HSC - CORE 1: HEALTH PRIORITIES IN AUSTRALIA

CQ1: How are priority issues for Australia’s health identified?

● Measuring health status
- Role of epidemiology
- Measures of epidemiology (mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, life expectancy)

Epidemiology: Epidemiology:
- Collection of data to establish health profiles for population & sub groups. The study of health &
- Overview disease in a population & sub group over a period of time.

Epidemiology considers patterns of disease in terms:

Prevalence Incidence Distribution Apparent causes

TOTAL n° of cases of a disease N° of NEW CASES of EXTENT of problem COMMON FACTORS that
in given population in specific disease in population and WHERE appear to be linked to
point of time over period of time morbidity and mortality
E.g covid ACTIVE cases

- Its role ● What it can tell us

- Identify problems & inequalities between groups
- Identify areas of need = specific prevention + treatment interventions
- Allow emerging health trends, issues & potential risks → identified early
- Prioritise areas 4 gov funding
- Evaluate effectiveness of prevention & treatment programs
- Evidence based info.
● Who uses it
- Health organisation, manufacturers of health products, health service providers
- Individual consumers
- Policy developers (all levels of gov.)
● Limitations
- Pattern of disease with no data 2 analyse/ compare
- No account 4 impact of health determinants
- Impact on quality of life

- Measures of Mortality - Indicate n° of deaths in groups or from specific time period

Epidemiology - Used 2 compare health status & comparisons between nations

Infant mortality - N° infant deaths in 1st years of life per/100 live births
- Considered most important indicator of health status in nation

Morbidity - Patterns of illness, disease & injury that don’t result in death
- Provides broader perspective measure

Life expectancy - Measure of current mortality NOT predictor of future life span
- Determined as average n° of yrs of life a person or particular age
has remaining
- Expectancy of population usually given from perspective of birth

Life expectancy

Life expectancy for females is more desirable than males. Female= 84yr Male= 80yr

Why has life expectancy improved:

- ↑ medical resources & tech
Overall 83.5 yr Compared to Fem: 80.8
- ↑ education systems other countries Male: 75.3
- ↑ access to medicine Male 80.5 yr (Turkey)
- Vaccines
Female 84.9 yr ATSI population Fem: 75.6
life expectancy Male: 71

Infant mortality in Australia

↓ in death rates due 2 ↑ health care facilities & education systems.

 Overall 3.3 per/100 Compared to other 0.7-100
countries
Male 3.5

Female 3.0 ATSI population life 6.2

expectancy (2015-2017)

Mortality

Leading causes of mortality Females Leading causes of mortality Males

1. Dementia (inc alzheimers) 1. Coronary heart disease

2. Coronary heart disease 2. Lung cancer
3. Cerebrovascular disease 3. Dementia (inc alzheimers)
4. Lung cancer 4. Cerebrovascular disease
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
‘Cancer is a leading cause of death within Australia. In 2020, it
accounted for 30% of all deaths (ABS 2021a).’

Morbidity

Leading causes of morbidity Males Leading causes of morbidity Females

1. Cancer 1. Cancer
2. Cardiovascular diseases 2. Musculoskeletal conditions
3. Mental & substance use disorders 3. Mental & substance use disorders
4. Injuries 4. Cardiovascular diseases
5. Musculoskeletal conditions 5. Respiratory diseases
 ● Summary Table:
Morbidity Trend Mortality Trend

Cardiovascular Disease
as a combined group ↓ ↓
Coronary Heart Disease
(heart attacks/disease) ↓ ↓
Cerebrovascular Disease
(stroke) ↓ ↓
Cancer
as a combined group ↑ ↓
Lung Cancer –- ↓
Colorectal Cancer
↓ ↓
Prostate Cancer
↓ ↓
Breast Cancer –- ↓
Melanoma –-
↑
Respiratory Diseases

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

↑ ↓
Asthma
↑ ↓
Dementia/ Alzheimer’s
↑ ↑
Diabetes
↑ Type 1: ↓ Type 2: ↑
Injury and Poisoning
↑ ↓
Suicide N/A
↑
Land Transport Related
↓ ↓
Falls N/A
↑
Mental Illness N/A
↑
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
↑
End-stage kidney disease
↑
 CQ1: How are priority issues for Australia’s health identified?
● Identifying priority health issues
- Social justice principles
- Priority population groups
- Prevalence of condition
- Potential for prevention and early intervention
- Costs to the individual and community

Social Justice Principles Overview

● Set of values that favour reduction/elimination of inequity, promotion of
inclusiveness/diversity & establishment of environments that support all people
(disadvantages & reducing inequality)

Equity
● Fair allocation of resources - not always fair. May mean allocating resources in ↑
amount 2 certain groups 2 address inequalities
● E.g ‘Close the Gap Campaign’ - ↓ gaps between ATSI & non- ATSI through
distribution of funding, education etc.

