Enhancing Culturally Responsive Practice in Aboriginal Health

Adelaide PHN recently welcomed Scott Owen, a Buandig, Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna man from SA Health, to do a presentation for our staff on Aboriginal health checks.

Scott works in NALHN's Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health as the Senior Aboriginal Health Practitioner, which involves supporting culturally responsive healthcare and encouraging Aboriginal patients to engage with preventative services.

Understanding the historical and social context of Aboriginal health is important because many health issues today are linked with the past.

Some examples include how colonisation introduced diseases into Aboriginal communities, displacement from traditional land, disruption to cultural practices, and government policies which resulted in forced relocations, institutionalisation and the removal of children from their families.

This caused significant social, cultural and economic disruption that continues to influence health outcomes today.

One of the most important aspects of Aboriginal Health is the holistic view of social and emotional wellbeing.

Wellbeing health isn't seen as the absence of disease, but instead includes a balance between physical health, emotional wellbeing, spiritual health, cultural identity, family and community relationships, and connection to Country. If one of these elements is disrupted, it can affect the overall wellbeing.

Understanding this holistic perspective is essential when providing culturally responsive healthcare. Aboriginal Health requires understanding of Aboriginal history, cultural and social determinants of health.

By having Aboriginal Health Checks today, the aim is to improve early detection of health issues.