174,834 research outputs found
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework 2012 report: Australian Capital Territory
No full textThis report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants or health and health system performance.Executive summaryThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012 report for the Australian Capital Territory finds areas of improvement in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the territory, including:a significant increase in health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 years and over recorded through Medicare since the introduction of the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes in July 2009corresponding increases in allied health-care services claimed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through Medicare since 1 July 2009. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher rates of general practitioner management plans and team care arrangements than non-Indigenous Australiansimmunisation coverage rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are close to those for other Australian children by age 5some improvements in literacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Year 3 and 5 between 2009 and 2011apparent retention rates from Year 7 to Year 10 and from Year 11 to Year 12 are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Capital Territory than for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally.Areas of concern include:high rates of smoking during pregnancy (51% total)around half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 and over reported drinking alcohol at short-term risky/high-risk levels in the past 12 months, which was higher than the proportion for non-Indigenous people and for Indigenous people nationallyalmost two-thirds (63%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 and over in the Australian Capital Territory have a disability or long-term health condition, which is higher than the proportion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally (41%)breast cancer screening rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are lower than for other women
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health plan 2013-2023
No full textIn 2008 Australian Governments committed to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on an incredibly important task - to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians by the year 2031. The commitment – in the form of the Close the Gap Statement of Intent – creates the platform for this National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, which has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their representatives.
This Health Plan provides a long-term, evidence-based policy framework as part of the overarching Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) approach to Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage, which has been set out in the National Indigenous Reform Agreement (NIRA) signed in 2008. The NIRA has established a framework of national targets and policy building blocks. Two of the Closing the Gap targets, to halve the gap in child mortality by 2018 and close the life expectancy gap by 2031, go directly to health outcomes, while others address social determinants of health such as education and employment.
The Health Plan builds on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It adopts a strengths-based approach to ensure policies and programs improve health, social and emotional wellbeing, and resilience and promote positive health behaviours. It emphasises the centrality of culture in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rights of individuals to a safe, healthy and empowered life. The Health Plan also builds on existing strategies and planning approaches to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health,
Review of higher education access and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: final report
No full textThis report proposes a collaborative approach be developed involving universities, governments, professional bodies, the business sector and communities working together to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through higher education.
The Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People follows on from the 2008 Review of Higher Education (the Bradley Review) by proposing measures that address what is a significant gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians’ higher education outcomes.
The Bradley Review recognised, in light of Australia’s growing economic and social policy challenges, the need for specific strategies to increase the participation in higher education of groups currently underrepresented within the system, particularly those from a low socio-economic status (SES) background. The Bradley Review specifically identified the need to address access and outcomes in higher education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The terms of reference for the Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (the Review) asked the Review Panel (the Panel) to provide advice and make recommendations in relation to:
achieving parity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, researchers, and academic and non-academic staff
best practice and opportunities for change inside universities and other higher education providers (spanning both Indigenous-specific units and whole-of-university culture, policies, activities and programs)
the effectiveness of existing Commonwealth Government programs that aim to encourage better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in higher education
the recognition and equivalence of Indigenous knowledge in the higher education sector.
The Panel proposes a collaborative approach be developed involving universities, governments, professional bodies, the business sector and communities working together to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through higher education. Strategies outlined in the report include attracting and retaining more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff, improving academic achievement, simplifying and better focusing university and government support programs and ensuring that graduates are better equipped to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through embedding Indigenous perspectives in teaching, learning and research.
The expert panel consisted of Professor Larissa Behrendt (Chair), Professor Steven Larkin, Mr Robert Griew and Ms Patricia Kelly
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and dementia: a review of the research
No full textThis report outlines the prevalence of dementia and modifiable risk factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Executive summary
The high rate of dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requires urgent attention. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience dementia at an earlier age then the general population and this, combined with the steadily growing number of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will result in the number of people effected by dementia growing significantly in the coming years.
Although higher rates of dementia have been reported in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the disease is often overlooked by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, health workers and service providers. Geographical constraints in the provision of services, a lack of education and awareness in communities and by health workers and the prevalence of other chronic diseases have all posed considerable barriers to the recognition of dementia as an emerging health issue.
This paper includes the following recommendations to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, family members and communities have access to awareness, information, and appropriate support services for people with dementia
Enhancing the implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle: policy and practice considerations
No full textOverview
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle ("the Principle") was developed in recognition of the devastating effects of forced separation of Indigenous children from families, communities and culture. The Principle exists in legislation and policy in all Australian jurisdictions, and while its importance is recognised in many boards of inquiry and reviews into child protection and justice systems, there are significant concerns about the implementation of the Principle. Recent estimates suggest the Principle has been fully applied in as few as 13% of child protection cases involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The purpose of this paper is to explore the contemporary understanding of the Principle, and review the multiple and complex barriers at the policy and practice levels which are impeding its implementation. Promising approaches that might address these barriers are also examined.
