Racism erodes confidence and self- worth, in turn leading to poorer health outcomes including psychological distress, depression, anxiety and health risk behaviours. Racism experienced in the delivery...

1

Health Care Disparities in Australia: Part 1
Disparities in health care have been among the major problem for Australia. Racism
and racial discrimination has paved the way for the emergence of such disparities in the
context of Australian health care. Cultural competency is the key to success in health care
delivery and the Australian health care sector has to grow in a way that it becomes capable of
enhancing its diversity skills and competence. The Australian Aboriginal and To
es Strait
Islander population have been the victims of health care disparities, and analyzing the issue
from a strength based approach can give way to different interpretations.
The health care disparities in Australia is evident from the a report published by
Australian Bureau of Statistics in which it has been mentioned that “Average indigenous life
expectancy is about 60 years for men and 68 for women – an average 17 years lower than that
of the total population” (Dart, 2008). Such disparity is the direct outcome of the healthcare
disparities that exist in such an affluent country. Racial discrimination and racism have been
pointed out as the two most crucial reasons behind such disparities. It can be shocking to
learn that “Australia’s 517 200 Aboriginals make up 2.5% of the population and are the
country’s most disadvantaged group. Their communities have higher infant mortality, and
more drug abuse and alcoholism, than the rest of the population. They also suffer more from
diseases associated with poor living conditions, such as scabies and pneumonia” (Dart, 2008).
The indigenous people of Australia are three times more likely to contract lifestyle diseases
like diabetes and are twice as likely to suffer from fatal diseases like cardiovascular diseases
etween the ages of 35 and 44 than the total Australian population (Dart, 2008). This also
shows how they have been the victim of health care disparities.
The socio-economic condition of the aboriginals is not only upsetting but also
distressing. But such a poor socio-economic condition is not surprising for the aboriginals
2

who hardly have proper access to health care. In this context one has to take into account the
fact that, “It is not surprising that withou8th access to healthcare for preventable diseases,
many indigenous people live in poverty. Homes are made from carcinogenic asbestos and
many do not have access to clean water or proper sanitation. Many also suffer from
debilitating diseases that make work impossible to get to or employment difficult to obtain”
(Eckvahl, 2014). The deteriorating condition of the aboriginals in terms of getting proper
access to preventive care, when judged from the social perspective, conveys the fact that
“Much of this disparity in healthcare is attributed to the lack of representation of indigenous
people in the decision-making process” (Eckvahl, 2014). Such lack of representation, from
the political perspective too,
ings along disadvantages for the indigenous population of
Australia that suffer from inaccessibility to preventive care.
A strength based approach can be ideal in analyzing and evaluating the ways that
could prevent the rise in the degree of such health care disparities in the context of Australian
health care settings. Strengths-based approach values the” capacity, skills, knowledge and
connections and potential in individuals and communities” (Pattoni, 2012). But strength
ased approach does not...