Every country has a unique approach in the development of a well-balanced health care system capacitated to adapt to the changes in the society. Australia has made essential medicines readily available to the entire population laying the groundwork for a stable health care system. The robust private health care sector complements the balance shared between individuals and the government with over 43% of the population enjoying a private health care coverage taking some pressure off public services (Chandler, 2001: 91).
Yet in the midst of this modernity, rural health movement has just recently gained momentum where remote health nursing saw the need to reach out to Australia’s indigenous communities. In cooperation with the federal government’s aim to provide optimum health for its entire constituents, enough focus has been targeted to the needs of the every citizen particularly the indigenous sector. They are identified as the marginalized citizens mostly living in the far-flung areas and were historically regarded as the Australian aborigines( Dunn, 1989: 12); numbering about 517,200 in 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics [2], 2006).
The aboriginal people belong to groups and tribes identified as Torres Strait islanders and their descents who are located mostly in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territories with a much younger population compared to the non-indigenous sectors (Goold, 1998:122). A country’s claim to credible health system is seen in the health condition of its citizens. The health of its indigenous population and other laid back communities along with the rest of the population is a strong indicator of an over-all balanced health system (Grogan, 1987; 96).
In a 2006 survey (Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare, 2006) certain points revealed that certain diseases as indicators reflected an underestimation on the prevalence of diseases in the indigenous population. Although the current health status of non-indigenous communities are effectively showing good health results, the health issues currently suffered by the indigenous community mar a country’s movement for optimum health (Dunn,1989:12). With reference to geographical locations, non-indigenous communities are provided with adequate primary health care facilities due to their accessibility.
In comparison, indigenous communities are often disadvantaged where their marginalized population often are located in the outback and characterized by a growing aged population like the high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have difficulties in accessing services, transport and accommodation along with a variable economic situation (Dunn, 1989:12). The indigenous communities are often reluctant to leave their homelands making difficult an equal access to treatment.