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In the past the majority of Australian South Sea Islanders have received below standard health care. Let's explore the history of Islanders and health care.
Stoicism
Strange views
A history of racism
Segregation
Unemployment
Education
Islanders in the workforce
Community service
When Islanders were first brought to the sugar canefields of Queensland, they were faced with the almost impossible task of clearing and maintaining canefields by hand. Death and disease were rife.
Those who survived knew that there was nowhere to turn for medical help.
For many decades Australian South Sea Islanders did not receive appropriate or satisfactory health care.
Australian South Sea Islanders have over the years developed a reputation for stoicism – that is, they do not complain, and keep working even when they are in pain. Think about this when you read this quote from a contemporary Australian South Sea Islander:
We don't complain. We just put up with it. We just keep going and going. We only go to the doctor when we can't move around any more, or if it's stopping us from doing our work properly.
Jot down some ways that stoicism would influence an Australian South Sea Islander's approach to health care.
In the early years of health care, health staff members held strange views about the treatment of patients with black skin. Some doctors believed:
Write down some of the ways these different opinions may have affected the health care that Australian South Sea Islanders received.
Generations of Australians held racist beliefs that affected the treatment of Australian South Sea Islanders.
Consider whether a racist health professional would:
Write down a few ways that racism could affect health care.
In Queensland's past there is a history of segregated hospitals – black patients were placed in wards so far removed from the rest of the hospital the nurses could not hear them crying out.
When Australian South Sea Islanders died in hospital, the family sometimes believed the hospital was responsible for the death. This was partly due to the fact that hospital staff did not satisfactorily explain the illness or injury to the family.
This fear of the hospital was passed down to children and in some cases persists to the present day.
Jot down some of the ways you could help dispel this fear.
Legalised racism forced Australian South Sea Islanders out of certain industries for many years. Despite this, families managed to survive.
Today, however, the legacy of those long years of imposed unemployment remains. Australian South Sea Islanders are often deprived, and do not have many things other Australians take for granted.
Do you own your own home? Do you have a computer? Do you have private health cover? Do you have a car?
Many Australian South Sea Islanders do not have these things.
Jot down some ways that poverty would affect access to health care.
In general the older generation of Australian South Sea Islanders did not receive quality education. Many had to leave school at a young age as they needed to work to support their families.
This influenced literacy levels and knowledge of medicine, health and anatomy. These issues are still significant.
Today the need to educate Australian South Sea Islanders is a priority.
Write down some ways in which you, the health staff member, could educate Australian South Sea Islanders about health.
Write down some ways in which you could encourage Islander children to embark on a career in health care.
Write down some ways in which you could encourage Islander children to embark on a career in health care.
Islanders have always been active members of community services. Many are willing to volunteer their time to health care. Setting up volunteer groups has proved to be an effective way of delivering culturally appropriate care. (For example, the Wontok model proved to be highly successful: Wontok volunteers assisted Australian South Sea Islander patients at the Mackay local hospital. Their presence improved communication, results and general health care.)
Write down some ways Islander volunteers could assist you. Think about how you would go about asking for help.
Overcoming apprehension – Glen's story
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