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Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey C. Standen

    (Health Protection NSW, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Geoffrey G. Morgan

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia
    University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Lismore NSW 2480, Australia)

  • Tim Sowerbutts

    (Q Social Research Consultants Pty Ltd., Broadway NSW 2007, Australia)

  • Katrina Blazek

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Jessica Gugusheff

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Otto Puntsag

    (Health Protection NSW, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Michael Wollan

    (NSW Ministry of Health, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia)

  • Paul Torzillo

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2006, Australia)

Abstract

Many studies document the relationship between housing quality and health status. Poor housing in Aboriginal communities continues to be linked to the compromised health status of Aboriginal Australians. The New South Wales (NSW) Housing for Health (HfH) program has been assessing and repairing Aboriginal community housing across the state for 20 years using a standardised intervention methodology that aims to improve the health of Aboriginal people in NSW by improving their living environments. Items are tested and repairs are prioritised to maximise safety and health benefits and measured against 11 Critical Healthy Living Priorities (e.g., safety, facilities for washing people and clothes, removing waste and preparing food). Descriptive analysis of data collected pre- and post-intervention from 3670 houses was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program. Analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the ability of the houses to support safe and healthy living for all critical healthy living priorities post-interventions. Trend analysis demonstrated the magnitude of these improvements increased over 20 years. In 24 communities ( n = 802 houses) where projects were repeated (5–17 years later), results indicate sustainability of improvements for 9 of 11 priorities. However, the overall condition of health-related hardware in Aboriginal community housing across NSW pre-intervention has not significantly changed during the program’s 20 years. Results suggest a systematic lack of routine maintenance and quality control continues to be the overwhelming cause for this lack of improvement pre-intervention. Our evaluation of the HfH program demonstrated that fidelity to a standardised housing testing and repair methodology to improve residents’ safety and health can have sustainable effects on housing infrastructure and associated health benefits, such as a 40% reduction in infectious disease hospital separations. Housing and health agencies should collaborate more closely on social housing programs and ensure programs are adequately resourced to address safety and health issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey C. Standen & Geoffrey G. Morgan & Tim Sowerbutts & Katrina Blazek & Jessica Gugusheff & Otto Puntsag & Michael Wollan & Paul Torzillo, 2020. "Prioritising Housing Maintenance to Improve Health in Indigenous Communities in NSW over 20 years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5946-:d:399675
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nina Lansbury & Paul C. Memmott & Rosemary Wyber & Clarissa Burgen & Samuel K. Barnes & Jessica Daw & Jeffrey Cannon & Asha C. Bowen & Rachel Burgess & Patricia N. Frank & Andrew M. Redmond, 2024. "Housing Initiatives to Address Strep A Infections and Reduce RHD Risks in Remote Indigenous Communities in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Jeffrey C. Standen & Jessica Spencer & Grace W. Lee & Joe Van Buskirk & Veronica Matthews & Ivan Hanigan & Sinead Boylan & Edward Jegasothy & Matilde Breth-Petersen & Geoffrey G. Morgan, 2022. "Aboriginal Population and Climate Change in Australia: Implications for Health and Adaptation Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Romany McGuffog & Jamie Bryant & Kade Booth & Felicity Collis & Alex Brown & Jaquelyne T. Hughes & Catherine Chamberlain & Alexandra McGhie & Breanne Hobden & Michelle Kennedy, 2023. "Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-21, February.

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