Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
Vol 5 No 2 April 2005 - June 2005: ISSN 1445-7253

A peer-reviewed electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Reports & publications

 

This section of the Bulletin identifies recent reports and publications, including book chapters. If you are aware of material that would be appropriate for inclusion in this section please contact us.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (2005)
Social justice report 2004.
Sydney: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

The Social Justice Commissioner is required by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 to produce an annual Social Justice Report on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders, and to make recommendations where necessary on the action that should be taken to ensure that these rights are observed. The 2004 report details programs addressing the needs of Indigenous women exiting prison, and the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS). The new arrangements for the administration of Indigenous affairs at the federal level are discussed. There are 5 recommendations in the report - 2 in relation to the needs of Indigenous women exiting prison and 3 relating to the new arrangements for the administration of Indigenous affairs.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (HTML) is available on the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website. For further information regarding the report contact: Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission, Level 8, Piccadilly Tower, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000, postal address: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001, ph: (02) 9284 9600, general enquiries and publications: 1300 369 711, TTY: 1800 620 241, fax: (02) 9284 9611.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
A picture of Australia's children.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This is the third national statistical report on the health, development and well-being of Australia’s children 0-14 years. A holistic range of measures of health and wellbeing are detailed including: health status and infant mortality; family structure; education and early learning; socioeconomic status and social cohesion. Details and findings are compiled under the following sections:

• Background information;
• Child health, development and wellbeing;
• The role of family and community; and
• Future directions.

The report includes detailed information about Indigenous children. At the 2001 census there were about 179,000 Indigenous children, accounting for 4.5% of the total Australian child population. The Indigenous population has a much younger age structure than the total population with Indigenous children accounting for 39% of the Indigenous population. Although most children in Australia were found to be faring well, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to experience worse health, poorer developmental outcomes and generally reduced well-being when compared to other Australian children.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 2.88MB - large file warning!) is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.



Australian Institute of health and Welfare (2005)
Rural, regional and remote health: indicators of health.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

In the first systematic report of a comprehensive range of rural and remote health issues, details of health status, determinants of health, and health system performance are described. Data from administrative data collections and surveys are used to describe indicators listed in the Rural, Regional and Remote Health Framework. The social setting in which people live, the prevalence of risk factors, and aspects of the health of people living in major cities and in regional and remote areas are detailed.

There are many references in the report to Indigenous people, who make up a greater proportion of the population in regional and remote areas than in the cities. Analyses of regional and remote data attempt to disentangle the effects of remoteness from the effects of generally poorer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Overall, even accounting for the effects of poor health among Indigenous Australians, Australians living outside major cities have shorter life expectancy, higher death rates, and are more likely to have a disability compared with city dwellers.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF -1.74MB - large file warning!) is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.

Australian Medical Association (2005)
Lifting the weight: low birthweight babies: an Indigenous health burden that must be lifted. (Australian Medical Association report card series 2005: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health)
Barton, ACT: Australian Medical Association

This is the fourth report card by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Focusing on data collated by the AMA on low birth weight and premature babies, the report provides a snap shot of the extent of these issues in the Indigenous population. Low birth weight babies (less than 2.5 kg) are more likely to die in the first year of life and are more susceptible to chronic illness later in life. Indigenous babies are more than twice as likely to be born premature or underweight as non-Indigenous babies and the AMA calculates that this puts 1,140 Indigenous children a year at a physical and developmental disadvantage.

The title Lifting the weight was aimed at creating awareness of the problem, lifting the weight of Indigenous babies to a healthier level and lifting the weight of this health burden from Indigenous mothers, families and communities. Five successful programs are outlined in the Good news insert including the Mums and Babies Program at the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service in Queensland. The AMA concludes that dealing with the problems of low birth weight and premature babies requires proper funding, resources, education and political will.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 561.9KB) and the Good news insert (PDF - 218.2KB) are available on the Australian Medical Association website. For further information regarding the report contact: Australian Medical Association, 42 Macquarie Street, Barton ACT 2600, PO Box 6090, Kingston ACT 2604, ph:(02) 6270 5400, fax (02) 6270 5499, email: ama@ama.com.au

Miller M, Roche P, Yohannes K, et al. (2005)
Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2003: annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence;29(1):1-60

This report details 58 diseases and conditions that were notifiable at a national level in Australia in 2003. The most frequently notified diseases were sexually acquired infections, gastrointestinal diseases and bloodborne viruses. The national dataset included a field for Indigenous status and Indigenous status was reported for 43 per cent of notifications nationally. There are references to diseases notified among Indigenous people, comparisons with non-Indigenous people and trend analyses.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 1.6MB - large file warning!) is available in Volume 29 Issue no 1 of Communicable Diseases Intelligence on the Department of Health and Ageing website. For further information regarding the report contact: Surveillance Section, Biosecurity and Communicable Diseases Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, GPO Box 9848, (MDP 6), Canberra ACT 2601, ph: (02) 6289 8245, fax:(02) 6289 7791, email: cdi.editor@health.gov.au



Nganampa Health Council (2004)
Nganampa Health Council annual report 2004.
Alice Springs, NT: Nganampa Health Council

Nganampa Health Council is a community controlled organisation which provides primary health care services to residents of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia. This annual report details services provided in 2004 at six major clinics, three clinics in smaller communities, a health worker station, an aged care respite centre, and administrative centres based in Alice Springs and Umuwa. Descriptions are provided of programs that address women’s health, men’s health, child health, sexual health, aged and disability care, community care, immunisation, health education, oral health and hospital liaison. Also included within the report are financial statements, a list of resources produced by Nganampa Health Council and an organisational chart.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 3.45MB - large file warning!) is available on the Nganampa Health Council website. For further information regarding the report contact: Nganampa Health Council, PO Box 2232, Alice Springs NT 0871, ph: 08 8952 5300, fax: 08 8952 2299.