Diversity
● Differences between individuals & people groups
● E.g Medicare services providing translation services (e.g brochures & posters in
different language)

Supportive Environments
● Environments where “people live, work & play that protect people from threats 2
health and that ↑ their ability 2 make health promoting choices”
● Achieved through gov legislation (e.g prohibiting smoking in restaurants)

Priority Population Groups Overview

● Population groups achieving significantly ↓ health outcomes compared 2 rest of AUS

Allows health authorities to

● Determine health disadvantages of groups within the population.
● Better understand the social determinants of health.
● Identify prevalence of injury & disease in specific groups.
● Determine needs of the groups in relation 2 principles of social justice

Questions to be considered
1. Does a specific group within the population suffer higher prevalence of this condition?
2. Can this health issue be improved by targeting a specific population group?

Prevalence of Condition Definition

● No° of cases of illness or condition in population @ given time.
- Used 2 determine No° of people affected by health issue & helps identify risk
factors
- ↑ prevalence= ↑ the issue
 - Conditions of ↑ prevalence that contribute 2 morbidity & mortality in AUS inc:
cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions & Dementia
and Alzheimer’s.

Questions to be considered
1. Does this health problem affect a large No° of people within the population?
2. Is there evidence that the extent of this health problem is increasing?

Potential for Prevention and Overview

Early Intervention ● 75% deaths of people under 75yrs= considered avoidable
● Preventable diseases inc lifestyle disease: type 2 diabetes, hypertension,
cardiovascular disease & obesity

Other diseases that higher rates of successful treatment when identified & treated early

Questions to be considered
1. Is this health problem the result of risk factors that can be changed or modified?
2. Can the harm caused by condition be ↓ by early detection & intervention?
3. Can the impact of conditions be predicted and ↓ by understanding changes in
population?

Costs to the Individual and Community

Individual Community

- Impact on physical, social & emotional health of people
experiencing a condition will vary from individual to
individual.
- Direct Costs can be measured, usually financial, (e.g
cost of treatment, cost of replacement labour or lost
working hour).
- Indirect Costs= more difficult 2 measure. Include
emotional trauma & relationship breakdown, quality of
life ↓
- Annual economic cost alone related 2 the diagnosis,
treatment & care of the sick is over $170 billion
(2015-16)
- Direct costs: money spent on diagnosing, treating &
caring 4 sick, + money spent on prevention.
- Indirect costs: value of output lost when people become
too sick 2 work.
 CQ2: What are the priority issues for improving Australia’s health?
● Groups experiencing health inequities
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Socioeconomically disadvantaged people
- People in rural and remote areas
- Overseas-born people
- The elderly
- People with disabilities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

2016- 3.3% of total AUS population identified ATSI

Trends:
The Nature and Extent of
Health Inequities
● Life Expectancy: 8-9yrs ≲ non-ATSI
● Mortality Rate: 1.7x non-ATSI rate
● Child Mortality: 2x non-ATSI rate
● Mental Health:
- ↑ rates depression, anxiety, self-harm
- ATSI suicide rate= 1.9x non-ATSI rate
➔ ↓ in deaths male + female
➔ ↓ employment, ↑ home
ownership, ↑ level of
education
➔ ↓ smoking rates (still 2x
non-ATSI rate)
➔ ↓ risky drinking rates
(binge drinking)

● Ongoing effects of colonisation= social dislocation, loss of culture, identity, self-worth →

↓ impact of ATSI health
● Racism= ↓ physical & mental health
● Communal approaches 2 family & parenting
● Incompatibility with aspects of Aus- political,
legal & education
Sociocultural ● Distrust of western medicine
determinants ● Significantly ↑ rates of imprisonment

