HealthBulletin

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
Vol 5 No 4 October 2005 - December 2005: ISSN 1445-7253

A peer-reviewed electronic journal from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Reports and 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.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2005)
Indigenous housing needs 2005: a multi-measure needs model. (AIHW Cat no. HOU 129)
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Indigenous housing needs are assessed in this report, with 2001 data presented on five dimensions: homelessness; overcrowding; affordability; dwelling conditions; and connection to essential services. Consideration is also given to the possibility of including three supplementary dimensions in the model: appropriateness of housing; security of tenure; and emerging housing needs. Serious disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous housing in Australia are identified. For example, the rate of homelessness among Indigenous people was 3.5 times higher than among non-Indigenous people, and the rate of overcrowding 6 times higher. Overall, for most of the examined dimensions the housing needs identified among Indigenous households are significant.

The report (PDF - 583KB) is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website. Each chapter of the report can be downloaded separately from the publication page. For further information contact: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Publications Unit, GPO Box 570, Canberra ACT 2601.

Cramer J (2005)
Sounding the alarm: remote area nurses and Aboriginals at risk.
Perth: UWA Press

This book describes nursing practices in the remote Ngaanyatjarra community of Warburton, situated in the central desert of Western Australia. Based on research for a PhD, the book details the dedication of the nurses who work in the area, which has a mainly Aboriginal population, and highlights a variety of issues that raise serious concerns. Evidence demonstrates that the training received by nurses is inadequate preparation for dealing with cross cultural issues and complex health problems. For the Aboriginal clients the services are insufficient and sometimes unsafe. The findings have implications not only for nursing but also other health professions and government authorities.

For further information: contact University of Western Australia Press, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, web: http://www.uwapress.uwa.edu.au

Environmental Health Needs Coordinating Committee (2005)
Environmental health needs of Indigenous communities in Western Australia: the 2004 survey and its findings.
Perth: Government of Western Australia

This report presents the results of the 2004 Environmental Health Needs Survey (EHNS) of Indigenous communities in Western Australia. In total, 274 Indigenous communities participated in the EHNS and 2801 dwelling forms were completed on individual households. In the report, data on core environmental health indicators are analysed for Western Australia’s ATSIC regions, and comparisons are made with data from the 1997 EHNS. The indicators include water, electricity, housing, sanitation, solid waste, dust, dog control, and emergency management. Since the 1997 EHNS, progress has been made in larger communities on the indicators for water, electricity and sewerage. In smaller communities less progress has been made. Overall, more dwellings can be classified as ‘adequate’, but repairs and maintenance on housing need more attention.

The report (PDF - 19.3MB - large file warning!) is available on the Department of Indigenous Affairs website. Each chapter of the report can be downloaded separately on the publications page. For further information contact: Department of Indigenous Affairs, Perth Office, PO Box 7770, Cloister's Square Perth WA 6850, ph: (08) 9235 8000, fax: (08) 9235 8088, email: info2@dia.wa.gov.au

Goold SS, Liddle K, eds. (2005)
In our own right: black Australian nurses' stories.
Sydney: Content Management

This collection of personal stories records how 23 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and carers have dealt with a range of issues such as family separation, racial discrimination and prejudice to successfully pursue their careers. The recollections describe the circumstances and the spirit with which these Indigenous men and women pursued their aims. The book is intended to honour the trailblazers, and to contribute to efforts to improve recruitment and retention of Indigenous nurses in education and community health care.

National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (2005)
HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: annual surveillance report 2005.
Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research

This report is the ninth in a series of annual reviews produced by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. It provides a comprehensive summary of available surveillance data for the occurrence of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia in 2004. The report draws together relevant data from many sources and is intended as a reference document for organisations and individuals interested in the occurrence of these infectious diseases.

The report provides:
. the main findings - which are summarised in text and supported by figures;
. tables - in which the underlying data are presented;
. methodological notes; and
. references - to documents which provide further information.

The occurrence of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmissible infections among Indigenous people are reported separately in the main findings. Data on viral hepatitis in the Indigenous population are presented in the tables.

National Health and Medical Research Council (2005)
Strengthening cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A guide for health professionals.
Canberra: Australian Government

This guide is based on available evidence and wide-ranging processes of consultation. Information was collected from health professionals and consumers in regard to the reasons why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not attend cardiac rehabilitation programs and how services could be made more accessible.

The guide promotes flexible, multidisciplinary approaches that make use of the skills available in each setting and encourages partnerships and capacity building at a local level. It also contains practical guidance and lists of additional resources and advice for those practitioners involved in cardiac rehabilitation. Generic issues around cultural competence and discrimination are considered in relation to cardiac rehabilitation and the secondary prevention of heart disease. The guide is most suited to health practitioners as it contains concise information relating to the cultural complexities associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples recovering from cardiac problems.

