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Questions: 1.Discuss about the Key Features of Health Policy in Australia. 2.Discuss the main reasons that Indigenous Health must be understood in the Context of the history of the Colonisation of Australia. 3.Describe how attitudes to Individual versus collective responsibility and the roles of kinship and community might inform Indigenous Health Care Policies. Answers: 1.Key features of health policy in Australia The Australian government funds the health care system and oversees the services provided by both the private and public hospitals. The Australian government is complex as it constitutes both the federal and the state government. The federal government normally has the task of regulating the private health insurances whereas the state government concerns itself with licensing of the private hospitals. All Australians are entitled to free treatment in public hospitals by the fact that they are citizens. Health policy development, implementation, and evaluation process It entails describing a chosen policy and other program options that are to address a given health issue. The implications of each option are also described and a given course of action is chosen. A plan is then developed for the course of action to be implemented after close consideration of the regulations and legislation (Lynch Kaplan, 2013). The policy is the implemented and it is evaluated in terms of its ability to give the required outcomes. Health outcome inequities Through the various statistics carried out, they show that there is a clear disparity between the indigenous Australians and the modern Australians. The studies show that these indigenous people have a lower life expectancy span with high death rates due to premature birth and low birth weight. They are also characterized by high levels of disabilities and morbidity. They have a high level of hospitalization compared to the general population (Lynch Kaplan, 2013). 2.Why Indigenous health is to be considered The indigenous people of Australia who were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander were believed to survive harsh climatic changes and phenomena such as drought and famine. Both tribes shared a great history of colonization, which had a great impact on their health. These tribes had a great connection to their land and the arrival of non-indigenous people who introduced illness, caused a lot of health problems. Addressing specific indigenous problems An understanding of the health policy process can be key in helping the indigenous people because it first looks at a policy that can help curb a specific problem and its options are also weighed before a course of action is undertaken. For instance, the indigenous people had a great connection with their lands and the acts of racism, discrimination, loss of their land, identity and removal of their children forcefully has had an impact on their health, hence for better services provision, a health policy to be implemented must focus on these issues. NT Emergency Legislation The Northern Territory aimed at protecting the children but the negative impacts outweighed the positive effects. The previous policy had left a negative impact such a psychological problems, social problems, and cultural erosion. After the government saw the effects, it has been committed to improving infrastructure and service delivery across the country 3.Attitudes to individuals vs. collective responsibility It is better for people to make policies based on how best they understand their health problems or challenges they face. If a completely new people came to make decisions for them, it could be of little importance to them because they are the ones that understand their problems. For instance, an indigenous people would wish to have a health policy that accommodates their traditions and upholds their culture with respect. Therefore, it is important to include the indigenous people in the decision making process when it comes to issues relating to their health (Lynch Kaplan, 2013). Advantages of integrated Approach to health policy An integrated approach to health policy is important because it focuses on an individuals wholesome well-being in terms of social, mental, emotional and physical wellness. For instance, studying the health of the children and the youth can help to make better health decision in the future and in ones lifetime. This integrative approach brings out a clear interrelation between all the aspect of an individuals life (Lynch Kaplan, 2013). Example of inequitable health policy The NRE health policy in Australia, which aimed at protecting the children, brought about negative impacts, which outweighed the positive impacts. The policy left negative influences such a psychological and social problems, and cultural erosion. The non-indigenous people were not affected by it because they never had strong cultural bonds or values. The indigenous people had their children being taken away from them and these led to trauma and more health problems (Turrell Mathers, 2014). References Lynch J Kaplan G (2013). Socioeconomic position. In: Berkman LF Kawachi I (eds). Social epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press, p.1335. Turrell G Mathers C (2014). Socioeconomic status and health in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia 172:4348