Successful partnerships are the key to improving Aboriginal health
Sandra Bailey A and Jennifer Hunt A BA Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW
B Corresponding author. Email: jhunt@ahmrc.org.au
NSW Public Health Bulletin 23(4) 48-51 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB11057
Published: 13 June 2012
Abstract
Partnership is a process that must be recognised as a fundamental part of any strategy for improving health outcomes for Aboriginal people. Addressing the inequities in health outcomes between Aboriginal people and other Australians will require a sustained, coordinated and well-informed approach that works to a set of goals and targets developed with input from the Aboriginal community. Partnerships provide the most effective mechanism for obtaining this essential input from Aboriginal communities and their representative organisations, enabling Aboriginal people to have an influence at all stages of the health-care process. Within the health sector, effective partnerships harness the efforts of governments and the expertise of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, which offer the most effective means of delivering comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal people.
References
[1] NSW Health. Towards an Aboriginal Health Plan for NSW. Some challenges seen through new eyes. Consultation 2011. Available at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/aboriginal/plan/index.asp (Cited 16 January 2012).[2] Peiris DP, Patel AA, Cass A, Howard MP, Tchan ML, Brady JP, et al. Cardiovascular disease risk management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in primary health care settings: findings from the Kanyini Audit. Med J Aust 2009; 191 304–9.
[3] Larkins SL, Geia LK, Panaretto KS. Consultations in general practice and at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service: do they differ? Rural Remote Health 2006; 6(3): 560. Available at: http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/subviewnew.asp?articleid=560 (Cited 21 March 2012)
[4] Lutschini M. Engaging with holism in Australian Aboriginal health policy – a review. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy, 2, 2005. Available at: http://archive.biomedcentral.com/1743-8462/content/2/1/15 (Cited 21 March 2012)
[5] National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party. A National Aboriginal Health Strategy 1989. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing; 1989. Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-oatsih-pubs-NAHS1998 (Cited16 January 2012).
[6] Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales and NSW Health. NSW Aboriginal Health Partnership Agreement. Sydney: AH&MRC, 2001. Available at: http://www.ahmrc.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33:our-partners&catid=4:about-ahmrc&Itemid=13 (Cited 15 March 2012).
[7] NSW Government. The statement of intent to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. Sydney: NSW Government; 2010. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/publichealth/aboriginal/pdf/signed_nsw_statement_of_i.pdf (Cited 16 January 2012).
[8] Murray R, Bell K, Elston J, Ring I, Frommer M, Todd A. Guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of National Public Health Strategies in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Approaches and Recommendations. Report for the National Public Health Partnership, February 2002. Available at: http://www.nphp.gov.au/publications/strategies/atsi_guidelines.pdf (Cited 16 January 2012).
[9] Taylor KP, Thompson SC. Closing the (service) gap: exploring collaboration and partnership models between Aboriginal and mainstream organisations. Aust Health Rev 2011; 35 297–308.
| Closing the (service) gap: exploring collaboration and partnership models between Aboriginal and mainstream organisations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[10] Waples-Crowe P, Pyett P. The making of a great relationship: a review of a healthy partnership between mainstream and Indigenous organisations. Melbourne: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; 2005. Available at: http://www.vaccho.org.au/vcwp/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GreatrelationshipDocument.pdf (Cited 16 January 2012).
[11] World Health Organization. The power of partnership. Global partnership to stop TB. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2003.
[12] Hardy B. Hudson B, Waddington E. What makes a good partnership? A partnership assessment tool. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health; 2000. p. 9.
[13] United Nations General Assembly. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A/RES/61/295. 13 September 2007. Available at: http://un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html (Cited 16 January 2012).
[14] Altman JC. Beyond closing the gap: valuing diversity in Indigenous Australia. Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU; 2009.
[15] Franks A, Smith-Lloyd D, Newell S, Dietrich UC. Aboriginal health promotion self-determination project: background paper. Prepared for Health Promotion Unit, Northern Rivers Area Health Service, Lismore NSW; 2001.
[16] Lee AJ, Bonson AP, Yarmirr D, O'Dea K, Mathews JD. Sustainability of a successful health and nutrition program in a remote Aboriginal community. Med J Aust 1995; 162 632–5.
| 1:STN:280:DyaK2Mzis12rug%3D%3D&md5=2d214ade017ba60b4381be3163c39a22CAS |
[17] Hetzel BS. Historical perspectives on indigenous health in Australia. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr 2000; 9(3): 157–63. Available at: http://211.76.170.15/server/APJCN/Volume9/vol9.3/Hetzel.pdf (Cited 21 March 2012)
[18] Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Summary of developments in Indigenous health promotion 2005. Available at http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-systems/health-promotion/reviews/our-review (Cited 15 March 2012)
[19] Auerbach JA, Krimgold BK, Lefkowitz B. Improving health: it doesn't take a revolution. Washington: National Policy Association; 2000.
[20] Cox E. Building social capital. Health Prom Matters 1997; 4 1–4.
[21] Newell S. Rekindling the Spirit: potential benefits for the North Coast Area Health Service. Report prepared for Rekindling the Spirit, Lismore NSW; 2008.
[22] Garvey D. A review of the social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous Australian peoples – considerations, challenges and opportunities. 2008. Available at: http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/sewb_review (Cited 16 January 2012).
[23] Chapman N. Close the Gap Steering Committee for Indigenous Health Equality. Partnership Position Paper, June 2010. Available at: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/pdf/social_justice/health/partnership_position_paper.pdf (Cited 16 January 2012).
[24] Dwyer J, O'Donnell K, Lavoie J, Marlina U, Sullivan P. The overburden report: contracting for indigenous health services. 2009. Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, Darwin. Available at: http://www.crcah.org.au/publications/downloads/overburden%20report_FINAL.pdf (Cited 21 March 2012)
[25] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Social Justice Report 2005. Report No 3/2005. Available at: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/sj_report/sjreport05/pdf/SocialJustice2005.pdf (Cited 16 January 2012).