ATSI health is a big topic, and yet we don’t tend to get taught much about it as part of our formal training. As a consequence many health professionals have a fairly limited understanding of ATSI health issues. Below (italicised) is a summary of the recommendations made at National Undergraduate Rural Health Conferences. Rustica, along with the other rural health clubs aims to promote awareness of ATSI health issues.

Indigenous studies and Indigenous knowledge conference

Are you interested in attending this conference or a conference like this? Get some more details at the ISIK 2008 website.

The major theme of the 2000 NURHC was ATSI health and there were many presentations that both shocked and enlightened the audience. The overall message was that the situation is grim and that we as undergraduates could and should do something to assist in remedying this national catastrophe. The key issues are listed below:

There is a need for more recruitment of indigenous health students. This was seen as both essential to better service the health needs of the ATSI population and also to serve as role models for future students to increase the belief that such a career choice is possible.
There is a need to increase subjects on ATSI health and culture in the core part of the curriculum of all university health courses, that are presented in a culturally friendly and educational manner.
To address the lack of action concerning reports, which consistently show that the health delivery system is inadequate to meet current health targets.

The ATSI working group at NURHC 2004 came up with these recommendations:

To develop and maintain a sustainable database within a web forum of contacts and relevant information to ensure consistent and dynamic resources for rural and remote health clubs.
To clearly delineate the role of the ATSI rep. This should include a formal position statement of the ATSI rep. The requirement for an end of year report from rural health club ATSI reps is to be included in the formal position statement.
To produce practical information package available to all students interested in running Rural Health Club (RHC) indigenous health activities. This will include a summary card of the position of ATSI rep, and contacts and relevant information.
To raise understanding and awareness of indigenous health by inviting Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) to attend and participate as guest and keynote speakers in future NURHC and RHC activities.
To maintain interest and increased participation in lobbying for relevant issues associated with indigenous health as supported by the NRHA.

The first three of these recommendations are an attempt to improve the general knowledge of RHC members about ATSI health issues. They aim to provide information for ATSI reps to access, and to then pass on to their RHC members. They aim to provide assistance with organising ATSI health related events, and to give the ATSI rep some clearer direction on what their portfolio entails. The ultimate aim of these recommendations is to increase the recruitment and retention of ATSI students into the health professions by increasing general knowledge and awareness of ATSI health issues.

The fourth recommendation continues in a similar vein, by encouraging liaison with AHWs who can provide further insight into ATSI health issues.

The fifth recommendation is more general in its approach, and pertains to the NRHN as opposed to the individual RHCs. It recognises that the NRHN, as a part of the NRHA, has the potential to play a significant role in lobbying for ATSI health issues.

In light of the recommendations from NURHC 2004 it can be seen that there is still a long way to go before the objectives of NURHC 2000 are fulfilled. Rustica plans to work with the NRHN to increase the general awareness of ATSI health issues amongst the membership.

In addition, Rustica subscribes to the Koori Mail (an ATSI owned and operated fortnightly newspaper), and are planning to incorporate and ATSI health aspect into the upcoming Adventure weekend.

Further to this, Rustica encourages students to consider undertaking a part of their studies (ie electives, advanced study etc.) in an ATSI health setting. The best way to gain an understanding of ATSI health issues it to experience them for yourself.

If you have any suggestions for events, feedback, or happen to know of some useful resources, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.

UPCOMING ATSI EVENTS

Indigenous Grants and Scholarships

NTGPE - Medical Advance Studies

Recent purchases

Useful References

See also here for links to sites about Aboriginal cultural awareness. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aging commissioned a series of papers as a review of their Primary Health Care Program. These papers present formal description of the current state of ATSI health, and a measure of how successful the Government’s programs are. Being a government report it has a lot of words, but some useful information.

http://www.cdams.org.au/projects.html#topic2
The Committee of Deans of Australian Medical Schools (CDMAS) Indigenous Health Curriculum Framework. Also listed is the National Audit and Consultations Report.

http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-6PU8QN
The Australian Medical Association's (AMA) Indigenous Health Report Cards 2002-2006. The new NRHN Indigenous Health link- when NRHN site is up and running again. (nb - also need to update the NRHN link on rustica site - now it's www.nrhn.org.au)