● Education, employment & income = lower than

non-ATSI (but all are improving)
● Linked 2 ↑ health risk factors (smoking, alcohol
abuse, poor housing & exposure 2 violence)
● Between 1996 & 2016 average weekly
Socioeconomic household income ↑
determinants - From $544 to $802 for ATSI adults
- From $802 to $1096 for non-ATSI adults

● 1 in 5 live remote locations → impact access to healthy food

● 1 in 5 (18%) ATSI live in overcrowded housing
Major cities Inner regional Outer regional Remote Very remote AUS

Environmental ATSI 2% 4% 8% 18% 47% 3%

determinants
Non-ATSI 98% 96% 92% 82% 53% 97%

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

● Individuals: focus on good decision making + taking responsibility for their health +
 others
Education + access = biggest impact 4 pos change + empowers people to ↑ decision-making
The Role of Individuals ability (E.g community programs + health websites)
↑ Education opportunities E.g ATSI scholarships → individual need 2 take initiative & apply 4
them
● Individuals ability 2 ↓ risky behaviour & ↑ protective behaviours are influenced by:
- Age, family, history, education, access 2 health services

● ↓ availability of services, transport, education, cost = ↓ of access 4 primary care services

4 ATSI
● Needs 2 be ↑ primary health services by local community (E.g dental, education,
counselling, immunisation)
● Empower elders 2 work with communities
The Role of Communities ● Communities can advocate 2 gov 4 specific health issues
● Primary health care agencies include:
- Aboriginal medical services (AMS)
- Aboriginal Community controlled Health Services (ACCHS)
ATSI look after other ATSI

Gov is responsible 4 creating health policies & initiatives designed to ↑ ATSI health
● E.g Development of ‘Close The Gap Campaign’ focuses on:
- ↑ community-based primary & maternal health thats accessible &
The Role of Governments approachable
- Addressing related social determinants
- Provide range of preventative health activities
- ↑ expenditure on education & health programs → root of problem
- Includes ATSI in decision-making → empowers them

The Elderly

The Nature and Extent of ● 9 in 10 over 65yrs have 1 or more long-term health conditions
Health Inequities ● 1 in 2 over 65yrs are disabled
2017-18 → almost ½ of elderly reported 2 have arthritis
Graphs & stats:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K17q67AgZFhfiWOw3IsLPqTuroNj2estTBnKXTiT47Y/edit

● Groups @ risk of facing health barriers inc: Culturally or linguistically diverse

Sociocultural - 37% over 65yrs → born outside Aus
determinants - 18% over 65yrs → speak different language at home
↑ reliance on family for support subject 2 availability of others
Limited mobility= ↓ social interactions

Socioeconomic ↓ employment/retirement= ↓ income

determinants 68.1% live in low income household = ↓ access 2 health services & recreational activities
impacting physical, social & mental health
Retirement= ↓ relationships + civilization because elderly loose interactive workplace
environment= ↓ social & mental wellbeing

Environmental 2018: 33% elderly Aus in outer regional/remote

determinants - ↑ incident of illness + disability of elderly → ↓ access 2 services become difficult
- ↓ independence of elderly = ↓ access 2 services
- ↑ No retirement housing = ↑ access 2 services due 2 provided services or @ least
transport

The Role of Individuals Elderly = responsible 4 taking control of their health + making informed health decisions
- Eating balanced diet, ↑ physical activity + avoid poor health behaviours can ↑ health
outcomes
- Can also join volunteer organisations (e.g Red Cross, Salvation Army)
Volunteering = stimulate cognitive ability, self-fulfilment + create relationships

The Role of Communities Community = responsible 4 offering local initiatives that support elderly. Includes collaborating
with gov 2 develop programs - addresses specific needs
- (E.g meals on wheels, rotary clubs)
→ Community programs provide place 4 socialisation. (e.g sporting social clubs) Allows elderly 2
connect with the community & develop ↑ support network.
Retirement housing = range of services including activities, GP home visits + transport. Clean
houses + mow lawns

