Aboriginal health policy: is nutrition the ‘gap’ in ‘Closing the Gap’?

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to explore how Australian local governments prioritise the health and well-being of Aboriginal populations and the extent to which nutrition is addressed by local government health policy.DesignIn the state of Victoria, Australia, all seventy-nine local governments’ public health policy documents were retrieved. Inclusion of Aboriginal health and nutrition in policy documents was analysed using quantitative content analysis. Representation of Aboriginal nutrition ‘problems’ and ‘solutions’ was examined using qualitative framing analysis. The socio-ecological framework was used to classify the types of Aboriginal nutrition issues and strategies within policy documents.SettingVictoria, Australia.SubjectsLocal governments’ public health policy documents (n79).ResultsA small proportion (14 %,n11) of local governments addressed Aboriginal health and well-being in terms of nutrition. Where strategies aimed at nutrition existed, they mostly focused on individual factors rather than the broader macroenvironment.ConclusionsA limited number of Victorian local governments address nutrition as a health issue for their Aboriginal populations in policy documents. Nutrition needs to be addressed as a community and social responsibility rather than merely an individual ‘behaviour’. Partnerships are required to ensure Aboriginal people lead government policy development.

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Missing Pathways to Self-Governance: Aboriginal Health Policy in British Columbia

International Indigenous Policy Journal ◽

10.18584/iipj.2015.6.1.2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Josée G Lavoie ◽

Annette J. Browne ◽

Colleen Varcoe ◽

Sabrina Wong ◽

Alycia Fridkin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Health Policy ◽

New Zealand ◽

Aboriginal Health ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Policy Framework ◽

Indigenous Policy ◽

Maori Health ◽

Policy Shifts

This article explores how current policy shifts in British Columbia, Canada highlight an important gap in Canadian self-government discussions to date. The analysis presented draws on insights gained from a larger study that explored the policy contexts influencing the evolving roles of two long-standing urban Aboriginal health centres in British Columbia. We apply a policy framework to analyze current discussions occurring in British Columbia and contrast these with Ontario, Canada and the New Zealand Māori health policy context. Our findings show that New Zealand and Ontario have mechanisms to engage both nation- or tribal-based and urban Indigenous communities in self-government discussions. These mechanisms contrast with the policies influencing discussions in the British Columbian context. We discuss policy implications relevant to other Indigenous policy contexts, jurisdictions, and groups.

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The impact of Aboriginal community controlled health service advocacy on Aboriginal health policy

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py05022 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 53 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ben Bartlett ◽

John Boffa

Keyword(s):

Health Policy ◽

Health Service ◽

Health Services ◽

Torres Strait Islander ◽

Aboriginal Health ◽

Aboriginal Community ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Torres Strait ◽

Strategic Relationships ◽

The Impact

This paper reviews the advocacy role of Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) in the development of Aboriginal health policy over the past 30 years, with a specific focus on the recent changes in Commonwealth funding and administrative responsibility - the transfer of Aboriginal health service funding from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) to the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services (OATSIHS) within the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), and the development of policies aimed at Aboriginal health services accessing mainstream (Medical Benefits Scheme [MBS]) funds. The outcomes of this policy change include a significant increase in funding to Aboriginal primary health care (PHC), the inclusion of ACCHSs in collaborative strategic relationships, and the development of new arrangements involving regional planning and access to per capita funds based on MBS equivalents. However, the community sector remains significantly disadvantaged in participating in this collaborative effort, and imposed bureaucratic processes have resulted in serious delays in releasing funds for actual services in communities. Government agencies need to take greater heed of community advocacy, and provide appropriate resourcing to enable community organisations to better direct government effort, especially at the implementation phase. These remain major concerns and should be considered by non-health sectors in the development of new funding and program development mechanisms in the wake of the abolition of ATSIC.

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