Part of me is reluctant to go down this path as views are polarised. The other part says it is important for the exact same reason. Having spent three weeks this year in far flung regions of Australia doing Indigenous health checks, I have some observations.
Here is the easy bit. The Clontarf Foundation and Shooting Stars do a phenomenal job in many schools providing guidance and support to Indigenous boys (Clontarf) and girls (Shooting Stars). The aim is to develop improved self-esteem and confidence assisting them to participate in education, employment and society in a positive way. This has the capacity to help break the poverty and welfare cycle for the next generation. International data shows that better education is strongly correlated with better health.
Not every child will succeed (like all ethnicities and backgrounds) but these programs make a real difference. I would encourage you to check out the respective websites.
One case really struck me. In the north of WA is an Indigenous child with a cochlear implant put in at age three. Somehow, there has not been follow-up. As I was informed, there is no classroom supports in place.
While not metropolitan Perth, it is not a remote community either. This is a reasonable size rural town. What are country health services doing? What is the education department doing? They have the capacity and resources to help children like this. There is money in the system and what is required is routine. This is but one example.
In medical practice, we can offer advice but the patient needs to action it to get any benefit. We can provide support, guidance and assistance but not do it for them.
We can all agree on two issues. Firstly, the health outcomes of Indigenous people are less than that of the general population. Secondly, the billions that have been spent over the past 50 years have not brought about improvement. Too much has been wasted on bureaucracies in capital cities.
In medical practice, we can offer advice but the patient needs to action it to get any benefit. We can provide support, guidance and assistance but not do it for them. On a community basis the principle is similar.
We know what needs to happen to improve Indigenous health. It won’t happen unless communities and individuals action it. Society can provide support, guidance and assistance but can’t do it for them. External imposition will not fix Indigenous health, or indeed any health issue. It must be a partnership.
We already have the capacity to do better. Governments have the money. We have the knowledge. Action not words is what is missing.