Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

NSW has the largest population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with 13 000 Indigenous Australians residing in South Western Sydney.

Did you know? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People have a younger age profile in South Western Sydney than non-aboriginal people in the area. 

It is important to consider the wider issues and detriments of health that can impact an older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person.

• Perpetual disadvantage has been associated with an increase in geriatric syndromes at younger ages for Aboriginal People (e.g. early onset dementia, frailty, and disability for Aboriginal people over 50 years old (LoGiudice, 2016)

• Social and Emotional Well-being can be influenced by social and historical detriments (e.g.
  Stolen Generation, Institutional racism (Dudgeon et al., 2017)

How can services address these wider detriments?

• Community consultation helps to consider wider determinants affecting local Aboriginal communities
• Identify barriers to accessing services related to social determinants of health, and brainstorm ways to address them
• Ensure services address these social determinants, e.g. flexibility, cost-effectiveness, cultural safety, and co-design.

Other Resources and Links

Communication Methods: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities