Winnunga Nitmmityjah Aboriginal Health Service- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theWinnunga Nitmmityjah Aboriginal Health Service. Answer: Introduction Aboriginal health means the physical, cultural and social welfare of the whole community in which every person can achieve their full potential (Alford, 2014). The aboriginal population has been dramatically affected by poverty and drug use which resulted in the need for medical assistance in these Aboriginal Australian communities. According to Jongen (2014), the Aboriginal Health Service (AHS) controls health services at a primary level but also offers different programs that promote the right healthy lifestyle. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MCH programs provide services that decrease pre-term births and improve infant birth weights. Winnunga development offering responsive and the required services which adapt to the essential needs of the local community (Jongen, 2014). History The late Olive Brown, a local Aboriginal, set up a temporary medical service in Canberra due to the widespread mobilization of people around the opening of the new Parliament House. It proved to be the birth of Winnunga Nimmityjah AHS in 1988. According to Alford (2014), Justin Mohamed associated with the Victorian Aboriginal communities before being elected as the head of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). In January 1990, Wayne Berry (minister), raised funds and in 1991, the clinic was opened officially at the Griffin Center as a 24-hour medical practice center. Winnunga Nimmityjah AHS has established a couple of centers and is currently at 63 Boolimba Cresent Narrabundah. Vision and Mission According to Fowlie (2015), the mission and vison of the healthcare service is to ensure further provision of smoking cessation services and provide on-going tobacco support services for women who are pregnant and young children. Furthermore, it provides health services that are culturally safe for the indigenous peoples and the surrounding areas. Winnunga's mission is to ensure the social and cultural needs of the indigenous people and surrounding region are given priority in a safe cultural environment (Hellsten, 2012). Services and Operations Winnunga Nummityjah AHS offers various programs and services on a daily basis to people between 80 to 120 and approximately 4000 clients per year (Hellsten, 2012). According to Lovett (2014), the services provided include nursing services which comprise a team of nurses who can manage various fields such as chronic disease, mental health and drug and alcohol. The nurses have an essential role in the treatment of chronic illness and mental health care plan (Lovett, 2014). Another services provided is by assisting families that have faced injustice issues, for instance, by getting community correction admission for the indigenous people (Bartels, 2010). Psychotherapy and cognitive therapies help the development of mental health care plans; therefore clients can have access to such services at the center. Moreover, they provide, womens health services which provide health screening for women which may include prenatal advice and family planning (Hellsten, 2012). The team also offers various services that benefit expectant mothers during the pregnancy period and after delivery of the baby. Moreover, the midwifery team provides prior, post-maternal care for expectant mothers and home care support for the community. In addition to that, the group of nurses works with ACT hospitals which assists in giving health care services between the hospital and Winnunga. Winnunga Nimmityjah AHS also controls some social health care programs and services which employ female and male counseling and support staff. Other services offered may include counseling and advocacy. According to Hellsten (2012), the social health team also takes part in community service aimed at promoting pride in Aboriginal culture. Winnunga also provides to health promotion services which include a diabetes clinic, an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, dermatology, physiotherapy, audiology and prison service. Membership Winnungas membership group consists of 81% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and 19% of non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. The healthcare service gives priority to men, women, couples, and children (Davy, 2016). Contacts and Location More inquiries can be made through contacting; Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service 63 Boolimba Cresent Narrabundah ACT 2603 Telephone (02) 6284 6222 or fax us on (02) 6284 6200 Free call 1800 110 290 0r 1800 120 859 The link to the Winnunga Nimmityjah Location map: Winnungas working hours are; Monday to Friday from 9.00 in the morning to 5.00 in the evening. The organization also offers after-hour services, and a client can inquire for more information by contacting number is 1300 422 567. Issues and Challenges Funding issues are not uncommon in the Aboriginal Health Service organizations. In Winnunga, there is an acute accommodation crisis, for instance, some of the midwives have to share the same room since the number of rooms is limited compared to the number of midwives in the facility. There is also a similar situation when the nurses have to share the same place due to the limited number of rooms compared to the workforce present in the healthcare center. Other challenges include out of control rates of imprisonment leading to a problem of reintegration on release from prison for the indigenous people in Canberra. (Guthrie, 2014)).Another issue faced by the organization is the large numbers of children in care which increases its expenses. Ms. Tongs also stated that the increasing use of ice has led to relying on the police at least once a fortnight to help with a client. Impressions From my experience interacting with the Aboriginal community in Canberra, I have gotten the impression that this specific organization can relate with their clients, the majority being the indigenous clients on a more personal and context relevant level for instance, culturally. One of the released men also states that he appreciates the organization for giving him holistic care during his incarceration period and helped in the planning of his release. According to Churchill (2015), there was good midwifery care since there was cultural and community connection between the different women who had unique backgrounds. It has enabled them to have access to good health care during pregnancy, delivery and in reproductive needs. Conclusion Through the services that are being offered by Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service as highlighted in this report, we can identify how the organization fulfills its mission and vision of providing culturally safe healthcare services for the indigenous people and surrounding areas. This healthcare service provider can provide this services through international integration and government funding which gradually continues to fulfill its duties to the community. Furthermore, the healthcare center offers proper care for women who need maternal care and ensuring that they are in a culturally safe environment. References Alford, K. (2014). Economic value of aboriginal community controlled health services.Canberra: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Press Club. Bartels, L. (2010). Research in Practice: Diversion programs for Indigenous women Churchill, M. E. (2015).Defining and Evaluating Cultural Safety at Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto: Exploring Urban Indigenous Womens Perspectives on Culturally Safe Maternity Care(Doctoral dissertation). Davy, C., Harfield, S., McArthur, A., Munn, Z., Brown, A. (2016). Access to primary health care services for Indigenous peoples: A framework synthesis.International journal for equity in health,15(1), 163. Guthrie, J., Levy, M., Fforde, C. (2014). Investment in prisons: an investment in social exclusion? Linking the theories of justice reinvestment and social inclusion to examine Australias propensity to incarcerate.Griffith Journal of Law Human Dignity,1(2). Hellsten, D., Hakiaha, H. (2012). Indigenous mental health in Australia and New Zealand.Psychiatric and mental health nursing, 109-121. Jongen, C., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., Tsey, K. (2014). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander maternal and child health and wellbeing: a systematic search of programs and services in Australian primary health care settings.BMC pregnancy and childbirth,14(1), 251. Lovett, R., Dance, P., Guthrie, J., Brown, R., Tongs, J. (2014). Walan Girri: developing a culturally mediated case management model for problematic alcohol use among urban Indigenous people.Australian Health Review,38(4), 440-446. Fowlie, C., Van der Sterren, A. (2015). Reducing smoking in the ACT among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are pregnant or who have young children. Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service: Planning and Delivering Services to Address Entrenched Disadvantages in the Aboriginal Community. Retrieved from: https://www.winnunga.org.au/uploads/docs/WNAHS_2017-18_ACT_Budget_Submission.pdf