PUBH6000 Assessment 2: Let Your Heart Lead Your WayBackground The Indigenous Australians refers to two distinct groups of Torres Strait Islanders originated from the Torres Strait Islands north of...

PUBH6000 Assessment 2: Let Your Heart Lead Your WayBackground

The Indigenous Australians refers to two distinct groups of Torres Strait Islanders originated from the Torres Strait Islands north of Cape York in Queensland, and Aboriginal people originated from all other parts of Australia(Australians Together, XXXXXXXXXXThere are hundreds of groups, each with its own set of unique culture, histories, and languages. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population was approximately 798,400 people accounted for 3.3% of the total Australian population in 2016 which increased by 19% from 2011(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018).

It is evident that the burden of some diseases are higher in ATSI compared to the general population such as heart disease and diabetes. There are various determinants that can influence the health and well-being of ATSI Australians both physically and mentally. The exponential growth of health conditions among indigenous lead to concerns about the future of this population (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, XXXXXXXXXXAlthough some health issues, including mental conditions that existed among ATSI communities prior to the colonial period of Australia, the prevalence of diseases was infrequent compared to the current situation (Parker & Milroy, XXXXXXXXXXThe national survey reported that Indigenous adults are three times more likely to develop psychological distress (Cunningham & Paradies, 2012)

The health policy and guidelines have been implemented in the healthcare system for decades to close the health gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous population. The Australian federal and the state governments have collaborated with many stakeholders, including researchers to establish the best practice to improve mental health and well-being in ATSI Australians (Hinton, Kavanagh, Barclay, Chenhall, & Nagel, 2015).

The scenario

Waru was born and raised in Kalkadoon (Kalkatungu) county in the Mount Isa region of Queensland, called the ‘Elite of the Aboriginal warriors of Queensland'(Kalkadoon PBC, XXXXXXXXXXHis childhood days were spent with family activities such as fishing and swimming in the Cloncurry River and working on their vegetable garden. Waru remembers traditional foods made by his mum using their own vegetables and fish. It was always tasty. He loves his community and feels safe living in Kalkadoon as people are closed and related to each other. Waru and many children attended a small school where they learned English as a second language. He was 20 years old when he wanted to explore the world. At that time, his father had been diagnosed with heart disease and doctor advised that his mother was prone to have diabetes. His parents needed treatments and medications which mean they need a lot of money. As a big brother, he wanted to work to support his family and thought working in the city would be a good opportunity. Waru had some friends who left the town two years ago for a factory job in the city. He contacted his friends and fortunately, he secured a job at a chicken factory. Waru left his parents with his two sisters who can take care of them and promised to send money back home.

It had been five years since Waru started working for the chicken factory in the city. He earned a lot of money by working hard and never saying ‘NO’ to the overtime. He has kept his words by sending money to support his family. It was also five years that he lived with lonely life in the city and missed the river and his garden in Kalkadoon. He shared a house with friends from his hometown and sometimes he went with them for football games and running in the park. Unfortunately, it was not a remedy for his homesickness. He had a chance to visit his family once a year at Christmas time when the factory closed for two weeks

Although he tried to be active as he loved to do in his hometown, the inactive life in his workplace not allow him to do. His routine duties at the chicken factory were long-hour, repeated works in a cold environment. He told his family that he can keep working in this factory because the salary was high. With his salary, after sending sufficient funds back to his family, it is enough for Waru to rent a good house and drive a decent second-hand car. Waru only completed primary school and did not think that he could find another job that could pay him as much as this job. These reasons encourage him to keep working at this factory, even though he knew his physical health was getting worse, particularly his thumbs and back pain.

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Public Health Program

PUBH6000 Assessment 2 Scenario: Let Your Heart Lead Your WayΙT1 2021 Page1of5

In addition to physical issues, Waru and his friends shared the same experience of social exclusion and disparity in the factory. They can feel that they were not included in the work community and that they were rejected from the main groups. When Waru and friends reported bully and disparity at work, no response or actions were taken to help them. These negative experiences caused him to feel powerless, loss of dignity, and trauma deep inside. It’s inevitable for his group to feel a lack of social connection and support in the city and workplace. Waru felt down and sometimes it made him isolate himself from friends and didn’t want to socialise with others. He also lost his appetite and often had takeaway food due to loss of interest in cooking. Waru lost some weight because he just ate to gain energy to work.

He married Yindi, a childhood friend, during his hometown visit at the end of his 6th year of living away from home. Waru felt much better now that Yindi is living with him in the city. He often shared his stories and feelings from work with Yindi which makes him relieve to some degree. Yindi felt excited when she first arrived in the city with the new environment and new lifestyle. She shared good times with Waru and supported him by cooking food and look after the house. However, the excitement only lasted two months before Yindi began feeling homesick and lonely when Waru is at work. Yindi cannot work due to no qualification, poor English, and no work skills. Also, Waru didn’t want her to work because he didn’t want her to face bullies and disparity as same as him. Yindi gained weight because of inactive lifestyle and cook less often because she cannot go shopping by herself. She felt down and sometimes questioned herself if she had any values to be here. However, Yindi kept quiet because she didn’t want to add more stress on to Waru. She thought what he was facing from work was already hard on him. Waru noticed some changes in his wife as she became quieter and detached.

They have been together for three years before Yindi got pregnant. Yindi felt more down and anxious about raising their kid in the city and how to communicate with health professionals. Yindi cannot suppress her stress anymore so she opened up her feelings to Waru. Waru felt bad that he was not aware of her depression. They decided to visit a midwife at a community healthcare centre, and it was the first time they shared their feeling and concerns with health professionals. They had been referred to the ATSI healthcare worker at the hospital. At the consultation with the ATSI healthcare worker, Waru and Yindi felt that they have someone who understands them, and it was a safe space to share their story and ask for advice. They both have been referred to mental health support for ATSI that can help them gradually resume their confidence and maintain their cultural and spiritual rights.

Waru was interested to work for the ATSI community in the city to help people like him. He reduced his workload to a part-time position and started volunteering at the ATSI healthcare centre and took the essential courses. He hope to become the ATSI healthcare worker one day. He now have more time to spend with Yindi, their son and also himself. He named his son ‘Ngarra’ which means ‘together with you’ to represent the bond he share with Yindi. bond and connect to the community.

During the life crisis, you may only need someone sit with you, hold your hand, and ask a simple question, “How’s your day?” Most importantly, listen to your heart and let it navigate you.

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Public Health Program

Note:

This scenario was adapted from true stories, names, locations, and some details have been changed to remain confidentiality and to suit the education propose.

Learn the meaning of namesWaru: The milky way
Yindi: The Sun or motherNgarra:Together with you

PUBH6000 Assessment 2 Scenario: Let Your Heart Lead Your WayΙT1 2021 Page2of5

Instructions

Read the scenario provided by your lecturer and develop a report draw from your critical analysis and applying theory into practice.

1. Seek further information to provide a brief context of the population in the scenario and assess the potential health problem among the population based on the given scenario and context.

2. Use the Ecological Model to analyse factors relevant to the scenario that influence health behaviours and health outcomes of the population in the following perspectives

   • Intrapersonal level

   • Interpersonal level

   • Community level

3. Critically recommend a health intervention(s) that would be appropriated to address those key social determinants and scenario context.

Please see the template below for more details and guidance on how to address this assessment.

PUBH6000
Public Health Program

Key Focus:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

• Social determinants of health and social gradient - belief, attitude, culture, employment,

  education, policy

• Risk of health conditions - lifestyle, behaviour, genetics, awareness, and knowledge

• Social capital, social exclusion, and resilience