4.1.

4 WORKSHEET – Prac’ and VCAA Qs

The concept and dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, economic) and its role in the
promotion of health and wellbeing

1. Define sustainability according to the United Nations 2 marks

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2. Outline two features/characteristics of economic sustainability 2 marks

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3. Explain how environmental sustainability can impact social sustainability 2 marks

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4. Describe two ways social sustainability can promote physical health and wellbeing
4 marks

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5.

a. Identify and explain two dimensions of sustainability. 4 marks

Dimension: ________________________________________
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Dimension: ______________________________________
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b. Select one of the above dimensions of sustainability and explain its importance for the promotion of health
and wellbeing in a global context.
TIP: include ‘global’ ‘globally’ in your answer!
TIP: two explained links to different dimensions of HWB (PEMSS) for 4 marks 4 marks

Dimension selected:
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How it contributes to health and wellbeing in a global context:

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Sample answer could be:
Dimension: Economic sustainability
Achieving economic sustainability ensures employment opportunities. If people globally are then able to earn an
income they are more able to lift themselves out of poverty. Thus, they have greater access to resources such
healthcare services when needed. This means conditions/diseases can be diagnosed and treated, promoting physical
health and wellbeing globally.
Economic sustainability also means Governments around the world are able to generate tax revenue, which can be
reinvested into resources such as education and healthcare. Education not only provides individual jobs and thus
income, but also provides opportunity for people globally to contribute to their community, increasing
connectedness, promoting spiritual health and wellbeing globally.
6.
a. Using examples, explain the difference between social and economic sustainability. 4 marks

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b. Outline two reasons why environmental sustainability is important for the promotion of health and
wellbeing in a global context. 4 marks

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Answers could be:

a. Students receive one mark for explaining each type of sustainability and one mark for providing a relevant
example for a total of four marks. For example:

Social sustainability is about creating an equitable society that meets the needs of all citizens and can be
maintained indefinitely, now and in the future
whereas economic sustainability refers to ensuring that the average incomes in all countries are adequate
to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the
future.
An example of social sustainability is providing high quality education into the future for all and an
example of economic sustainability is achieving continued economic growth into the future.
 b. Students receive two marks for each link they make between environmental sustainability and the promotion of
health and wellbeing in a global context. Examples worth two marks include:

 Environmental sustainability means that people around the world /globally will have ongoing access to
clean water and air which reduces the risk of infectious diseases and respiratory diseases and therefore
promotes physical health and wellbeing globally.
 Environmental sustainability means that natural resources around the world / globally can be used for food.
This can promote adequate levels of energy so people can socialise with their friends which promotes
social health and wellbeing in a global context.
 Environmental sustainability can assist in reducing natural disasters associated with extreme weather
events. If people around the world/globally have less exposure to these occurrences, stress levels may
decrease globally, promoting mental health and wellbeing.
 Environmental sustainability can provide people around the world/globally with natural areas to relax and
spend their leisure time eg forests. This can promote feelings of connectedness to the world in which
people live, promoting spiritual health and wellbeing globally.

Source: http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/infographics/780xany/2016/mar/Forests-and-Trees.png

a. For those in rural communities with access to forests, what proportion of income is generated by having
access to forests? 1 mark

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Reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable incomes are a focus of social and economic sustainability.

b. Discuss how forests can assist people in low-income countries in generating a sustainable income. 2 marks

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c. Besides sustainable forests, explain two ways that ensuring environmental sustainability can promote
health and wellbeing for people in low-income countries. 4 marks

TIP: two explained links to different dimensions of HWB (PEMSS) for 4 marks

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Some Answers:
a. Students receive one mark for identifying ‘22%’.

b. Students receive two marks for linking access to forests to a reduction in poverty by leading to sustainable
incomes. Answers worth two marks include:

