Relationships with service providers

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The health care encounter between Aborigines and non Aborigines is part of a web of interactions and processes that are shaped by history as well as contemporary experiences of dealing with government agencies, health professionals and the health bureaucracy. An Aboriginal woman seeking help at a hospital for instance, invariably brings with her all her previous contacts with the medical staff and all the exceptions and perceptions arising from her previous contacts with Anglo Australian society. Hers is an experience that is multifaceted and anchored in her personal and social history.

This notion that a health care encounter is a total experience highlighted a number of points. First and foremost it means that issues and illness cannot be separated from other processes that impinge upon Aboriginal society in the Australian setting (Reid and Trompf p293).

Aboriginal people are very sensitive to staff attitudes, both a benevolent or charitable attitude as well as a superior or degrading attitude.

In line with the above quotation Aboriginal people resist revisiting health agencies where a member of their community has suffered feelings of degradation let alone the extreme case where a community or family member has lost their life.

Aboriginal people support their family whilst in hospital or accessing other residential service support, for the family is a high priority for which there are very few options. Pressure on the supporting family members can often lead the patient to leaving hospital earlier than appropriate.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 7 Jan 2010