Health and the Australian Healthcare System

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core definitions, determinants, indicators, government responsibilities, and care types in the Australian healthcare system.

Health (WHO 1946)

A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Ottawa Charter Foundations for Health

Foundational prerequisites for health, including peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable environment, sustainable resources, social justice and equity.

Biological Determinants

Determinants of health that include genetics, age, and sex.

Behavioural Determinants

Determinants of health involving lifestyle choices such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Social Determinants

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, including income, education, and social support.

Environmental and Geographic Determinants

Determinants of health that include air and water quality, housing, workplace safety, and where someone lives.

Access to Health Services

A determinant of health that includes health service availability plus the policies and funding decisions that shape services.

First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing Model

A holistic health model incorporating connections to body and mind, family and kinship, community, culture, Country, and spirituality, shaped by social, historical, and political determinants.

Life Expectancy

A population health indicator measuring how long people can expect to live.

Mortality

A population health indicator measuring how many people die, and from what causes.

Morbidity

A population health indicator measuring illness and disease in the community.

Disability and Burden of Disease

A health indicator capturing both years lost to early death and years lived in poor health.

Self-Assessed Health Status

A health indicator where people are asked directly how they rate their own health.

Australian (Federal) Government Responsibilities

Overarching policy and performance systems, Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Veterans Health, many primary health care services, aged care, and oversight of the private health insurance sector.

State & Territory Governments Responsibilities

Public hospital system, screening and immunisation, community and mental health services, public dental clinics, ambulance and patient transport, and public health functions.

Proactive Care

Care aimed at keeping people well and preventing illness before it occurs (e.g., vaccination, screening, health promotion, early intervention).

Reactive Care

Care aimed at treating people once they are already unwell or injured (e.g., emergency departments, hospitals, specialist medical care).

Primary Care

Usually the first point of contact in healthcare, e.g. visiting a GP.

Allied Health

Services that often sit under primary health care, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, sports scientists, and psychologists.

Specialist Medical Services

Also called 'referred care', these include hospital clinics and specialist practices such as cardiologists and orthopaedic specialists.