 Forests are often a source of food. Having adequate food can mean that people are less likely to get sick,
which increases their ability to work and earn an income into the future.
 Forests often promote tourism. With more tourists, more people can gain employment now, and in the
future, which can promote sustainable incomes.
 Forests can be used to access building materials that can be sold such as timber. If this is done in a
sustainable manner, this income can be accessed into the future.
 Forests are an important part of the water and air systems. This can mean that people can access clean
water and air which reduces the risk of illness. If children are not sick, they can gain a better education
which can assist in developing new industries in the future and producing sustainable incomes.

c. Students receive two marks for linking each aspect of environmental sustainability (besides forests) to health and
wellbeing in low-income countries for a total of four marks. Answers worth two marks include:

 Having a sustainable fish supply will provide many people in low-income countries with a sustainable food
supply. This can mean that people have more energy and can fight off infections which promotes physical
health and wellbeing.
 Biodiversity contributes to a stable environment which can provide clean air and water. This reduces the
risk of infections which promotes physical health and wellbeing in low-income countries.
 Controlling climate change can mean that people in low-lying countries are less likely to be displaced. This
can promote mental health and wellbeing by reducing levels of stress.
 If sustainable energy is promoted, people can continue to access electricity. This increases the ability of
people in low-income countries to interact after daylight hours, promoting social health and wellbeing.
8
The following graph shows the estimated number of species of plants and animals to be classified as endangered
over time.
12,000

10,000

8,000
Number of species

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Animals Plants
Source: Adapted from World Bank data, 2018.

a. Outline the change in the number of species of animals to be classified as endangered over time. 2 marks

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b. Explain how protecting species of plants and animals could promote health and wellbeing. 4 marks

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Some answers:

a. Students receive one mark for outlining the change in the number of endangered animals over time and one mark
for correctly using data, for example:

The number of endangered animals was approximately 5000 from 1998 up until 2003 when it then
increased and continued to increase until reaching approximately 10,500 in 2014.
b. Students receive four marks for explaining two links about how protecting species of plants and animals could
promote health and wellbeing. Answers should make reference to both plants and animals to be eligible for full
marks. Answers worth four marks include:

 Protecting species of plants and animals can assist with promoting biodiversity. Biodiversity is required to
make a range of resources such as medicines. Medicines can mean that conditions can be treated which
promotes physical health and wellbeing. Biodiversity is also required to ensure ecosystems remain stable
and people are provided with clean air which is required to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases,
promoting physical HWB.
 Protecting plant species can mean that oxygen is produced which is required for humans to function which
promotes physical health and wellbeing. Plants are also used for building material which can mean that
people have sufficient shelter which promotes adequate sleep, reducing lethargy (physical health and
wellbeing). Animals are required for pollination which means that plants can reproduce. This provides food
for people and provides energy for daily tasks (physical health and wellbeing).
 Protecting animal and plant species means that there will be organic matter that can provide people with
food. With food, people have adequate levels of energy which enhances physical health and wellbeing.
Energy also increases the ability of people to socialise (social health and wellbeing) and work towards their
purpose in life, which promotes spiritual health and wellbeing.

2018 VCAA EXAM

 20
19 VCAA EXAM
2020 VCAA EXAM

Question 6b.

Marks 0 1 2 Average
% 56 30 14 0.6
Although many students showed some understanding of social sustainability, few included enough detail for two
marks. Another common mistake was providing an answer that related to sustainability in general, and not social
sustainability specifically.
The following is an example of a high-scoring response.
Social sustainability relates to creating equitable societies that meet the needs of all citizens and can be maintained
indefinitely. Some factors include levels of employment and education.
2021 VCAA EXAM

Question 9a.
Marks 0 1 2 Average
% 40 27 32 1.0

Marks were awarded for describing environmental sustainability and referring to it continuing into the future.

The following is an example of a high-scoring response.

Environmental sustainability refers to ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that preserves resources for
future generations. An example of environmental sustainability is biodiversity.