Australia National Health Survey

Running head: ASSESSMENT 1
Assessment 1
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ASSESSMENT 1
Introduction
According to the data reported in the National Health Survey conducted by the
Australian Government Department of Health (2016), nearly 85% of people who are
diagnosed with diabetes in Australia suffer from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and the
estimated population is over 1000000. Indigenous population in Australia like the aboriginals
and Torres Strait Islanders are more vulnerable towards developing this disease condition
(Australian Government Department of Health, 2016). The following essay aims to explore
the connection between the communities and the healthcare professionals towards promoting
disease empowerment with the help of community-based action. In doing so, the essay will
analyse three important steps of Laveracks community-based health promotion ladder for
promoting health awareness for T2DM. Second part of the assignment will analyse different
theories and models related to health promotion and practice. In the third and last of part of
the assignment, link between the capacity building and empowerment will be established
under the light of the Health Belief Model.
Part 1
The self-reported data published by the Australian Institute of Health Welfare
(AIHW) (2019) estimated 1.2 million (6%) Australian adults suffer from diabetes. Type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM), accounts for over half of the diabetes related deaths. Socio-
economic disadvantage is associated with higher level of diabetes prevalence along with
higher rates of hospitalization and death. Socio-economic disadvantage increase the
vulnerability of developing T2DM. T2DM is commonly known as metabolic disease that
leads to increase in the level of blood glucose resulting in the development of heart disease,
stroke, diabetic foot ulcers, retinoblastoma and renal failure (Kolb & Martin, 2017). The main
reason behind the development of diabetes and the associated co-morbidities include

2ASSESSMENT 1
unhealthy lifestyle conditions like over-eating, inclination towards junk food, sedentary
lifestyle, substance abuse and high-level of stress. All these factors are regarded as
modifiable factors (Kolb & Martin, 2017). Reddy (2017) stated that proper education and
awareness about obesity and pre-diabetic condition and other modifiable risks factors are
helpful for the effective prevention of T2DM.
Figure: Laverack’s ladder of Community-based Interaction
(Source: Arnstein, 2015)

3ASSESSMENT 1
According to Freeman et al. (2018), community-based engagement is an effective
approach to increase the level of disease awareness. This kind of initiatives assists in
decreasing the modifiable factors behind the disease progression. This assist in decreasing the
probability of the disease occurrence over any selected community. The Laverack’s ladder
for community-based interaction is based has 8 different steps that helps a community to take
a positive leap towards the organizational and social interactions under the guidance of
informed steps and addressing the broader determinants of health (Nickel & von dem
Knesebeck, 2019). Three main steps that will be in this paper for comprehensive health
promotion and management of T2DM include:
(i) community based education
(ii) Interactive community based session
(iii) Special awareness campaign for the aboriginals
Three Steps Selected Relationship with the Laverack’s ladder of
community based interaction
1. Community Based Education
This step will be addressed through
practising effective communication skills by
the heath care professionals who are enrolled
under the disease prevention camp (Shevellar
& Westoby, 2016)
Community Readiness
According to Simon et al. (2019)
community-based education helps in
increasing the level of disease awareness. It
also helps to increase the scope of disease
self-management. Improvement in the self-
management skills of T2DM and disease
awareness, promote observance of healthy
lifestyle intervention and thus reducing
disease vulnerability. Alternatively, health