The Role of Governments Large focus 4 ↑ health of elderly 2 prevent or ↓ illness

- Important 2 promote good health behaviours, healthy ageing
- Gov enables- funding that promotes + ↑ general well being of population (e.g National
Tobacco Campaign)
Gov bodies = responsible 4 developing initiatives that address health inequities of elderly.
Involves adequate funding 2 assist condition management + ↑ efficiency of healthcare systems.
Gov seeks 2 encourage Aus 2 participate economically
 ● High levels of preventable chronic disease, injury and mental health problems
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- Cancer (skin, breast, lung)
- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease
- Injury
- Mental health problems and illnesses

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

Nature of the problem Refers to all diseases of the heart and blood vessels
→ Caused by build-up of fatty tissue in blood vessels (atherosclerosis) & hardening of arteries
(arteriosclerosis). Both affect blood supply to organs
3 Main Types:
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): blockage in heart vessels restricting blood flow= heart
attack. Most common CVD (13% all deaths)
- Cerebrovascular Disease (stroke): interruption of blood supply to brain
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD): Affects limbs blood supply, usually legs/feet

Extent (Trends) → CVD = 2nd leading cause of death in AUS (25% of deaths in 2019).
→ CHD higher 4 males than females
→ Mortality ↓ 4 both male + female. ↓ in mortality from strokes
→ Death rate ↑ with ↑ age
→ 2nd most expensive disease in terms of disease burden (11.8 billion)
→ Leading cause of disability
→ ATSI rate 2x non-ATSI
↓ in death rate due to ↓ in risk factors, ↑ detection & secondary prevention.

Risk Factors Non-modifiable: Age (over 60), family history, gender- males have ↑ risk
Modifiable:
→ Smoking: (most significant factor), doubles chance of stroke or heart attack
→ High blood fats: high levels of cholesterol & triglycerides in blood significantly ↑ chances
→ Overweight and obesity: Places extra strain on heart & lungs & linked 2 hypertension & ↑
blood fat levels.
→ Inactivity: Result in less efficient heart, higher levels of blood fats & weight gain which can
combine 2 ↑ risk.

Protective Factors → Quit smoking/avoiding tobacco smoke

→ Maintain healthy levels of blood pressure & blood cholesterol: Will assist in early
identification & management of any factors
→ Nutritious and balanced diet: regular visits 2 doctor can assist early CVD risk maintenance
(blood pressure, cholesterol, family history, stress levels & lifestyle factors)
→ Regular physical activity: regular, moderate-intensity physical activity= good 4 heart. Helps
↓ blood pressure & cholesterol.
→ Maintaining healthy weight: Bating healthily & participating in regular physical activity

Sociocultural Ppl with family history of CVD = increased risk. Influences lifestyle + behaviours (E.g exercise,
determinants diet, stress, smoking)
ATSI = increase risk - linked to:
- Decreased education levels
- Decreased health choices + knowledge about services
- Increased excessive drinking + smoking

Socioeconomic 2018-19 CVD hospitalisations rates = 20% increase for decreased SES
determinants - Decreased SES = increased risk due to decreased education levels linked to decreased
health choices + less knowledge
- Unemployed = decreased income = limit health choices (E.g Healthy food, facilities)
- Education increases knowledge of risk + protective factors enabling people to make
more informed health choices

Environmental 2018-19 CVD hospitalisations = 30% increase for remote + very remote areas compared to
determinants major cities
2017-19 CVD death rate = 1.4x increase in remote + very remote compared to major cities
Rural + remote increase risk of dealth due to ambulance wait times
Limited access 2 health services = decreased likely to have early diagnosis + decreased likely to
be educated on risk behaviours

Groups at risk Men- Females produce increase oestrogen = protect artery walls
Elderly- physical effects of ageing increase risk of CVD
Rural + remote/ATSI- decreased access to health services = increase risk
Unhealthy lifestyle- physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking, stress
Family history

Cancer - Overall
 Nature of the problem Group of disease with a common feature: uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal body
cells
Benign- NOT cancerous. Slow growing- can be removed through surgery
Malignant- CANCEROUS. Easily spread 2 parts of body & invade healthy tissue
Cancer is classified from initial beginning:
1. Carcinoma– epithelial cells (skin, mouth , throat, breasts & lungs)
2. Sarcoma– bone, muscle or connective tissue
3. Leukaemia– blood-forming organs
4. Lymphoma– infection-fighting organs