NSW Department of Health (2005)
NSW Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Area Health Service Standards.
Sydney: NSW Department of Health

The NSW Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Area Health Service Standards were developed for improving health outcomes of Aboriginal people by setting evidence-based standards of practice. Chronic conditions discussed in this report include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer. The Area Health Service Standards will be implemented through Aboriginal health partnerships and collaboration with a range of other services and organisations. The intention is to optimise the accessibility and appropriateness of health services and programs for the prevention and management of chronic conditions.

Four main standards are described:

  • A coordinated local approach to the prevention and management of chronic conditions within the Aboriginal population;
  • Targeted Aboriginal chronic conditions health promotion initiatives across the life-course and the chronic conditions continuum;
  • Effective systems for the diagnosis and care of Aboriginal people with, or at risk of, chronic conditions; and
  • Enhanced capacity of the Aboriginal health workforce to address prevention and management of chronic conditions.

Case studies are provided as examples of evidence on which the standards are based. The report also includes timelines for actions and outlines the methods for monitoring and evaluation.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 431KB) is available on the NSW Health website. For further information regarding the report contact: Better Health Centre: Publications Warehouse, Locked bag 5003, Gladesville NSW 2111, ph: (02) 9816 0452, fax (02) 9816 0492.

Queensland Health (2005)
Strategic policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people's health 2005-2010, discussion paper.
Brisbane: State of Queensland, Queensland Health

This discussion paper on health issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, has been endorsed by Queensland Cabinet for consultation. Individuals and organisations are invited to provide comments in writing or through workshops to influence the final drafting of the strategic policy and an implementation plan. Priority health goals are outlined for reducing inequalities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Also discussed, are priority strategies for action at societal, community, health service, individual and family levels. It is anticipated that the development of a strategic policy and implementation plan will provide guidance for Queensland Health and its partners over the next five years and into the future.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 870KB) is available on the Queensland Health website. For further information regarding the report contact: Queensland Health, 147-163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane Queensland 4000, postal address: GPO Box 48, Brisbane Queensland 4001, ph: 07 3234 0111.

Shibasaki S, Stewart P (2005)
Workshop report: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in ethics.
Darwin: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health

This report presents the outcomes of a workshop (held at Yunggorendi Mande, First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research at Flinders University in 2003) to discuss Indigenous research ethics. The workshop enabled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), to discuss ethics issues and identify resource and support needs specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in the process of ethics assessments. The workshop sessions are outlined in the report, topics included:

• good and bad experiences of being involved in assessing the ethics of research projects;
• barriers and facilitators to involving Indigenous people in the ethics process; and
• what is needed in order for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to take control of the research ethics process.

The workshop concluded that it was important to develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethics network to engage Indigenous people to: enhance current ethical research processes; influence the Indigenous health research agenda; build the capacity of Indigenous people involved in human research ethics and to assist and encourage HRECs to develop formal protocols in assessing ethics applications for Indigenous research. It was envisaged that the network would be a sustainable, dynamic tool to promote knowledge translation about Indigenous health research and ethics, and ensure that the outcomes of such research are beneficial to Indigenous communities.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 739.4KB) is available on the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health website. For further information regarding the report contact: Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, PO Box 41096, Casuarina NT 0811, ph (08) 8922 8396, fax (08) 8922 7797, email admin@crcah.org.au

Zubrick SR, Silburn SR, Lawrence DM, et al. (2005)
The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey: the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people.
Perth: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Curtin University of Technology

The intention of the Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey (WAACHS) was to build knowledge to develop preventative strategies that promote and maintain the healthy development and the social, emotional, academic, and vocational wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This report, the second of five volumes for disseminating the survey results, presents data collected on the social and emotional wellbeing of 3,993 children aged 4-17 years. Factors discussed include: demography; geographic location; social and environmental influences; biological stresses (such as low birth weight, chronic infections and poor nutrition); and health risk factors. The long-term effects on the health and wellbeing of children who have a carer who was forcibly separated from their natural family by a mission, the government or welfare, are also examined.

Compared with the general population, it was found that Aboriginal people experience greater challenges associated with the emotional or behavioural difficulties of their children. The higher proportion of children at high risk of difficulties, and the lower adult-to-child ratio in the Aboriginal population result in proportionally fewer adult carers to assist children who experience difficulties. The findings demonstrate the problems faced by many Aboriginal communities and families but they also include information on children and young people who are doing well and living healthy lives despite past or current adversity.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report and the summary booklet (PDF - 1.7MB - large file warning!) are available on the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research website. For further information regarding the report contact: The WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, postal address: PO Box 855, West Perth WA 6872, ph: (08) 9489 7777, fax: (08) 9489 7700, email: waachs@ichr.uwa.edu.au.
 
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