VCE Health and Human Development: Chapter 9 – The Health System in Australia for the Youth

Vocabulary flashcards covering key components of Australia's healthcare system, including GPs, allied and alternative health, Medicare, PBS, NDIS, youth community services, and the PEMSS dimensions of health and wellbeing.

General Practitioner (GP)

A doctor qualified in general medicine practice who provides continuous, whole-person medical care, serves as the first point of contact for non-urgent health concerns, assesses, diagnoses, and treats common conditions, prescribes medications, and refers patients to specialised care.

Allied health services

University-qualified health professions and services with specialised expertise in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions, that are not part of the medical, dental, or nursing professions (such as psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists).

Alternative health services

Non-conventional therapies and products used instead of evidence-based conventional medicine, focusing on stimulating the body's ability to heal via energy alignment, herbal supplementation, and other balancing techniques (such as naturopathy, acupuncture, and reiki).

Complementary therapies

A diverse group of non-conventional healthcare practices and products used alongside or to complement conventional medical treatment.

Medicare

Australia's universal, tax-funded public healthcare system introduced in $1984$ by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, providing subsidised medical treatment and essential health care to eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Medicare card eligibility age for youth

The age of $15$, from which young people in Australia can apply for and hold their own independent Medicare card.

Schedule fee

The amount determined by the Australian Government as an appropriate fee for a specific medical consultation or service (e.g., $\$42.85$ for a standard GP consultation).

Bulk-billing

A billing arrangement in which a healthcare practitioner does not charge more than the government schedule fee, resulting in zero out-of-pocket costs or co-payment for the patient.

Patient co-payment

The out-of-pocket cost paid by a patient when a healthcare practitioner charges above the schedule fee, or the set contribution paid towards a PBS-subsidised prescription medicine.

Medicare levy

A $2\%$ tax on taxable income paid by Australian taxpayers earning over $\$26\,000$ per year to contribute to the funding of Medicare.

Medicare levy surcharge (MLS)

An additional income-tested fee between $1\%$ and $1.5\%$ of taxable income charged to high-income earners who do not have qualifying private health insurance, paid in addition to the standard Medicare levy.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

An Australian Government program established in $1948$ that subsidises the cost of over $5000$ essential prescription medicines for Australian residents holding a Medicare card.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

A federal government scheme established in $2012$ that provides funding to over $500\,000$ eligible Australians with a disability to access necessary support workers, assistive technologies, therapy services, and community connections.

Private health insurance

An optional form of insurance that individuals or families purchase to cover partial or full costs of healthcare services not fully covered by Medicare, such as private hospital stays and allied health therapies.

headspace

The National Youth Mental Health Foundation in Australia, providing early intervention mental health services, physical health care, and online support tailored specifically to young people.

The Y Victoria

A not-for-profit community organisation established in $1853$ that operates in partnership with the YMCA to deliver youth empowerment initiatives, recreational facilities, camps, and programs like the Victorian Youth Parliament.

PEMSS

An acronym representing the five dimensions of health and wellbeing: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Social, and Spiritual.

Physical health and wellbeing

The dimension of health relating to the functioning of the body and its systems, encompassing aerobic fitness, immune system functioning, energy levels, and recovery from injury or illness.

Social health and wellbeing

The dimension of health relating to the ability to establish and maintain meaningful, positive interpersonal relationships and actively connect with social networks and the broader community.

Emotional health and wellbeing

The dimension of health relating to recognizing, understanding, and managing a wide range of emotions, effectively expressing feelings, and demonstrating emotional resilience.

Mental health and wellbeing

The state of a person's cognitive functioning and mind, including the capacity to process information, cope with standard daily stressors, and maintain positive thought patterns.

Spiritual health and wellbeing

The dimension of health relating to core beliefs, values, ethics, and a sense of purpose, meaning, peace, or connection to a higher power, community, or place of worship.