Indigenous Health Report Card Published

The Australian Medical Association has published the 2012-13 Indigenous Health Report Card;  The Healthy Early Years – Getting the Right Start in Life.
At the report's launch yesterday, Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Fiona Nash said the AMA was a proud advocate of Indigenous health, and the Report Card Series was an important resource that highlights the health inequalities that still exist for Indigenous Australians. This is the 10th in a respected and authoritative series dating back to 2002.
It outlines the current research on the early life determinants of later life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and the available evidence for policies, programs, and measures that work to protect them against adverse social and physical conditions in early life.
The Report Card also makes recommendations about measures that need to be incorporated in renewed and reinvigorated COAG Partnership Agreements to Close the Gap, so that healthy early development in the first five ye
ars of life is given the priority it warrants.
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said it is the right of every Australian child to have the best start in life but in Australia today not every child benefits from this right.
“In their early years, children need to be safe, have adequate opportunities for growth and development, and have access to adequate health, child development, and education services,” Dr Hambleton said. “Many of our children are missing out, but none more so than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. “There have been some improvements in recent years with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children making a successful transition to healthy adult life, but there are still far too many who are being raised in community and family environments that are marked by severe early childhood adversity.
“This adversity in early life can affect educational and social functioning in later life, and can increase the risk of chro
nic illness. “Without intervention, these problems can be transmitted from one generation to the next – and the cycle continues. “Good nutrition, responsive care and psychosocial stimulation can have powerful protective benefits to improve longer-term health and wellbeing.  “Strong culture and strong identity are also central to healthy early development.
“The costs to individuals, families, and society of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children failing to reach their developmental potential continue to be substantial."
The AMA makes several recommendations in the Report Card to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their early years, including:
The AMA Indigenous Health Report Card, The Healthy Early Years – Getting the Right Start in Life, is availabl
e athttps://ama.com.au/2012-13-ama-indigenous-health-report-card-healthy-early-years-getting-right-start-life