provision of environmental health services

(a) What type of education program do you think he would like to see?

Bob Randall would like to see an educational program based on hygiene. This would help to educate the Aboriginal people on how to use and repair health hardware in promoting community-based environmental health activities. For instance, by using a dog program or community clean-ups, he hopes such initiatives would bring a successful assimilation into the Australian society.

(b)What options are there for Aboriginal people in this case?

They can widen program roles and call for the Public Health Worker position so that nutrition and other health activities are incorporated in these programs. They can also work with other bureaus such as Housing and the Aboriginal Housing Management Officers in Local governments since Housing is a key environmental health problem.

How might history influence the provision of environmental health services and infrastructure to Aboriginal communities across Australia?

The poor history of funding assistance to most indigenous communities in Australia is quite pragmatic to the setting of environmental health services and infrastructure. This has brought forth a hostile attitude towards such government-based programs, therefore leaving community-controlled systems to offer the much needed health services. Most of these programs started without adequate consultation and consideration on its corollary processes, and are seen to be imposed on the communities. Therefore, most of these programs are seen to infringe on the communities belief, family, spirituality, and land, consequently deriding their terms of agreement. These infrastructures are also perceived to be beyond community control with much uncertainty on its management.

Taking note of the history Aboriginal people in Australia have had to endure, how do we take things forward?

The Aboriginal communities together with the government and all partners at the state or territory level should put down a national framework agreement that is approved between all sides. Through this agreement the government should increase the level of resources to mirror the higher level of need by the Aboriginal people, and also improve access to both the mainstream and community-based health related programs. The framework should also meet and respect the Aboriginal people’s views, values, rights, expectations, and cultural diversity. The Australian government should also support the health initiatives taken by the Aboriginal communities in recognition of its established effectiveness, and the decision making process should be localized.

What new information about the attach Case Study did you learn after reviewing the reading?

The interviewing of various stakeholders involved in these programs and the outcomes only shows that all concerned are eager to see the process and initiatives work. The impatience towards these programs does promote efficiency in them and reinforces both public and government attention. However, the environmental health program initiatives do not preserve or even address the issue of gender despite both men’s and women’s business are reflected in the delivery of services. Issues are also looming over the span of AEHW employment and their reasons for leaving their position, since their earlier involvement would have provided new insights from which future programs could be developed or managed.