The report (PDF - 2.39MB - large file warning!) is available on the National Health and Medical Research Council website. For further information contact the National Health and Medical Research Council, Office of NHMRC (MDP 100), GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, ph: (02) 6269 1000, toll free: 1800 020 103, email: nmm@nationalmailing.com.au

Office for Women's Policy, Department for Community Development (2005)
Indigenous women's report card 2005.
Perth: Office for Women's Policy

This report provides baseline indicators for measuring the social and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Western Australia. The aim is to utilise the evidence to improve outcomes for Indigenous women by driving change in government policy and assisting in appropriate service delivery. It will also identify gaps in the indicator data available and areas in which relevant datasets can be expanded or improved. The Indigenous Women’s Congress provided guidance in the collection of information.

• Leadership and opportunity
• Work and economic independence
• Crime and justice
• Family community and culture
• Safety
• Mature aged women
• Health and disability

The report findings highlight the disadvantages that Indigenous women in WA experience. On the positive side, indicator data suggest that Indigenous women in WA are maintaining their cultural identity and participating in cultural events at least as well as other Indigenous women across Australia.

Social Health Reference Group (2004)
Social and emotional well being framework: a national strategic framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional well being 2004-2009.
Canberra: Australian Government

This framework provides a five year plan to guide organisations in their work to improve the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It was endorsed in December 2004 by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, and released in October 2005. The framework was developed through extensive public consultation and consists of three parts. The first part contains background information and describes: the guiding principles; understanding social and emotional wellbeing; policy context; foundation documents; and government and community approaches. In the second part the five key strategic directions are discussed and examples of initiatives are provided. Part three focuses on the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the framework.

The report (HTML) is available on the Department of Health and Ageing website. For further information contact: Social Health Section, Department of Health and Ageing, Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, MDP 17, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, ph: (02) 6289 5399, email: oatsih.enquiries@health.gov.au.

South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership (2005)
Knowing the business: South Australian Aboriginal health indicators 2005.
Rundle Mall, SA: South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership

This report was released by the South Australian Health Partnership (SAAHP). The SAAHP is composed of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, the State Department of Health, and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. The SAAHP is committed to improving the health, wellbeing and longevity of Aboriginal people in South Australia. It believes that well-coordinated, sustainable and meaningful service planning and delivery requires a shared understanding of the health ‘business’ by all stakeholders. The indicators in this report are a compilation of available data that create a locally relevant picture of Aboriginal health for 34 designated Indigenous Areas (IARE) across South Australia. Details are provided about: mental health; diabetes type 2; alcohol, tobacco and substance use related diagnoses; community service; imprisonment; and income dependency including and excluding CDEP. Based on the limited data available, the report provides a preliminary picture of Aboriginal health, with the intention of: promoting discussion; increasing and improving the routine use of available data; and informing focused and evidence- based action.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

The report (PDF - 5.0MB - large file warning!) is available on the Department of Health, South Australia website. For further information contact: South Australian Aboriginal Health Partnership, PO Box 287, Rundle Mall, SA 5000, ph: (08) 8226 6604

Stewart P, Pyett P (2005)
Victorian Aboriginal ethics project report.
Melbourne: Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne

This project was conducted by Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). The objective was to determine how Aboriginal people can have greater involvement in decisions associated with the ethics of Aboriginal health research in Victoria. In the report the authors argue that while there has been little dispute about the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander control of ethical matters involving Indigenous communities, the reality is that not all jurisdictions have established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethics committees. A survey conducted by the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) in 2002 found that of 228 registered Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) in Australia, only two Aboriginal ethics committees existed at that time, neither of which were in Victoria.

The project involved a literature review and the collection of information from community consultations, individual interviews and focus groups. Based on the information gathered, six models were developed for VACCHO to consider:

. Model 1: Victorian Aboriginal Ethics Committee
. Model 2: Aboriginal Ethics Advisor(s)
. Model 3: Register of Trusted Experts
. Model 4: Project-specific Ethics Advisory Group
. Model 5: Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Advisory Committee
. Model 6: Aboriginal representation on Human Research Ethics Committee

The key strengths and weaknesses of each of the six models are outlined in the project report. The authors acknowledge that while each model offers advantages to the Aboriginal community in Victoria, there are also disadvantages associated with the resources and funding required; personnel needed; and time constraints. The authors recommend that VACCHO not only need to base their decisions on suitability, ease of implementation and cost-effectiveness, but ultimately on the model(s) which confer to Aboriginal communities the greatest control over ethical research.

The report (PDF - 1.16MB - large file warning!) is available on the VicHealth Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne website. For further information contact: Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, Centre for Health and Society, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, ph: (03) 8344 0813; email: koori@chs.unimelb.edu.au