Area of Study 2: Promoting health in Australia
In this area of study, students look at different approaches to public health over time, with an emphasis on changes and strategies that have succeeded in improving health outcomes. They examine the progression of public health in Australia since 1900, noting global changes and influences such as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, and the general transition of focus from the health and wellbeing of individuals to that of population groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Students investigate the Australian health system and its role in promoting health and wellbeing. They apply their understanding of successful health promotion campaigns, programs and case studies to evaluate the ability of initiatives to identify priorities and improve health outcomes in Australia.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit, the student should be able to explain changes to public health approaches, analyse improvements in population health over time and evaluate health promotion strategies and initiatives.
Key knowledge
reasons for improvements in Australia’s health status since 1900, focusing on:
– ‘old’ public health
– the biomedical approach to health and improvements in medical technology
– the concept of the social model of health and the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (not including the principles of the social model of health)
the role of health promotion in improving population health
programs to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ health, including how they promote social justice
initiatives to promote healthy eating in Australia, including the Australian Dietary Guidelines, the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating
challenges in bringing about nutritional change, including sociocultural, environmental and commercial factors
Australia’s health system, including Medicare, private health insurance, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and its role in promoting health in terms of funding, sustainability, access and equity.
Key skills
analyse data that shows improvements in health over time and draw conclusions about reasons for improvements
explain how initiatives of ‘old’ public health and the social model of health, including those reflecting action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, could lead to improved health outcomes
describe the relationship between biomedical and social models of health, including the strengths and limitations of each
analyse a range of data, case studies and examples of health promotion programs in relation to the use of action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and how they can lead to improved health outcomes
analyse initiatives introduced to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ health and wellbeing in Australia, and how they reflect the action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and social justice
evaluate initiatives in terms of their capacity to improve health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and promote social justice
evaluate the impact of initiatives to promote healthy eating in Australia and their ability to improve health outcomes
draw conclusions as to why nutritional improvements are difficult to achieve in Australia
analyse the role of Medicare, private health insurance, the PBS and the NDIS in promoting Australia’s health.