Key messages
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle was developed in response to the trauma experienced by individuals, families and communities from government policies that involved the widespread removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The fundamental goal of the Principle is to enhance and preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s connection to family and community, and sense of identity and culture.
The Principle is often conceptualised as the “placement hierarchy”, in which placement choices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children start with family and kin networks, then Indigenous non-related carers in the child’s community, then carers in another Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community. If no other suitable placement with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander carers can be sought, children are placed with non-Indigenous carers as a last resort, provided they are able to maintain the child’s connections to their family, community and cultural identity
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework 2012 report: Queensland
No full textThis report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern. For example, while death rates for avoidable causes and circulatory diseases have declined since 2001, just over half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and there has been no improvement in incidence rates of treated end-stage renal disease in recent years.The report finds areas of improvement in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Queensland, including: a 32% decline in avoidable mortality from 2001 to 2010 and significant narrowing of the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoplea 30% decline in deaths due to circulatory disease, the leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians 2001 to 2010a 41% decline in infant mortality rates from 2001 to 2010a significant increase in health assessments recorded through Medicare since the introduction of the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes in July 2009corresponding increases in allied health-care services claimed by Indigenous Australians through Medicare since 1 July 2009. Indigenous Australians have higher rates of general practitioner management plans and team care arrangements than non-Indigenous Australiansimmunisation coverage for Indigenous children is similar to non-Indigenous children by the age of 2an increase in the proportion of pregnant women attending antenatal care some improvements in literacy and numeracy for Indigenous students in Year 3 and 5 between 2008 and 2011. Areas of concern include: high rates of smoking during pregnancy (52%)lower rates of antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancyhalf of Indigenous people aged 18 and over in non-remote areas have a disability or long-term health conditionmortality rates for chronic diseases are much higher for Indigenous Australians (8 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians for diabetes and almost twice the rate for circulatory diseases)no improvement in incidence rates of treated end stage renal disease in recent years (currently 7 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians)high rates of hospitalisations and deaths due to injury (particularly assault, suicide and transport accidents)one-quarter of Indigenous Australians aged 15 and over in Queensland live in overcrowded housingbarriers to accessing appropriate health care, such as cultural competency, continue to remain a problemlower access to procedures in hospitals
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations: online services report - key results 2013-14
No full textThis sixth national report provides an overview of 269 Australian Government-funded organisations that aim to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It presents findings from the 2013-14 Online Services Report data collection, including the health services and activities provided by these organisations, staffing levels and client numbers, as well as health service gaps and challenges faced by the communities they serve.
In 2013-14, most (79%) of these organisations delivered health services through 1 site, with the remaining having 2 or more delivery sites. Sixty-two per cent of organisations were Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, 14% were other non-government organisations and 24% were government-run organisations. Three-quarters (76%) of organisations were accredited against either the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or organisational standards. This was higher than in 2012-13 (70%).
More staff and more client contacts in primary health-care organisations
In 2013-14, 203 of these organisations (76%) provided primary health-care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, similar to the number in 2012-13 (205). The number of full-time equivalent staff employed at 30 June 2014 was 7,108 and just over half of these were Indigenous (53%). The number of staff was 7% higher than at 30 June 2013.
Primary health-care services were provided to around 419,000 clients through 4.6 million contacts. The number of contacts increased by 13% (around 543,000) compared with 2012-13. There were large increases in the number of contacts for allied health professionals (46%), nurses and midwives (30%) and doctors (10%).
This may partly reflect increases in the number of staff in 2013-14. The number of clients was similar in 2012-13 (around 417,000).
Most counsellors providing social and emotional wellbeing or Link Up counselling services were Indigenous
In 2013-14, 95 organisations (35%) provided social and emotional wellbeing or Link Up counselling services. These organisations employed 189 counsellors and 62% of these were Indigenous. Services were provided to around 16,600 clients through 88,200 contacts.
Substance-use episodes of care increase
In 2013-14, 56 organisations (21%) provided substance-use services. Around 43,000 clients were seen through 371,000 episodes of care. Most episodes of care (95%) were for non-residential, follow-up or after-care services.
Episodes of care increased by 22% (around 66,000) compared with 2012-13, largely due to an increase in the number of non-residential episodes of care.
Key gaps and challenges
Sixty-one per cent of all organisations reported a service delivery gap in their communities for mental health and social and emotional health and wellbeing.
