Big Nana,

When you post a link, remove the 's' from 'https' and the link will be reachable by a simple click.

I really appreciate your posts.

Foxy,

I always quote if I'm passing on information from other people, and thereby identify them. However, as most of the things I post are my own opinions, I am the source. I'm aware that you and some others allow 'experts' to dictate your opinions; I do not. OLO is an organ where ordinary people like me can express our opinions freely. If I, or anyone else, 'thinks' something, well, that's what we think, and we don't have to justify our thoughts to anyone; nor do we have to carry on about, or refer to, anyone else to justify our opinions. And, of course, we do not have abide by your guidelines as to when we can criticise. As you clearly don't take kindly to criticism, I'm quite happy to cease and desist, as they say. But, I would just like to make one last comment. You don't have to take notice of anything I say about anything at all. But, on this subject, In think you will find that Big Nana has personal knowledge and understanding, and your continual back chat to her is not really all that smart. A bit goose-like.

Dear Big Nana,

You seem to have missed the point that I have been
making all along in this discussion - and that is
that Indigenous people have the worst outcomes in
health. I have been quoting from government data
and other sources about remote areas. Including
sites like Creative Spirits (that don't have an
agenda, and are used by schools, teachers, students,
universities - covering one of the most neglected
topics in this country - that of Aboriginal culture,
and providing lists of books, teaching ideas, infographics,
et cetera). The last Creative Spirits site that I gave
helps explain - as to - WHY - this problem exists
among the Indigenous people.
A pity that you brushed it aside.

Cheers.

Dear ttbn,

Your posting record speaks for itself.
Nothing more needs to be said.

Foxy, I read the Creative Spirits link and especially the section on how to make hospitals work for aboriginal people. I have read such garbage in my life!
Some of the suggestions:
Speak to the patient in their own language! Well, not sure how that would work, because in 2018 you would be struggling to find any aboriginal person who spoke no English. Even 50 years ago we could communicate with the very remote people using Kriol. These days of Foxtel, Netflix, dvds etc which are all in English and all available in communities ensures everyone can make their needs known.
Give books and diaries printed in a culturally appropriate way! I can’t even uunderstand what that means. Dots running around the pages? Rainbow serpent slithering across the cover? Written in Kriol which is not only an insult to educated aboriginal people but is only spoken by a few remote people these days.
Aboriginal people from the Stolen generation distrust white medical staff! Considering
that most removed children were raised and educated with white people and many of the girls went on to become nurses or nursing assistants I find that statement ridiculous.
And from personal experience with full blood patients, they far prefer white staff to African staff or Asian staff. And as someone with 30 years nursing remote aboriginal children I can say that dislike or distrust was never an issue. The mothers of the children I cared for were friendly, even affectionate at times and certainly once the really bush ones had overcome their initial shyness they had no hesitation in leaving their babies with us for the day whilst they took off shopping or playing cards. Hardly a sign of distrust eh?
(Cont)

(Cont)
No, there are legitimate reasons for aboriginal people not wanting to be in hospital and it might surprise you to know that those reasons are similar to those of white people. Women worry about who will care for their children whilst away, especially if their husband is a heavy drinker. Both men and women are very jealous and possessive about their partners and worry the partner will play up whilst they are gone. Grandmothers worry about the grandchildren in their care. Bush people don’t like the city and are lonely because they don’t know anyone there . Etc etc.
Absolutely nothing to dot painting on walls or the colour of the doctors skin.
And I havent missed your point at all. I acknowledged that aboriginal people have worse health outcomes. But what I tried to show you was, not just from my own experience, but from the study that was done, was looking at the reasons why.
What that study showed is that very remote people were 1.5 times more likely to need hospitalisation for a preventable disorder even though those people were living in their own land, with their own culture and language and their health needs attended by aboriginal health workers in a clinic with walls covered with aboriginal painting situated within easy access of their houses.
Compare that to white people in very remote areas who don’t have any clinics on their pastoral leases or pearl farms or plantations and have to be content with visiting nurses and doctors from Air medical services or drive to the closest aboriginal community and use the same facilities as the aboriginal people.
Yet aboriginal people in those areas are far more likely to be admitted to hospital. Why? Some of the reasons are non compliance with medication, refusal to change lifestyle, very poor personal and domestic hygiene, neglecting medical appointments.
All of these issues require personal responsibility, not more cultural safety.

Dear Big Nana,

See you on another discussion.

This one for me has run its course.

Cheers.