Aboriginal access mapping

The problem

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Nepean Blue Mountains region face significant barriers when accessing health services. Despite ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes, these communities continue to experience disparities, including higher rates of chronic illness and limited access to culturally appropriate care. The existing healthcare system struggles to provide services that are responsive to the cultural, social, and emotional needs of Aboriginal people, leading to mistrust, underutilisation of services, and poor health outcomes.

Our approach

Synergia was engaged to explore and map the experiences of Aboriginal people when accessing health services in the Nepean Blue Mountains region.

The approach involved:

Conducting interviews and a follow-up workshop with Aboriginal individuals from the region to gather personal stories and insights.

Framing the research through an Aboriginal worldview to understand the cultural determinants of health and the unique challenges faced by Aboriginal communities.

Using case stories to map the interactions of Aboriginal people with the healthcare system, identifying key pain points and opportunities for improvement.

Working closely with the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network and Local Health District to develop culturally appropriate recommendations for service improvement.

Impacts

Benefits to the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network and Local Health District included:

Improved cultural competence: The insights and recommendations from the report help healthcare providers better understand the cultural needs of Aboriginal people, leading to more respectful and effective care.

Enhanced access to services: By identifying gaps in service provision and cultural barriers, the project supports the development of more accessible and culturally aligned healthcare services for Aboriginal communities.

Empowerment and inclusion: The project emphasised the importance of Aboriginal self-determination in health, encouraging the inclusion of Aboriginal voices in the planning and delivery of healthcare services.

Actionable recommendations: The report provided a clear set of improvement ideas, including the development of culturally specific health resources, improved health literacy, and the establishment of regional protocols for best practices in Aboriginal health service delivery.

These benefits collectively aim to reduce health disparities and improve the overall health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in the Nepean Blue Mountains region.