Extent of the problem → Accounts 4 30% of all deaths in AUS (current leading cause)
(Trends) → The prevalence is ↑
→ ↑ in incidence for both males and females
→ 1 in 2 males & females will develop cancer before age of 85
→ Most significant ↑ in incidence over last 20 years have been 4 breast cancer, skin cancer,
melanoma and prostate cancer
→ Main reasons for ↑ incidence include:
- Ageing population (risk of cancer increases with age)
- ↑ exposure to risk factors (e.g. UV radiation and obesity)
- Better detection methods (tech and screening programs)
- ↑ awareness of warning signs & personal detection (self-breast examination and skin
checks

Skin Cancer

Extent (Trends) 3 main types of skin cancer:

➔ Basal cell carcinoma (BBC) - 66% of skin cancers
➔ Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) - 33% of skin cancers
➔ Melanoma - 1-2%
→ AUS= highest rates
→ 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with a form of skin cancer before 70yrs
→ Approx. 16,000 are diagnosed with Melanoma in AUS per/year
→ 2nd most common cancer in men (65% incidence rate)
→ 3rd most common cancer in women (43% incidence rate)
→ 400 people diagnosed a day
→ Rate of cases ↑ each year: 2020= 8,700 cases, 970 deaths. 2019: 15,200 cases, 1,700
deaths
→ Mortality & survival rate ↑

Risk & Protective Factors

Risk Protective

- Not using sunscreen & long periods in
the sun
- Family history
- Burn-prone skin (red-heads)
- Older age
- Living in hot and ↑ UV locations
- Unusual moles & freckles
- Wearing protective clothing (hat,
sunglasses, long sleeve etc)
- Using SPF sunscreen
- Avoid saloriums
- Checking daily weather
- Regular skin cancer check-ups

Groups at risk Everyone = at risk of skin cancer. Higher risk people:

- Pale or freckles skin, burns easily, doesn't tan
- red /fair hair & light-coloured eyes (blue, green)
- Worked outdoors or been exposed to arsenic
- Weakened immune system
- Unprotected exposure to UV radiation

Breast Cancer

Extent (Trends) Cases 2021: 164 males, 19,866 females. Deaths 2021: 36 male, 3,102 female.
92% chance surviving over 5yrs (2013-17)
2017: 65 per 100,000 (1:0 male, 125 female)
2021: 65 per 100,000 (1:1 male, 130 female)
↑ Age = ↑ incident rate (both M + F) peaking at 70-74yrs 4 female
2019: 4th most common cause of death in AUS, 2nd most 4 female
2013-17: shows improved survival rate of 76% to 92%
36% ↑ in diagnosis in the last 10yrs.

Risk & Protective Factors

Female

Risk Protective
 - ↑ Age, family history
- Weight pre + post menopause, daily
alcohol comsumption, inactivity
- Long-term use of the pill
- 1st period before 12yrs, older than 30 for
1st child
- Not giving birth or breastfeeding @ all
- Menopause after 55yrs
- Physically active (↓ risk by 14%)
- Breastfeeding (longer you breastfeed the more risk
↓)
- Medicine 4 women @ risk: Tamoxifen (5yrs
pre-menopause), Anastrozole (5yrs
post-menopause)
- Diet, limiting alcohol intake, maintain healthy weight
- Practise self-examination, regular
scanning/check-ups

Male

Risk Protective

- Age, family history - Physically active

- Sex chromosomes XXY instead of XY - Healthy diet, low alcohol consumption
- Medicine
- Regular scanning/check-ups

Groups at risk Anyone can develop breast cancer, but ↑ prevalence in women
- People overweight
- People aged over 50yrs, common in women over 40yrs (25% diagnosed at 70yrs), 150
men diagnosed each year (most over 50yrs)
- Women who had late menopause
- Family history

Lung Cancer

Extent (Trends) 2016: Over 8k diagnosed

2013-17: 17% male, 25% female
2019: Over 8k deaths
2021: 1 in 33 risk of dying by age 85
Distribution of tobacco use in Aus: 90% male, 65% female. 1 in 5 diagnosed = never smoked
Most common in people over 60yrs - Average age of diagnosis is 72yrs
5th most common cancer in Aus
No new cases is ↑ - Over same period, age-standardised incidence rate ↓
Mortality & incidence rate ↑ 4 females & ↓ 4 males