Recruitment, training and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff (68%) and staffing levels (58%) were commonly reported as challenges to providing quality services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health performance framework 2012 report: New South Wales
No full textThis report provides the latest information on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales are faring according to a range of indicators on health status, determinants of health and health system performance. Indicators are based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework. The report highlights the main areas of improvement and continuing concern. For example, death rates for avoidable causes and circulatory diseases have declined since 2001, but almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers smoke during pregnancy and unemployment rates continue to remain higher for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people.The report finds areas of improvement in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in New South Wales, including: a 20% decline in avoidable mortality from 2001 to 2010a 35% decline in deaths due to circulatory disease, the leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians from 2001-2010a significant increase in health assessments recorded through Medicare since the introduction of the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes in July 2009corresponding increases in allied health care services claimed by Indigenous Australians through Medicare since 1 July 2009. Indigenous Australians have higher rates of general practitioner management plans and team care arrangements than non-Indigenous Australiansimmunisation coverage for Indigenous children is similar to non-Indigenous children by age 2an increase in the proportion of pregnant women attending antenatal carea 15% decline in the rate of low birthweight between 2001 and 2009. Areas of concern include: high rates of smoking during pregnancy (47%)lower rates of access to antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancymore than half of those aged 18 and over in non-remote areas have a disability or long- term health conditionmortality rates for chronic diseases are much higher for Indigenous Australians (8 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians for diabetes and almost twice the rate for circulatory diseases)a 286% increase in Indigenous Australians commencing end stage renal disease therapy since 1991 (currently 3 times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians)high rates of hospitalisations and deaths due to injury (particularly assault, suicide and transport accidents)barriers to accessing appropriate health care, such as cultural competency, continue to remain a problemlower access to procedures in hospitalsa large unmet need for dental care for Indigenous childrenunemployment rates continue to remain higher for Indigenous people than for non- Indigenous people (21% compared with 4% in 2008)
Bloodborne viral and sexually transmitted infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: surveillance and evaluation report 2014
No full textThis report provides information on the occurrence of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia for the purposes of stimulating and supporting discussion on ways forward in minimising the transmission risks.
Overview
Each year, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program collaborates with the Surveillance and Evaluation Program for Public Health on the “Bloodborne viral and sexually transmitted infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Surveillance and Evaluation Report”. This surveillance report provides information on the occurrence of blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia for the purposes of stimulating and supporting discussion on ways forward in minimising the transmission risks, as well as the personal and social consequences of these infections within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Report is produced in a format that is recognised as appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and communities, and is overseen by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Advisory Committee
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art economies project: literature review
No full textExecutive summary: This literature review surveys writing about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and craft sector of remote Australia. The review has been compiled as a foundational text for the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Economies’ research project being undertaken by the CRC for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP). The Art Economies Project (AEP) is a unique opportunity to investigate, analyse and enhance key points of exchange within the sector, many of which are poorly understood, under-researched and characterised by different kinds of fragility or instability.The sector is a significant contributor to the cultural and social life of Australia and simultaneously creates important enterprise and employment opportunities for remote-area Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Broadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely to be employed in visual arts and crafts occupations as their main job (52%) than non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (9.7%) (Commonwealth of Australia 2012), and investments in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts centres generate positive financial returns to artists, calculated at a ratio of approximately 1:5 (Commonwealth of Australia 2007a).This review is linked to the primary zones in which AEP research will take place, presenting the current understanding and gaps in each of the six areas of interest: the scope and scale of the sector; the business of remote-area art centres; artists and art business outside of art centres; marketing and consumer dynamics; remote area human resources; and e-commerce and licensing.Publications describing the aesthetic, social, cultural and economic dynamics of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art economy have been generated by a broad range of people, from economists to anthropologists, art historians to art dealers. This diversity creates challenges in assembling an encompassing literature review. Despite the range of material, however, it is also clear that there are sizeable and important gaps in knowledge about the art economy. These gaps range from understanding the size of, and financial flows within, the sector through to the barriers for remote enterprise and the opportunities for (and obstacles within) new marketing and business models. In contrast to the knowledge gaps about the commercial forces at work is a considerable body of research into the social and cultural worlds of remote area art and artists.Recent years have seen a major contraction in the art economy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a 52.1% reduction in sales in remote art centres (Commonwealth of Australia 2012:2) since 2007, which accords with other anecdotal industry information as to the fragility within the sector. Understanding this fragility and the potential for expanding the success of the art economy, lie at the nucleus of the AEP’s research work.Authors:Tim Acker: Curtin University Dr Lisa Stefanoff: University of South Australia; Dr Alice Woodhead: Southern Cross Universit
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