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Central Concern: Why cultural awareness training for non-Indigenous health workers

is so important.

I believe being a medical student in Australia; our undergraduate degree should

supply us with the necessary attributes to become competent in dealing with and

understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities on health

and health-related matters.

In non-indigenous health service systems, social and health are understood and treated

distinctly. However, a study undertaken by Downing, R., & Kowal, E. (2011), argues that

health workers without the ‘knowledge and skills to deal with Indigenous people cannot

provide an adequate health service to Indigenous peoples’, citing examples of when

‘Indigenous people preferred to travel 200 km to reach an Indigenous-specific service, rather

than visit their local general practitioner due to difficulty in their interactions’. This

examination archives the bigotry revealed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

groups living in a noteworthy Australian city when getting accessing health services, and the

contrary effect this has on their well-being and prosperity.

According to Downing, R., & Kowal, E. (2011), there is substantive evidence that the

history of colonisation and racism in Australia has contributed to the cultural chasm that

Indigenous peoples face to access health care that genuinely contributes to their health and

well-being. So as to connect this abyss the present writing on social skill recommends that

there is a requirement for Indigenous curriculum to be fused into showing healthcare workers

Indigenous societies. This training is to help the healthcare worker to gain an understanding

of their culture to provide effective health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples, thereby reducing the negative impact accessing culturally incompetent health

services has on their health and well-being.

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We have to understand that the Western approach to medicine looks from a biological

perspective, whereas Aboriginal people often have a more holistic approach to looking at

healthcare. For traditional Aboriginal people 'informed consent' for medical procedures must

come from the 'right' person within the network of kinship and community relationships, not

necessarily solely the patient.

Comprehending these subtleties can help to increase our understanding and cultural

awareness of Indigenous history, health, wellness and cultural content. Simple steps such as

building a rapport with the patient and giving them the space to open up can start the process

and deliver immediate, positive results just by making them feel more comfortable in this

foreign environment. Morgan, D., Slade, M., & Morgan, C. (1997) states clear

communication is vital when interacting with indigenous persons otherwise difficulties can

arise in cross-cultural interactions because of a lack of understanding about cultural

differences.

In the event that the Indigenous patient returns for an unrelated health problem, I will

know whether I have effectively done my part in bridging the gap between myself as a

healthcare professional and the cultural differences of the patient. Since history expresses that

if Aboriginal individuals have a bad experience with health service, they do not complain,

they stay away. Therefore, if they feel comfortable to return, then I believe this is an

enormous win for both myself, as the health professional and for them since they are

receiving the help and treatment they potentially require to improve their quality of life.

References

Downing, R., & Kowal, E. (2011). A postcolonial analysis of indigenous cultural awareness

training for health workers. Health Sociology Review, 20(1), 5+.

https://doi.org/10.5172/hesr.2011.20.1.5
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Morgan, D., Slade, M., & Morgan, C. (1997). Aboriginal philosophy and its impact on

health care outcomes. Australian And New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 21(6),

597-601. Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/