Changes in Australia’s Health Status Since 1900

Key Improvements

• Increased Life Expectancy: From approximately 50 to over 80 years.
• Decreased Mortality and Morbidity: Significant reductions in death rates and disease prevalence.
• Shift in Disease Patterns: Transition from infectious diseases to lifestyle-related diseases.

Reasons for Improvements

• Old Public Health Initiatives: Sanitation, clean water, and quarantine measures.
• Biomedical Advancements: Development of vaccines, antibiotics, and surgical techniques.
• Social Model of Health: Focus on health promotion and education.
• Health System Innovations: Introduction of Medicare, PBS, NDIS, PHI.
• Improved Living Standards: Better education and income levels.

Old Public Health

Definition

• Government actions since the early 1900s aimed at controlling infectious diseases and improving environmental conditions.

Key Initiatives

• Implementation of water and sewage systems.
• Improvements in housing and food quality.
• Enhancement of working conditions.
• Enactment of quarantine laws.
• Promotion of health education and mass immunization programs.

Impact

• Reduced deaths from infectious diseases like cholera and tuberculosis.
• Improved life expectancy.

Biomedical Model of Health

Definition

• Focus on physical and biological aspects of disease; emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and cure.

Key Features

• Relies on medical professionals, hospitals, medications, and surgery.
• Utilizes technology and research.
• Addresses individuals after symptoms appear.

Strengths

• Improves quality of life.
• Extends life expectancy.
• Provides effective treatment and management.

Limitations

• Does not address the root causes of diseases.
• Can be costly due to technology and hospital reliance.
• Not all conditions are curable.

Advances in Medical Technology

Examples

• Development of antibiotics and vaccines.
• Innovations like MRI/CT scans and keyhole surgery.
• Use of heart-lung machines.

Impact

• Facilitates early diagnosis and better treatment.
• Reduces mortality and morbidity rates.
• Enhances chronic disease management.

Social Model of Health

Definition

• Emphasizes prevention and considers broader social and environmental determinants of health, encouraging community participation.

Principles (I DEAR)

• Involves intersectoral collaboration.
• Determines social determinants of health.
• Empowers individuals and communities.
• Enhances access to healthcare.
• Aims to reduce social inequities.

Strengths

• Preventative approach.
• Targets broader health determinants.
• Cost-effective.

Limitations

• Does not treat existing conditions.
• Difficult to measure outcomes.

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

Aim

• Global guide for health promotion established by WHO in 1986.

Five Action Areas (BCSDR)

1. Build healthy public policy, e.g., tobacco tax.
2. Create supportive environments, e.g., smoke-free zones.
3. Strengthen community action, e.g., Aboriginal-led programs.
4. Develop personal skills, e.g., health education.
5. Reorient health services, e.g., GPs promoting nutrition.

Health Promotion

Definition

• The process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health.

Example Programs

• Slip! Slop! Slap! – SunSmart campaign.
• Closing the Gap – Focuses on Indigenous health.
• LiveLighter – Promotes healthy eating.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs

Examples

• 2 Spirits Program – Focuses on sexual health for Indigenous LGBTIQ+.
• Deadly Choices – Promotes cultural awareness in healthcare.
• Closing the Gap – Sets targets to improve health, education, employment, and housing.

Link to Ottawa Charter

• Community action, personal skill development, supportive environments.

Social Justice

Meaning

• Equal rights and opportunities for all individuals.

Aspects

• Equity, access, participation, human rights.

Dietary Guidelines & Guides

1. Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs)
   • Contains five guidelines for promoting health and reducing chronic diseases.
2. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE)
   • Visual plate guide illustrating food groups and their proportions.
3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide
   • Culturally appropriate adaptation of AGHE.

Challenges to Nutritional Improvement

• Sociocultural Factors: Includes culture, income, education, family.
• Environmental Factors: Access to food, geographical location.
• Commercial Factors: Marketing strategies, price promotions.

Australia's Health System

Medicare

• Provides free/subsidised healthcare.
• Covers GP visits, public hospitals, some tests.

PBS

• Subsidizes essential medicines.

NDIS

• Supports individuals with permanent and significant disabilities.

Private Health Insurance

• Offers coverage for private care, choice of doctor, extra services like dental and physiotherapy.

Strengths & Limitations of Medicare

Strengths

• Provides universal access.
• Offers free/subsidised services.
• Includes a safety net.

Limitations

• Does not cover all services.
• Long waiting times in public systems.

Funding, Sustainability, Access, Equity

Definitions

• Funding: Money allocated to healthcare systems and services.
• Sustainability: Ability of the system to endure and meet long-term needs.
• Access: Availability of services to those in need.
• Equity: Fair distribution of healthcare regardless of background, gender, income, or location.

Links to Funding/Sustainability/Access/Equity

• Medicare: Government-funded, maintains health, offers universal access, provides extra support via safety net.
• PBS: Provides subsidized medications, prevents complications, makes medicines affordable, offers co-payment reductions for concessions.
• NDIS: Ensures long-term funding, supports early intervention, provides custom services for individual needs.
• PHI: Reduces public healthcare burden, offers incentives to join, provides faster access and choices, includes rebates for low-income users.