Risk & Protective Factors

Modifiable Non-modifiable Protective

Risk factors: - Family history - Quit smoking

- smoking/2nd hand smoke - Gender - Avoid exposure to
- Working near chemicals - Age carcinogens
- Air pollution - Regular check-ups

Groups at risk - Men & women over 50yrs

- Low SES
- Cigarette smokers
- Workers in blue-collar occupations
- People exposed 2 occupational or environmental hazards (e.g asbestos)
- ATSI

● A Growing and Ageing Population

- Healthy Ageing
- Increased population living with chronic disease and disability
- Demand for health services and workforce shortages
- Availability of carers and volunteers

Healthy Ageing

Overall Refers 2 the ongoing activities & behaviours people undertake during ageing 2 ↓ risk of illness &
disease, & ↑ their physical, emotional & mental health.
Health promoting behaviours: healthy diet, regular exercise, regular check-ups, social
activities, mental stimulation
→ Government wants 2 enable & empower people 2 live healthy, productive &
contributing lives (↓ burden on health system & greater society)
→ Primary health care sector (GPs, other allied health professionals) provide lifestyle advice,
manage disease risks & prevent complications of disease before onset of old age
→ Aged Care programs provided settings 4 preventative health care- targets
modifiable lifestyle factors. Many older people desire 2 remain in own homes= requires
community services 2 provide health & social services. Living at home promotes wellbeing
 Strategies in place - Compulsory superannuation
- Encouragement 4 all employees 2 make voluntary private superannuation contributions
- ↑ age of pension (to 65 but set to ↑ in increments 2 the age 67 in 2023)
- Work Bonus’ able have extra income 2 top-up your pension
- Health promotion campaigns for healthy living: E.g. Stepping On – NSW Government
(falls prevention)
- NSW Ageing Strategy 2016-2020
- Living Longer. Living Better – Funding package 4 Aged Care
- Dementia Ageing & Aged care mission - $185 million more in research funding from
2019-29

Benefits
Individuals Society

→ Longer, healthier life → Access 2 expertise of older people in the

→ ↑ opportunity 2 stay in paid work = sense of workforce
purpose → Productive mature members as resources
→ Continue to be a contributing member of → ↓ medical $$$ 4 health & aged care
the community systems
→ ↑ opportunities 2 spend time with → ↓ pressure on health & aged care system
friends & family e.g. beds
→ Longer time spent in own home
→ ↓ money on medicines, health system

Increased population living with chronic disease or disability

Overall ↑ elderly population inevitably leads to ↑ people living with chronic disease & disability.
● Elderly people tend 2 suffer ↑ rates of CVD, cancer, arthritis, asthma, osteoporosis,
depression, anxiety & diabetes.
→ 9 in 10 people over age of 65 (86.5%) reported having 1 or more long-term health
condition
→ risk factors 4 these diseases are ↑ modifiable & lifestyle-based, & place ↑ pressure of the
health care system & health budget these statistics are set to ↑, reinforcing the importance of
‘healthy ageing’
→ Alzheimers & dementia cannot be prevented or cured & will place ↑ pressure on the health
care system as the prevalence ↑. Dementia is 1 of the most disabling health conditions & @ an
advanced stage required full time care & aged care accommodation

Demand for health services and workforce shortages

Overall → Direct correlation between the ↑ elderly population & ↑ strain on the healthcare industry in
AUS.
→ A growing & ageing population results in an:
- ↑ in government expenditure & treatment costs
- Chronic disease accounts 4 approx. 70% health expenditure
- Ageing population = ↑ public expenditure on health care as prevalence of disease ↑
- Contribution from older AUS to government tax likely to ↓ relative to younger AUS
- Costs = ↑ due 2 ↑ demand & new technology

Increased demand for
health services
- As aging population suffers chronic disease & disability, this will place ↑ pressure on
health services such as public hospital beds & nursing homes.
- Population ageing is expected 2 lead 2 an ↑ demand 4 aged care services. @ same
time there will be relatively ↓ persons in younger age groups available 2 support the
provisions of health services (as aged care workers, as working age taxpayers &
informal carers)
- In 2012 the Australian Gov introduced the Living Longer, Living Better aged care reform
package, which aims 2 address the attraction, retention, remuneration, education,
training & career development of aged care workers, in order 2 address workforce
shortages.

Availability of carers and volunteers

Overall → Australia's workforce consists of paid workers, carers and volunteers.

