Danila Dilba Indigenous Health Service †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Danila Dilba Indigenous Health Service. Answer: Introduction: The health and wellbeing of the indigenous communities have been the concern for the Australian health government for a long time now. The health inequality and discrimination among the different indigenous individuals has contributed to the reduced life expectancy and low health outcomes of the aboriginal communities. This assignment will focus on the Danila Dilba health service (DDHS) which is an aboriginal community controlled organization and the progress of this Indigenous Health Service to improve the health and well-being of the aboriginal communities (Weightman, 2013). The assignment will begin with history and background information of the service followed by vision and objectives the detail information of the health services provided by the organization membership contract and locations of the services critical review of the impact that the service has had on the aboriginal communities of Australia and issues and challenges faced by the Indigenous Health Service in Australi a. Danila Dilba is an Indigenous Health Service that began as a community controlled aboriginal health Program back in the year of 1970. The late 1900s has been remarkable for the extent of activism targeted at improvement of living conditions and socioeconomic status of indigenous people living in Australian territory. Respect to the aftermath of cyclone Tracy in 1974, this aboriginal Medical Services was developed as an in house service for the aboriginals that were evacuated to the southern cities for the cyclone. This later grew into the Danila Dilba service out of the community with the help of people holding meetings, lobbying in government, and lodging petitions for the indigenous people living in Darwin. First establishment of the Danilla dilba clinic was in 1991, and the service was named by the local larrakia traditional custodians: the name represents aboriginal people getting better from sickness. In 1991, during the first establishment of the clinic, it had 7 staff members and one building. However, this iconic indigenous health service has grown into 5 clinics including different clinics for men and women, mobile and dental clinics, and different community programs in 2016 to 17 (Ddhs.org.au., 2018). Vision and Objectives of Danila Dilba Indigenous health service: Danila Dilba health services was developed as an aboriginal community controlled organization that provide culturally appropriate comprehensive primary health care along with community services to the biluru people that are aboriginal and Torres strait islander living in the Yilli Rreung (Darwin) region of the Northern territory. The vision of this organization is to create a society where the health, well-being, and the living quality of an aboriginal or Torres strait islander is equal to that of any other non indigenous Australians belonging to the mainstream society (Maple-Brown et al., 2013). The mission of this organization is to improve the overall health of the biluru community including the combination of physical, mental, spiritual, cultural, and social well being by the means of comprehensive primary health care programs, different community servicesand advocating their health care needs based on the values of equality, access, empowerment, and collaboration (Ddhs.org.au., 2018). There are various services that are provided by the DDHS health initiative, such as, medical clinic, dental clinic, social and emotional wellbeing centre, alcohol and other drug program, child and maternal health service, service for chronic diseases, health checkups, community outreach program, and even health education programs. On a more elaborative note this healthcare service emphasizes on acute care, immunization, chronic disease management womens health issues, Men's health issues, child and neonatal health issues, and social, emotional, and psychological health issues and even alcohol tobacco and other drug release programs. It has to be mentioned in this context that each dollar invested in this health service provides $4.18 benefits back to the society. According to Aodknowledgecentre.net.au., 2018, DDHS is currently able to provide improved health outcomes to the 80% of the greater Darwin region and Torres strait islander population. Currently the Danila Dilba health servi ces have also included ANFPP parenting support programs, which is a sustained home visiting program that supports the pregnant women through the process of pregnancy and the challenges that they face. Another new addition to their services is the Deadly choices program which provides encouraging counselling and educational services that helps the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community to develop healthier lifestyle choices and gain the benefits from the health promotional behaviour adapted by the rest of mainstream society. Psychological support to the youth of the native communities has become one of the greatest healthcare needs for any developing nation (Frendin Saunders, 2013). The Don Dale youth support program of DDHS provide therapeutic counselling and support program including both group based settings and one on one support settings for the youth of aboriginal and Indigenous communities of Australia. Gumileybirra clinic is a very well known component of the servic es provided by the DDHS and this focuses on the health needs of the women and children residing in the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities. This specialized health service for the women and children incorporate the services from midwives and doctors to look after the women and children of the communities in a culturally safe and respectful manner ensuring that each and every patient feels comfortable in a culturally appropriate manner (Ddhs.org.au., 2018). Membership of Danila Dilba Indigenous health service: This Healthcare service targeted for aboriginals in Australia in the present time houses over 150 staff that serves close to 13500 clients in all of Australian indigenous communities. DDHS services are limited to mainly the Darwin region and it serves more than 80% of the greater Darwin aboriginal and Torres Strait islander populations. The Management Committee of the service is made up of aboriginal people