HSC Health Revision: Australian and Global Context

This set of 150 flashcards covers the comprehensive HSC health curriculum, focusing on Australia's health status, leading diseases (CVD, Cancer, Diabetes), the impact of an ageing population, healthcare system structure, emerging technologies, and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What is the approximate life expectancy for Australian males according to current reports?

$81$ years

What is the approximate life expectancy for Australian females according to current reports?

$85$ years

Chronic diseases account for what percentage of deaths in Australia?

$$90\%$$

Which conditions contribute most to the rising non-fatal burden of disease in Australians?

Mental health and musculoskeletal conditions

In which age group is mental health morbidity the highest?

Young people

In which age group is musculoskeletal morbidity the highest?

Older adults

List four leading causes of death in Australia.

Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Dementia, and Respiratory diseases

Why has mortality from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) fallen sharply?

Due to prevention and treatment

Why is dementia mortality rising in Australia?

Due to an ageing population

What percentage of Australian adults are overweight or obese?

$$66\%$$

What percentage of the disease burden in Australia is considered preventable?

$$36\%$$

Which risk factor has overtaken smoking as the leading preventable risk factor in Australia?

Obesity

Name five major risk factors contributing to Australia's disease burden.

Overweight/obesity, smoking, alcohol misuse, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure

What is the average life expectancy gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples compared to other Australians?

$8$ years lower

Identify four groups in Australia that experience poorer health outcomes.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, rural and remote communities, low socioeconomic groups, and people with disability

Name four social determinants that can drive health inequities.

Income, education, housing, and employment

What is the five-step structure recommended for analyzing health tables or graphs in an HSC answer?

Step 1: Identify Pattern, Step 2: Use Statistics, Step 3: Compare Groups, Step 4: Explain Causes, Step 5: Implications

How are health inequities defined in the core idea of the revision sheet?

Avoidable, unfair differences in health outcomes caused by unequal access to resources, healthcare, and social conditions

Indigenous Australians have higher rates of which chronic conditions?

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and respiratory disease

At what life stage does chronic disease often occur for Indigenous Australians compared to the general population?

At younger ages

List four social determinants driving health inequity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Colonization, intergenerational trauma, racism, and lower access to culturally safe healthcare

What does the abbreviation ACCHO stand for?

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

What perspective is considered essential for HSC responses regarding Indigenous health?

A strengths-based perspective

Low-SES Australians cluster which three risk factors in their communities?

Smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity

How does lower income lead to poorer health outcomes for low-SES Australians?

Reduced access to healthy food, healthcare, and recreation

Diabetes rates for Indigenous Australians are how many times higher than for other Australians?

$3\times$ higher

Where does Australia rank in longevity within the OECD for both males and females?

Among the top $5$

Australia has higher life expectancy than which four OECD countries listed?

USA, UK, New Zealand, and Germany

Australia has lower life expectancy than which three OECD countries?

Japan, Switzerland, and Iceland

In terms of mortality from infectious diseases, how does Australia perform?

Very low mortality

How does Australia's cancer mortality compare to the USA, UK, and France?

Australia has lower cancer mortality

How does Australia's asthma prevalence compare to the rest of the OECD?

Among the highest in the OECD

How does Australia's smoking rate compare to the OECD average?

Among the lowest in the OECD

Which country is the only one listed with worse obesity rates than Australia?

USA (also Mexico and NZ)

What are three strengths of Australia's health system in an OECD context?

Universal healthcare (Medicare), strong primary care, and high vaccination rates

What is a major weakness of Australia's health system compared to other OECD nations?

The Indigenous health gap is one of the largest

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for approximately how many deaths in Australia?

$1$ in $4$ deaths

Since the late 1960s, coronary heart disease mortality has dropped by what percentage?

$$80\%$$

What is the leading cause of burden of disease in Australia?

Cancer

How many new cancer diagnoses occur per day in Australia?

Over $450$

The 5-year survival rate for cancer increased from $53\%$ in the 1990s to what percentage in 2019?

$$71\%$$

What are the five most common cancers in Australia?

Breast, prostate, colorectal, melanoma, and lung

Why does Australia have some of the highest melanoma rates in the world?

High UV radiation exposure

Name three long-standing cancer screening programs in Australia.

Breast, bowel, and cervical

By how much has the prevalence of diabetes increased in Australia over the past 25 years?

It has tripled

Diabetes is a major cause of which three medical complications listed in the notes?

Kidney failure, blindness, and amputations

What proportion of the Australian population is expected to be aged $65+$ within the next decade?

Approximately $20\text{--}23\%$

Which age group is the fastest-growing in the Australian population?

$85+$ years

Name four chronic diseases that increase in prevalence after age $65$.

Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Dementia, and Diabetes

How does an ageing population affect hospital stays?

Older adults have longer hospital stays and more complex presentations

Who provides substantial unpaid care for the elderly and disabled in Australia?

