Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyAboriginal health in South Australia in the 2000sWithin South Australia, the Generational Health Review specifically focusedon the health concerns of and for Aboriginal people. The opening statementwas headed Case for change – a national emergency and reported that;‘Aboriginal people’s [ill] health in South Australia is totallyunacceptable. There is no room for complacency. In no otherpopulation group are the social, economic and environmentaldeterminants of health so well exemplified. Poverty with poor diet,poor lifestyle, stress and anxiety is a major cause of poor health.(Government of South Australia 2003a, p. 1)The report highlighted that there had been few health improvements over thelast ten years and that poor life expectancy, infant mortality, and the prevalenceof chronic conditions were unacceptably high. Socioeconomic factors of lowereducation, low income, high unemployment and incarceration rates were seento impact on Aboriginal health and well-being, reflecting a focus onrecognising comprehensive primary health care and the impact of poorer leelsof social determinants of health.The review reported that only 0.6% of the state health budget had been spenton specific Aboriginal health services and this had not met the complex needsof many Aboriginal people, who comprise 1.6% of the total SA population. Awhole of government and health service response was promoted across justice,employment, education, housing and utilities departments. Aboriginal healthwas reinforced as being everybody’s business; rather than the concern of a fewspecific (often under resourced) Aboriginal health services (Government ofSouth Australia 2003a). Everybody’s Business became the re-badged version ofinter-sectorial collaboration.During Generational Health Review interviews, Aboriginal people spoke of thesystemic discrimination they encounter within the health system (Governmentof South Australia 2003b). Racist attitudes of staff members, discriminationtoward Aboriginal staff, restricted access to mainstream services and shortterm and spasmodic funding were all identified as preventing equitable care.Aboriginal people advised that their community controlled primary health care81