A statement was recently released by the Indigenous Allied Health Australia regarding changes within university funding. Under the changes, which are yet to be approved by the parliament, student contributions would decrease for allied health courses while the fees for humanities and other related disciplines would increase.
IAHA welcomed the additional funding to allied health considering its importance to securing substantial support to the overall healthcare system and its capability of opening new opportunities for the allied health sector. However, IAHA put similar emphasis when it comes to the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare which would involve huge support coming from social workers in fostering cultural and traditional practices, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups.
Humanities also play a significant role in promoting healthcare, from establishing an equitable approach to it to its advantageous position in improving our understanding of the world.
The likes of Professor Tom Calma and Professor Kerry Arabena, who shared experience of being a social worker benefited from humanities as a discipline. They said that humanities contribute to our understanding of society as well as its implications to individual members of society.
The statement was coordinated with various groups and stakeholders who advocate equitable access to healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. These groups and stakeholders consider the value of social workers to the said sector and will continue to insist on its importance.
Essential role
Social workers perform an essential role in bringing about equitable access to healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They provide the necessary support for the sector as they navigate through a seemingly complex system. They also foster social and emotional wellbeing for the said communities.
This essential role can only be managed through a deeper understanding of various cultural determinants embedded within the aboriginal communities. A significant amount of understanding is given off by social workers for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people to deal with the complexity of the mainstream healthcare system.
The appreciation of culture and understanding differences was undervalued within the proposed changes. This is alarming because it may be detrimental to the movement and unfolding of a culturally-centred approach to healthcare.
With this, IAHA is calling for an amendment of the proposed changes to university funding. Students of humanities may find themselves at a crossroads of conflicting decisions as the changes can cause negative effects on the overall progress of their educational endeavors. Aside from its possible detrimental outcomes, students may consider opting out from their humanities courses and take a new path instead. It is the belief of IAHA that no student deserves such conflicting ideas in their pursuit of education.
Lastly, one should not fail to recognise and respect the importance of humanities, not only in health but to society as a whole.