Families (Informal Carers)

What are the two components of Australia's universal healthcare coverage?

Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

What is the typical judgement on the effectiveness of Australia's healthcare system in an exam-ready context?

Highly effective for most, but effectiveness is reduced by cost barriers and inequities for Indigenous/disadvantaged groups

Identify the primary health-related responsibility of the Federal Government.

Funding Medicare and PBS, and setting national health priorities

What are the main responsibilities of State and Territory Governments in healthcare?

Managing public hospitals, ambulance services, and community health programs

What is the role of local governments in the health system?

Managing environmental health (water/waste) and local recreation facilities

Give three examples of health charities that act as NGOs in Australia.

Heart Foundation, Cancer Council, and Diabetes Australia

Which NGO helps provide mental health support and crisis counseling?

Lifeline or Beyond Blue

How do ACCHOs improve access for First Nations peoples?

By providing culturally safe and holistic care

Why is shared responsibility necessary in the Australian health system?

Due to the complexity of health needs requiring treatment, prevention, and cultural safety

Define 'person-centred healthcare'.

Care that is respectful, individualized, coordinated, and responsive to a person's needs and values

How do governments and NGOs collaborate on health promotion?

Partnerships like SunSmart (Cancer Council + Government) or walking groups (Heart Foundation + Local Council)

How much does Australia spend on health annually?

Over $240$ billion

Health expenditure in Australia is roughly what percentage of GDP?

$$10\%$$

Approximately what percentage of health expenditure is dedicated to prevention?

$$2\%$$

What are two future impacts of an ageing population on health expenditure?

Increased medication costs and higher demand for chronic disease management

How does health expenditure directly affect the current population?

Improves access to services, quality and safety through technology, and chronic disease management

How are complementary healthcare approaches defined?

Non-mainstream therapies used alongside conventional medicine to support wellbeing

Give five examples of complementary healthcare approaches.

Acupuncture, massage, meditation, chiropractic, and herbal medicine

Identify three reasons why people choose to use complementary healthcare.

Holistic focus, symptom relief, and a greater sense of control

What is a major limitation of natural or herbal herbal medicines?

Potential side effects, herbal interactions, and variable evidence

What is a 'critical health consumer'?

Someone who carefully evaluates health information, products, and services before using them

Why is being a critical consumer important regarding online health info?

Protects against inaccurate, commercially biased, or non-evidence-based misinformation

Identify four skills of a critical health consumer.

Checking credibility, evaluating evidence, comparing options, and recognizing bias

Name three digital health expansions currently changing the health system.

Telehealth, My Health Record, and electronic prescriptions

What are the four 'Current Challenges' facing the Australian health system?

Ageing population, rising chronic disease, workforce shortages, and health inequities

Name three emerging technology fields in healthcare.

AI diagnostics, genomics, and robotics

What environmental factor is mentioned as a challenge to the health system?

Climate change (e.g., bushfire smoke and heat-related illness)

How has COVID-19 impacted healthcare access methods?

Led to the massive expansion of Telehealth

Bio-printing of tissues and organs is an example of what kind of technology?

Emerging/Future technology

What is the primary risk of using digital health data?

Privacy and data security/cybersecurity breaches

How can technology increase health inequities?

By leaving behind those without internet access, digital literacy, or funds for devices

In health, what is 'Big Data'?

Large, complex datasets from health records, hospitals, wearables, and research

How does big data improve health system planning?

Predicts demand for services (like aged care) and helps with funding allocation

What are the two health surveillance examples improved by big data use?

Monitoring infectious diseases (Flu/COVID-19) and identifying suburbs with low screening rates

What are the three pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Social, Economic, and Environmental sustainability

What is the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals?

2030

How many Sustainable Development Goals are there in total?

$$17$$

What is the focus of SDG 3?

Good Health and Wellbeing

What is the focus of SDG 4?

Quality Education

What is the focus of SDG 10?

Reduced Inequalities

What is the focus of SDG 11?

Sustainable Cities and Communities

How does SDG 4 (Education) influence health outcomes?

Improves health literacy, leading to safer decisions and reduced risk behaviors

How does SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) promote physical health?

By creating walkable neighborhoods and increasing access to parks

Why are the SDGs considered 'integrated'?

Because progress in one goal (e.g., education) often improves others (e.g., health)

Who is responsible for achieving the SDGs?

All countries (Universal/Global), governments, NGOs, and the private sector

What makes Australia's health status 'strong overall' despite challenges?

High life expectancy and strong chronic disease outcomes compared to the OECD average

What is the main driver of the 'cycle of disadvantage' for low-SES groups?

Social determinants like low education, unstable housing, and high unemployment

Name one strength and one weakness of the Australian healthcare system.

Strength: Universal coverage (Medicare); Weakness: Cost barriers for out-of-pocket expenses

How is asthma prevalence ranked for Australia in the OECD?

Among the highest