An electronic publication from the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Issue 9, November 2000 - February 2001 : ISSN 1329-3362
Conference abstracts and papers
12th National Health Promotion Conference: Inequalities in health
- reflecting back, stepping forward.
29 October - 1 November 2000, Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne, Victoria.
Beryl Meiklejohn and Yvonne
Cadet-James
Has health promotion
brought about changes in our health? Challenging our past and our future.
We continue to read statistics, journal articles and listen to everyone telling us our health is the poorest in Australia and is equal to that of developing countries. Health promotion and education have brought about changes for people who are high income, higher education and are employed. Where do we fit in to this scenario? Are we imposing on our people action and guidelines that have been successful with a scenario that does not describe our people? This paper will challenge how health promotion for Indigenous people does not address the need of the majority of our people.
It is easier to bring about change if people are not concerned about basic needs. Do our health promotion programs bring about change? Over the years many health promotion programs have been implemented and some have been evaluated. I know that health workers are receiving training in this area.
Are we going down the same path of past medical provision that was changed 25 -30 years ago ie. Community Controlled Health Services? Have we learnt from past experiences in health in relation to preventative health?