living in the Darwin region. The greater responsibilities for managing and controlling the affairs of the service in accordance to the rules of the association is performed by the management committee itself. The chairperson of the service is Carol Stanislaus, who is the engagement coordinator of Darwin town communities with the department of prime minister and cabinet. Along with her there are 9 executive directors that are dispersed across the target handling different managerial and administrative auditing and control services (Ddhs.org.au., 2018). The map provided showcases the communities where DDHS provide the most of the healthcare facilities. Head office of the service is situated in Darwin Northern territory community service, Primary health care management, care coordinators, medical directors and chairperson directors are situated. The contact number of this organisation is (08)89425400. The email address of the organisation is info@ddhs.org.au. the official address of organisation is Danila Dilba Health Service Comments and Personal reflections of the Danila Dilba Indigenous health service: The rationale behind my choice of this service for the report can be traced back to to the experiences I have gained in my life regarding the inequalities in the access and quality of healthcare that the aboriginals received. The improvement in the health status and life expectancy of the indigenous communities facilitated by the initiatives taken by this not for profit organisation has moved me to track the growth this organisation has achieved. I would like to mention that closing the gap initiatives taken by the Australian government to access each and every inequality issue faced by indigenous on native communities, the initiatives by DDHS attests to the continuing gap in health outcomes between native and non native Australians. It has been mentioned that diabetes and cardiovascular diseases alone accounts for close to 30% of the disease burden in the indigenous populations of Australia, which DDHS has targeted and improved commendably (Haynes, Bird, Carson, Larkin Mason, 2011) . Along with that, the acute care and health educational initiatives have helped improve the statistics of communicable disease incidence rates and prevalence in the aboriginal communities as well. Based on the data I have collected for this report I have discovered that the organization have chosen as achieved a commendable impact on targeting the key health issues of aboriginal communities focusing on their core values principles and goals. The key challenges faced by the organization include the lack of manpower to complete the services that the organization needs to overcome the intensity of services they run. The lack of culturally competent staffs is another key challenge that these communities face in this organization. The lack of funding is another grave issue faced by this organization and it stops the organization from making the most of impact it envisioned in the organization (Jamieson, Sayers Roberts-Thomson, 210). Conclusion: The implementation of the different Indigenous Health programs has helped to improve the health outcomes and life expectancy of the indigenous populations considerably. Hence it has to be acknowledged that the impact of the Indigenous Health programs on the health and wellbeing of the aboriginal individuals in Australia has been profound. This study focussed on the different services provided by the DDHS and how it impacts the different health issues of the aboriginal communities and their living conditions. References: Cost-benefit and funding analysis of the Danila Dilba Health Service. (2018).Ddhs.org.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://ddhs.org.au/sites/default/files/media-library/documents/deloitte-au-economics-danila-dilba-health-service-cost-benefit-funding-analysis-111116.pdf Danila Dilba Health Service Organisations Key resources Australian Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre. (2018).Aodknowledgecentre.net.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://www.aodknowledgecentre.net.au/aodkc/key-resources/organisations?oid=481 Dowling, S. J., Kelly, T., Kemp, K., Kite, E., Mitchell, F., Newman, T., ... Saddler, C. (2015). A Wellbeing Frameworkfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with chronic disease. Retrieved from https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/13nrhc/images/paper_Stewart,%20Maida_O'Brien,%20Margaret_0.pdf Frendin, J., Saunders, T. (2013). Footprints across the Territory. Retrived from https://digitallibrary.health.nt.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/10137/595/12/AOD%20newsletter%20January%20-%20April%202013.pdf Haynes, K., Bird, D. K., Carson, D., Larkin, S., Mason, M. S. (2011).Institutional response and Indigenous experiences of Cyclone Tracy. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Retrieved from https://eprints.qut.edu.au/73330/ Home | Danila Dilba. (2018).Ddhs.org.au. Retrieved 19 April 2018, from https://ddhs.org.au/ Jamieson, L. M., Sayers, S. M., Roberts-Thomson, K. F. (2010). Clinical oral health outcomes in young Australian Aboriginal adults compared with national-level counterparts.Medical Journal of Australia,192(10), 558-561. Retrived from https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/192_10_170510/jam10356_fm.pdf Madden, A. (2011). HMRs with indigenous communities-challenges and rewards.Australian Pharmacist,30(11), 911. Retrieved from https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=507538799525996;res=IELAPA Maple-Brown, L. J., Brown, A., Lee, I. L., Connors, C., Oats, J., McIntyre, H. D., ... Corpus, S. (2013). Pregnancy and neonatal diabetes outcomes in remote Australia (PANDORA) study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth,13(1), 221. Doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-221 Priest, N. C., Paradies, Y. C., Gunthorpe, W., Cairney, S. J., Sayers, S. M. (2011). Racism as a determinant of social and emotional wellbeing for Aboriginal Australian youth.Medical Journal of Australia,194(10), 546-550. Retrieved from https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/194_10_160511/pri10947_fm.pdf Weightman, M. (2013). The role of Aboriginal community controlled health services in indigenous health.Aust Med Student J,4, 49-52. Retrieved from https://www.amsj.org/archives/3012