Influence of government polciies and regulations om beliefs, attitudes and values

What is government policy?

A policy is a plan or decision made by the governments to improve outcomes for individuals or the population.

Policies are often reflected in programs, services or funding

How do polciies shape our beliefs?

• Who is responsible for health (gov, indv, both)

• Whether healthcare is a right or a privilege

• What is considered essential or urgent in society

example using medicare

Medicare reinforces the belief that everyone has a right ot healthcare, young people’s attitudes towards nutrition, mental health and physical activity influencing values around equality and access

health education programs in schools shape young people/s attitudes towards nutrition, mental health and physical acivity

What are regulations?

Laws or rules that control or resitrict certain behaviours. they are enforced through fines, bans or other consequences

How do regulations influence behaviour?

• Making some behaviours socialy unacceptable

• using fear, inconveinence or cost to discourage risk behaviours

• reinforcing ideas about community safety and responsibility

Examples of regulations

Plain packaging laws make smoking feel undesirable and reduce its appeal

smoking bans in public areas normalise the idea that smoking is harmful to others

sugary drink taxes frame soft drinks as a health risk, not just a treat

How do campaigns work alongside policy to shift attitudes?

Link behaviour with health consequences (e.g. make smoking history)

public health campaigns promote prevention, early intervention, responsibility

Messages are often emotional or shocking to create a shift in values and belief

repeat messages over time to influence what people accept, reject or change in their behaviour

How do policies and regulations can create lasting social change

• Shifting what is viewed as normal health behaviour

• aligning personal values with national health priorities

• reinforcing belief that wellbeing is a shared responsibility

examples include long term shifts → smoking is no longer a socially accepted norm, seatbelts viewed as common sense, vaccination is widely seen as civic duty

What do regulations do?

Probmote healthy behaviour making it easier or more accessibile

restirct harmful behaviour by banning, taxing orlimitng

How do policies and regulations restirct or promote health

• Guide the choices people make

• shape public beliefs, attitudes, values

• protect vulnerable populations

• reduce burden on healthcare systems

shift social norms by making healthy chpioces more visible, easy and accepted while making harmful behaviours harder to access or socially discourages

What are promotional policies?

Encourage or support positive health behaviours

Examples of promotional policies?

• vaccination subsidies

• school canteens with food guides

• tax benefits for private health insurance

• government funded health education in schools

What do promotional policies aim to do?

Increase access to healthy choices

reduce cost barriers

normalise positive behaviour

support prevention of illness

Restrictive policies

Limit access to or discourage unhealthy or harmful behaviour

Examples of restrictive policies

Alcohol advertising restrictions during children’s TV hours

plain packaging for tobacco

smoking bans in public spaces

minomum pricisng on alcohol in remote communities

bans on junk food adverising near schools

What do these policies aim to do restrictive

Reduce harm

shift public attitudes

make unhealthy choices less appealing or accessible