma (a bacterial infection that can lead to blindness if untreated) and diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina, at the back of the eye, caused by diabetes ). There has been progress in the eye health of Indigenous people, but many people are still more likely than non-Indigenous people to suffer from preventable conditions. The frequency and severity of trachoma, for example, has decreased generally, but the infection is still quite common among Indigenous children living in some remote parts of the country.
The eye health of many Indigenous people is limited also by their difficulty in accessing optometrist or specialist services (because they are not available where they live, or are not culturally appropriate, or they are too expensive).
For more detailed information go to the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Hepatitis C
It is difficult to determine the level of HCV infection among Indigenous Australians as Indigenous status is not stated in a high proportion of notifications from various states and territories. However, evidence suggests that illicit drug use among Indigenous Australians is higher than for non-Indigenous Australians and the Australian Hepatitis C Surveillance Strategy has identified Indigenous Australians as at increased risk of hepatitis C transmission, compared to the general population. The crude notification rate of 36.5 per 100,000 for Indigenous people in 2001 was more than 9 times the rate of 3.9 per 100,000 for non-Indigenous people.
For more detailed information go to the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Information Resources
There is a growing amount of informaton available about health and indigenous health in particular. The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is a truly innovative method of making comprehensive, up to date knowledge and information accessible to people interested in the health of Indigenous Australians . The work of the HealthInfoNet is undertaken currently by a small part-time team comprising health researchers, multimedia staff, and a librarian based at Edith Cowan University in Perth, and assisted by an extensive Australia-wide network of HealthInfoNet Consultants. Their mission is to contribute to improving the health of Australia's Indigenous people by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible. Visit their website at www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au.
Below is a list of links to websites containing information about Aboriginal health, about the major health issues and organisations working in Aboriginal health.
The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) is a professional organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and graduates from across the country. |
12/01/2004 |
Health |
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Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) |
AIATSIS is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory authority devoted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. It is Australia's premier institution for information about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. |
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Government |
This Journal is the only national publication written by indigenous health workers for indigenous health workers. Each issue covers a range of topics including primary health care, community profiles, health promotion, best practice models and workforce issues |
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Aboriginal |
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The Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) provides a central point of access to quality Internet-based alcohol and drug information provided by prominent organisations in Australia and Internationally |
24/02/2004 |
Drug Information |
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This site provides information about the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) Inc. |
24/02/2004 |
Drug Information |
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The Australian Drug Foundation is an independant, not for profit organisation working to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug problems int he Australian community |
24/02/2004 |
Drug Information |
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Providing accessible high quality information on drugs and drug prevention to workers and the community. |
24/02/2004 |
Resources |
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This research tool is optimised for transmission speed, not for fancy looks. All links are inspected and evaluated before being added to the Virtual Library.This site is maintained in conjunction with the Center For World Indigenous Studies (CWIS) Indigenous Studies WWW Virtual Library |
24/02/2004 |
General Information |
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The section of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice |
24/02/2004 |
General Information |
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The Annotated Bibliography is a relational-file, bibliographic database that contains references, keywords and brief annotations for over 600 items on Indigenous Australian substance use. |
24/02/2004 |
Resources |
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The Ending Offending, Our Message program has developed an integrated and holistic response to addressing offending behaviour. The program combines aspects of reparation to the community with rehabilitation programs and accredited vocational education and training. |
24/02/2004 |
Drug Related programs |
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The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) is the principal advisory body to Government on drug policy and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug related policies and strategies. |
24/02/2004 |
Drug Information |
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The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) was founded to formally represent Indigenous nurses, with a commitment to the implementation of the recommendations to Increase the Numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Nursing. |
13/01/1971 |
Health |
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On 1 July 1995 the Office assumed responsibility for providing funding to Aboriginal community controlled health and substance misuse services previously administered by ATSI |
13/01/2004 |
Health |
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The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet is a truly innovative method even by international standards of making comprehensive, up to date knowledge and information accessible to people interested in the health of Indigenous Australians |
13/01/2004 |
Health |
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The Better Service Delivery Program will improve communication and information management for government and non-government agencies in the NSW human services sector. |
13/01/2004 |
Government |
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Provides an update on the NCOSS role in implementing the BSDP in the non government sectord |
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Government |
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From the NSW Government This site is an interactive electronic clearing house for everyone involved in community level social, economic and environmental renewal including community leaders, community & government workers, volunteers, program managers, academics, policy makers, youth and seniors |
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Government |
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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission ATSIC is Australias peak Indigenous organisation and an agency in the Australian Governments Indigenous Portfolio |
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Government |
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IndigiNet is a key player in the development of the global Indigenous Internet and Multimedia movement |
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Aboriginal |
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National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation |
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national peak Aboriginal health body. It has a membership of around 100 Aboriginal community controlled health services throughout Australia, which operate in urban, rural and remote areas. |
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Aboriginal |
Clinical management of Alcohol-Related Problems in Indigenous Primary Care Settings |
A Report of the OATSIH. The recommendations were consensually derived to assist primary care practitioners with decisions about the management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who present in primary care settings with alcohol related problems |
17/05/2004 |
Drug |
The Drug Summit brought together drug experts, families, representatives of interest groups, community leaders and politicians to examine existing approaches to the drug |
17/05/2004 |
Drug |