These are sometimes referred to as 'supernatural' forces, and Aboriginal people, within particular language groups, have their own terminologies to describe these 'supernatural' forces. Overall, preserving health and curing illness were, and are in many instances, important features of Aboriginal life. The combination of health being viewed as a shared, public and collective responsibility for all members of a group, becomes manifest in beliefs and practices that range from performing a certain ritual, to the collection and use of bush food and medicine to engender wellbeing. This approach differs markedly from western medicine with its emphasis on an impersonal, technological and disease-specific approach. Some of these complex matters and the need to appreciate Aboriginal perspectives of health care, combined with the lack of appropriate delivery care and resources, and the marginalised material conditions still experienced by many Aboriginal people in this State in relation to health, are reflected throughout the following material.
Health is a crucial factor in the present day quality of life of Aboriginal people.
More importantly the quality of life of Aboriginal people is the crucial factor in determining the health of the Aboriginal community. If we consider the people who come within the Terms of Reference of the Commission, it is immediately obvious that ill-health is a common link. In this section the broader perspectives of health and the Aboriginal community are considered. It is intended to discuss the deaths in custody in relation to the poor health status within the Aboriginal community, and the consequent high incidence of Aboriginal deaths outside custody so that a clear connection can he made between there. Establishing the deaths in this context is essential if the structural determinants of ill-health, and hence premature death, are to he addressed.