Carers provide informal care to those living with chronic disease and disability. Assist with daily
living by helping with tasks (feeding, shopping, bathing, cleaning, using medication etc.)
- Australians' over 55 contribute approximately $75 billion per year in unpaid caring.

As population ages, no of people needing informal care is expected 2 ↑, carers will ↓. = carers
ageing along with population future shortage of carers & volunteers

Volunteers tend to have little formal training, however, enables elderly 2 retain independence &
↓ impact on nursing homes (Assist with transport, shopping, meals on wheels, social activities.)
- May be an ↑ in no volunteer carers as retirement ↑.
 Some organisations have been established 2 harness & promote role of volunteers, such as
Volunteers Australia. Other examples include:
- Meals on Wheels
- Church groups
- Carers Australia
- Lifeline
- Vinnies
- Salvation Army

CQ3 - What role do health care facilities & services play in achieving better health for all
Australians?
● Health care in Australia
- Range and type of health facilities

- Provide public services → hospital & admin

The roles of Health Care in
Australia
- Provide quality health facilities & services 2 meet needs of all Australians
- Organise, finance & deliver public & private services
- Diagnose & treat by the medical profession
- Australian health care mainly about clinical diagnosis, treatment & rehabilitation
- Shift has occurred in health care for cure 2 prevention

Range & Types of Health Institutional

Facilities & Services - Medical institutions & health services that provide beds & facilities for overnight care
(e.g. hospitals & nursing homes)

Hospitals Nursing Homes

● Provide wide range of services e.g. emergency care, ● Provide services 4 people
elective surgery, rehabilitation & midwifery services suffering chronic disease/
● 3 types; Public, Private & Psychiatric disability, mostly care 4
Public: Medicare covers cost, funding from federal gov elderly
Private: req full payment by patient or combined using ● Homes can be charitable
private insurer, controlled & funded by non-gov bodies (private), private (4
Psychiatric: public or private, 4 mental illnesses, ↓ in profit) or gov owned
number.

Non-Institutional
- Facilities & services that provide no stay (e.g. patient is treated & leaves)

Med Services (Doc & Professions/Allied health Pharmaceuticals

Specialists) services

● Med services (GPs) ● Alternative health ● Funded through the

are a community services & private health Pharmaceuticals
service & are often first professionals (e.g. Benefits Scheme,
point of access in2 physio, dentist, which provides particle
med & health services optometrists) payments 4 many
● Medicare generally ● Assist in improving health medications with set
covers cost. Some GPs care & quality of life amounts being paid by
or specialists add ● Allied health providers patients. PBS provides
additional fees. aren't normally covered xtra funding 4 people
by Medicare with special needs

Responsibilities for Health Commonwealth Government

Facilities & Services
● Mainly concerned w/ formation of national health policies & control of health system
financing through tax collection
● Provides funds 2 the state & territory gov 4 health care
● Has direct responsibility 4 special community services (e.g. health programs & services
4 war veterans & ATSI community)
● Contributes major funds to:
- High lvl residential care
- Med services
- Health research
- Public hospitals & health activities

State and Territory Governments

● Responsibility 4 providing health and community services
● Principal functions of state & territory health authorities inc:
○ Hospital services, mental health programs, dental services
○ Home & community care
 ○ Child, teen & family health services
○ Pg 92 of textbook 4 more functions

Private sector
● Provides services such as, private hospitals, dentists & alternative health services (e.g.
chiropractors)
● Privately owned & operated → approved by Commonwealth Department of Health
● Many religious organisations, charity groups and private practitioners run such services
● Some private organisations, receive funding from state gov and Commonwealth gov
(e.g. The Heart Foundation, Cancer Council Australia)

Local Government
● Health responsibilities vary from states 2 state, mainly concern environmental control &
range of personal, preventative & home care services
○ Includes monitoring sanitation & hygiene standard in food outlets, waste
disposal
○ Monitoring building standards
○ Immunisations
● State health department controls some of these services, local councils are responsible
for implementing them

Community Groups
● Promote health
● Formed largely on local needs basis & established 2 address problems specific 2
area/region.
● Groups= extensive, highly structured & linked in the provision of information, knowledge
& support
● Cancer Council

Equity of Access to Health

Facilities & Services