ENVIRONMENTAL-HEALTH CONDITIONS IN REMOTE AND RURAL ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

During 1994-1995 environmental health conditions of about 13 760 perso ns in 155 remote and rural Aboriginal communities in 20 local shires i n Western Australia (WA) were surveyed. A semiquantitative questionnai re sought data about the communities and their services, including wat er supplies, power, sanitation and disposal of solid and liquid waste; a separate section dealt with conditions of individual dwellings. Dat a were recorded by experienced local workers. Thirty-five communities considered to have the worst conditions were evaluated on-site by a te am of senior personnel in mid-1995. Environmental health problems were prevalent and often serious: over one-third of the communities had wa ter supply or sanitation problems and 70 per cent had housing problems , with overcrowding and substandard housing being commonplace, Thirty- six per cent had difficulties with waste water disposal, 37 per cent h ad no rubbish disposal, and in others, the methods of disposal were of ten inadequate; pests were problems in 44 percent of communities and m aintenance of communal toilets was unacceptable in 25 per cent. Sevent y-two per cent had no on-site environmental health worker and 44 per c ent had no on-site or visiting medical, nursing or health worker perso nnel. An action plan was developed and the highest-priority communitie s were targeted in a program of major works (for example, housing, dra inage and sewerage) and minor works, which have been commenced. The re mote-area environmental health workers' program is being expanded. Inc reased intersectoral collaboration and enhanced community involvement in decision making have occurred as a result of this work.