Year 10 HASS Geography

Wellbeing

human wellbeing definition

the ability of people to access the things they need

to live happy, healthy and contented lives.

why access to education is seen by many as the key to improving wellbeing

Being able to read and write gives people access to a

greater number of services, and provides a range of

options that can lead to better jobs, higher wages

and improved standards of living. Education also

increases people’s self-esteem and allows them to

have more control over their future.

the three main pillars of wellbeing

wealth, education, health

indicators of wellbeing

GDP per capita, literacy rate, mortality rate, HDI, GEI

GDP per capita

• GDP per capita – The total value of goods and services produced in a country (GDP) divided by its population.

• quantitative

GDP per capita advantages

-Easy comparison between countries

-Widely available data

-Clear numerical value

GDP per capita disadvantages

-Does not show inequality

-Ignores environmental degradation

-Does not account for unpaid labour

literacy rate

The percentage of adults who can read or write

-quantitative

literacy rate advantages

-Simple, measurable

-Strong predictor of development

literacy rate disadvantages

-Does not measure the quality of education

-Doesn’t show years of schooling

-Individual countries have their own methods to measure literacy rates, making international comparisons harder

infant mortality rate and Life expectancy

• Infant mortality rate is the probability of a child born in a specific year or period dying before reaching the age of one

• The average number of years that a person could expect to live

• quantitative

infant mortality rate and Life expectancy advantages

-Both measure overall population health

-Easy to compare globally

-Both reflect healthcare access

infant mortality rate and Life expectancy disadvantages

-IMR only measures outcomes for infants, not adults

-LE is only an average, may hide inequality within a country

GEI

• composite

The five factors that influence wellbeing

environmental, social, economic, historical and political

economics + example

influence a countries ability to generate wealth and provide services

• access to trade routes

• ability to participate in global trade

• employment opportunities

• infrastructure and industry

environmental + example

Natural conditions and resources that influence peoples ability to like healthy and productive lives

• climate - affects agriculture, and food production

• fresh water availability - essential for health and farming

• natural resources - minerals, oils, fertile soil

• land quality and topography

social + example

characteristics of population and cultural practices that influence wellbeing

• population size and growth

• access to education

• gender equality

• cultural values and tradition

historical + example

events in the past that still affect countries today

• colonisation

• past conflicts or wars

• historical trade patterns

political + example

how a country is governed

• political stability

• government policies

• level of corruption

• conflict of civil war

Human development index

• The Human Development Index HDI is a composite measure of wellbeing designed by the United Nations (UN). It combines several indicators into one single measure.

• The world's countries are ranked using indicators of health, education and wealth. This ranking is then used to place the world's countries into four categories, ranging from 'very high' HDI to 'low' HDI.

• The UN uses the same measure each year in its annual Human Development Report, so that a country's scores, rankings and categories are regularly updated.

why more difficult to measure rank, and map variations in wellbeing at regional and local levels

many indicators such as life expectancy and literature rates are usually collected at a larger national level.

three health concerns that are more serious for Australians in rural areas than those in urban

• fewer doctors for every 100 people

• rates of hospitilisation for serious injury or illness are higher

• smoking rates and alcohol consumption are higher

• rates of death or serious injury from workplace and road accidents is higher

poverty in Australia definition

when their households disposable income falls bellow a level considered adequate to achieve an acceptable standard of living.

ATSI wellbeing health

• children are 2x more likely to be born underweight and 2x more likely to die before their 5th birthday than non indigenous children

ATSI wellbeing wealth

52% of adults are in employment compared to 75% of non indigenous counterparts

ATSI wellbeing education

• children less liekly to attend pre-school

• children are less likely to reach minimum standards in literacy and numerousy

• 9/10 non indigenous students complete year 12, 7/10 for ATSi

ATSI wellbeing life expectancy gaps

• at birth for first nations people was about 5.3 years higher in city then remote

• ATSI males can expect to live 9.5 years less than their non indigenous counterparts

why gap is so high

• higher rates of chronic diseases such as heart disease and other cancers

• injuries and accidents

• limited access to healthcare in remote areas

• lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and poor diet

• historical disadvantages and intergenerational trauma

measuring wellbeing for ATSI

for ATSI people good wellbeing is

• more than the absense of disease or illness

• it is a holistic concept

• includes physical, social, emotional, cultural, and sipiritual wellbeing, both for the individual, community and country