Health in an Australian and Global Context

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts, data sources, health conditions, and policy frameworks related to the Australian and global health context as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Morbidity

Refers to the state of being diseased or the prevalence of ill health in a population.

Mortality

The measure of the number of deaths in a specific population.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

A key national body responsible for gathering and interpreting data, though many of its datasets currently exclude gender-diverse populations.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

A major government agency responsible for interpreting health and welfare data to create a picture of the nation's health.

Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)

A measure of the effects of disease and injury where $1 \text{ DALY}$ equals one year of full health lost. It is calculated as $\text{DALYs} = \text{Years of Life Lost (YLL)} + \text{Years Lived with Disability (YLD)}$.

Life Expectancy

A measure of how long a person can expect to live based on current age and death rates for their gender.

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)

Holistic healthcare services initiated and run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide culturally safe care.

Institutional Racism

Systemic racism within sectors like healthcare and the justice system that results in poorer treatment outcomes and distrust of government institutions.

Stolen Generations

Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families between 1910 and 1972, causing long-term intergenerational trauma.

Closing the Gap

A strategy introduced in 2008 and revised through partnerships with First Nations peoples to reduce health and social inequalities.

Health Literacy

The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information to make informed decisions.

Medicare

Australia's universal health insurance system, established in 1984, providing free public hospital treatment and subsidized medical services.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

A Commonwealth-funded program that subsidizes the cost of prescription medications for Australians.

Bulk Billing

A payment option where a healthcare provider accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment, leaving the patient with no out-of-pocket costs.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

A government-financed scheme that provides individualised support and funding for people with disabilities.

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

An international intergovernmental organisation that conducts policy analysis and establishes international health and economic standards.

Better Life Index

An OECD tool that uses 11 topics to provide a comparable picture of wellbeing across different countries.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

A group of diseases involving the heart and blood vessels, commonly caused by atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in arteries).

Type 1 Diabetes

A genetic condition where the body produces little or no insulin; it cannot be prevented.

Type 2 Diabetes

A condition where insulin is ineffective or insufficient, often preventable and linked to lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors.

Healthy Ageing

The process of maintaining physical, mental, and social health throughout life to improve wellbeing in older age.

Allied Health Professionals

A group of healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists and speech pathologists, who provide specialized services in hospitals and the community.

Telehealth

The use of phone or video consultations to provide healthcare, particularly beneficial for rural and remote populations.

My Health Record

An online summary of an individual's medical information, including allergies, medications, and test results, available to authorized healthcare providers.

Complementary Healthcare

A broad range of treatments and healing practices, such as acupuncture and aromatherapy, that are traditionally not part of conventional Western medicine.

Acupuncture

An ancient Chinese practice involving the insertion of fine needles at specific energy points on the body.

Chiropractic

A physical treatment focusing on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems through the adjustment and manipulation of spinal joints.

Precision Surgery

The use of curative technologies to perform highly accurate medical procedures, leading to faster recovery and fewer complications.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Diagnostics

The use of algorithms and high-quality visual data to detect intricate abnormalities in patient samples or medical images.

CRISPR-Cas9

A gene-editing technology that allows scientists to remove, add, or alter parts of the genetic sequence linked with specific illnesses.

Nanobiosensors

Minuscule devices used to detect biomarkers of disease at incredibly small scales for more accurate diagnosis.

Big Data

Extremely large amounts of anonymized health information harnessed to guide evidence-based decision-making and identify health trends.

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

A United Nations goal to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all people at all ages.

SDG 4: Quality Education

A United Nations goal to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

A United Nations goal focused on reducing economic, social, and political disparities within and among countries.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

A United Nations goal aiming to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.