Core 1: Health Priorities in Australia

7 dot points across 4 inquiry questions, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.

How are priority issues for Australia's health identified?

Identifying priority health issues: social justice principles, priority population groups, prevalence of condition, potential for prevention and early intervention, costs to the individual and community

Identifying priorities. The five criteria the syllabus expects (social justice, priority groups, prevalence, prevention potential, costs) explained with current Australian examples.

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Measures of epidemiology (mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, life expectancy) and their use in identifying priority health issues in Australia

Measures of epidemiology. Mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, life expectancy, DALY and HALE explained, what each measure tells you and what it misses, and worked HSC past exam questions.

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

Groups experiencing health inequities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - the nature and extent of the health inequities, sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental determinants, the roles of individuals, communities and governments in addressing the health inequities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health inequities. The nature and extent of the inequity, the sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental determinants, and the roles of individuals, communities and governments.

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High levels of preventable chronic disease, injury and mental health problems: mental health problems and illnesses as a priority health issue, including the nature, extent and risk factors

Mental health. The nature of mental illness, the extent of mental health problems in Australia, modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, and why mental health is a National Health Priority Area.

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High levels of preventable chronic disease, injury and mental health problems: cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a priority health issue, including the nature, extent and risk factors

Cardiovascular disease. The nature of CVD (coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure), extent in Australia, modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, and how CVD maps to the five priority criteria.

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What actions are needed to address Australia's health priorities?

Health promotion based on the five action areas of the Ottawa Charter: developing personal skills, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, reorienting health services, building healthy public policy

Ottawa Charter. The five action areas explained with current Australian health-promotion examples for each, and how to use the Charter as the spine of a Core 1 extended response.

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What role do health care facilities and services play in achieving better health for all Australians?

Health care in Australia: range and types of health facilities and services, responsibility for health facilities and services, equity of access to health facilities and services, health care expenditure versus expenditure on early intervention and prevention, impact of emerging new treatments and technologies on health care, health insurance: Medicare and private

Australian health care system. Medicare, the Medicare Levy, the Medicare Levy Surcharge, private health insurance and the rebate, the public-private balance, equity of access, and how Australia spends its $240 billion.

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