What are the priority issues for improving Australia’s health?

 Groups experiencing health inequities

Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders 

- Much lower life expectancy - (16-20yrs)

- Much higher mortality rates

- Infant mortality rates 2-3 times higher than general population

- Higher prevalence of CVD, Cancer, Injuries, Diabetes  Socioeconomically disadvantaged 

- Higher infant mortality

- Higher mortality rates (poor living conditions, lower education levels, higher substance abuse)

- More likely to suffer from disability, chronic illness.

- Less likely to use preventative health services. Overseas born people 

- Generally arrive in better health than the average Australian (only well off can generally afford to migrate) but gradually decreases overtime due to language barriers, lower pay and difficulty adapting to way of life, mental health problems and difficulty utilising health services.

- Lower mortality rates

- Lower morbidity rates

- Lower wages  People living in rural and remote areas 

- Higher mortality rates for CVD, Cancer, respiratory disease & injury

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;">- Major increase in suicides

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;">- Lower life expectancy causes include - lower s.e.s, access to health services and resources, occupational hazards <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:inherit;line-height:1.2em;">People with disabilites 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Higher rates of disability in males compared to female.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Higher rates of disability in rural areas.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Aboriginals have twice the number of people with a severe disability as the general population.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">People with disabilities may suffer health inequities due to difficulty maintaining employment, lower s.e.s, difficulty accessing appropriate health care and social stigma.  The elderly 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Australia has an aging population

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Older people have higher rates of disability

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Older people have a greater demand for health services

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Lower S.E.S.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">- Higher morbidity and mortality rates

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">Next page : High levels of preventable chronic disease, injury and mental health problems