Western Sydney has one of the largest populations of First Nations peoples in Australia, with over 20,537 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples calling Western Sydney, on Darug land, home[i]. Unfortunately, despite improvements to the life expectancy of First Nations peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children born in NSW between 2020-2022 are still expected to live an average of 6.8 years (males) and 5.9 years (females) less than their non-Indigenous peers[ii]. We need to take action and close the gap.
Fortunately, almost 50% of the burden of disease for First Nations people is due to modifiable risk factors that can be altered[iii], including the impacts of mental health challenges and contributors to cardiovascular disease.
What Can You Do To Help?
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 19 socio-economic targets to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and within the health sector, there are several targets that we can help drive:
- “Everyone enjoys long and healthy lives” – take a preventive approach to health care by running regular 715 health checks and registering patients for the Indigenous Health Incentive Refer patients to culturally appropriate chronic health management services such as Too Deadly for Diabetes or Western Sydney Integrated Team Care
- “Children thrive in their early years” – provide culturally-appropriate care in a child’s foundational years through programs such as Ngroo Education Aboriginal Corporation‘s Little Possums program
- “Children are born strong and healthy” – connect women and their families to physical, emotional and social support services such as Marrin Weejali
- “Students achieve their full learning potential” – ensure that the physical and mental health of young people don’t become barriers to them accessing education through programs such as Deadly Dreaming
- “People enjoy high levels of social and emotional wellbeing” – refer patients to culturally-safe, community-based care such as Aboriginal Counselling Services or Baabayn
- People have access to information and services enabling participation in informed decision-making regarding their own lives – create an environment in your general practice where patients feel safe and informed (e.g. Identification posters). Help patients access programs such as The Shed, which can help community members navigate health, mental health, financial and social services
Community Story
I was referred to the Western Sydney Integrated Team Care (ITC) program not knowing what support I was going to be able to get from them. I had workers come and visit me and explain what they do. Although I have a few health problems, my focus was on housing support as I was in a pretty bad situation living in my mate’s house which was about to be boarded up. The ITC workers always listened when I called in a frustrated and panicked state and provided advocacy and assistance with the Department of Housing when I felt there was no hope. I was able to secure temporary accommodation when the house got boarded up and now have a Department of Housing unit in the Penrith area. Now that I have my own place, I can focus on my health again. I will always remember the support Western Sydney ITC provided.
To find out more about the incredible First Nations providers we work with and how to refer patients, visit our Aboriginal health webpage.
[i] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), Data by Region, ABS, available from: dbr.abs.gov.au/
[ii] Australian Government Productivity Commission (2024), Socio-economic outcome area 1: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives, Closing the Gap Information Repository, available at: pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard/se/outcome-area1
[iii] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2018), Australian Burden of Disease Study Impact and Causes of Illness and Death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, AIHW, DOI:10.25816/xd60-4366
Information is correct as of 21 March 2024.