Ballarat Health and Social Trends

This assignment delves into the key health and social trends observed in Ballarat. It presents data on mental health prevalence, common disorders, smoking rates, asthma, hypertension, and obesity. The analysis also explores the societal factors contributing to these trends, highlighting the need for interventions and support systems within the community.

Community Profile Report
City of Ballarat
November, 2017
Population
Total population: 103407
Gender ratio: 48854 males
52833 females
(Vic: 2,908,077: 3,018,549)
Ages (for resident population)
0-15 years: 19465 (19.2%)
16-25 years: 14147 (13.9%)
26-40 years: 19204 (19%)
40-64 years: 31294 (30.8%)
65+ years: 17582 (17.4%)
Transport and Access
34.3% dwellings with 1 motor
vehicle
69.4% dwellings with 2 and 3
motor vehicle
6.4% dwellings with no motor
vehicle
76.8% dwellings with internet
connection
(Vic average: 52% have access to
2 or more motor vehicles; 79.6%
have access to internet
connection)
Housing
89.8% population with occupied
private dwellings
(Vic average: 88.8%)
10% unoccupied private dwellings
(Vic average: 11%)
0.3% non private dwellings
(Vic average: 0.2%)
Gaps/Needs:
Equity issues:
Services required:
Diversity of Population
Born in Australia: 83.7%
United Kingdom: 2.5%
India: 0.8%
New Zealand: 0.8%
Languages spoken at home:
English only: 88.5%
Non-English: 5.4%
Not stated: 6.1%
Religion:
Roman Catholic: 24.3%
Anglican: 10.6%
Non-Christian- 2.3%
(Compared to Vic: 47.9%
Christian, 10.6% Non-Christian)
Safety
Crime rate: 11482.3/10,000
(Vic average: 8824.8/1000)
Types of Crime
Assault: 1006
Theft: 4091
Breaches of orders:
1191
64.9% residents feel safe in
community at night
(Vic average: 70.3%)
Services
Private/Public: Maternal and
child welfare centres, Probus,
senior citizen clubs
Social/Welfare: Community
centres, libraries.
Protection: Security services that
offer business and personal
security.
Risk factors: More outdoor
Weekly income
Per household: 13%
earned more than $2,500 per
week and 22.4% earned less
than that
(Vic average: 20% earned higher
income and 18.3% earned lower
income)
Note:
Wendouree (3355) and
Delacombe (3356) were two of
the most disadvantaged
postcodes in Victoria.
Employment
94.2% population employed
Part time: 36.5 %
Fulltime: 55.9%
Unemployment rate: 5.8 %
(Vic average: 94.6% employed,
59.2% full-time, 33.3% part-time
and 5.4% unemployed)
Type of Employment:
Healthcare: 15.3%
Retail trade: 12.7%
Manufacturing: 10.7%
Education and training:
9.8%
Education
Completed Year 12 schooling:
45%
Did not go to school: 0.3%
Attending University: 5%
(Vic average: 54% completed
Year 12 schooling)

Vulnerable groups:
(Vic average XX.X%)
activities can increase risk of
melanoma.
Crime rates can violate resident
safety.
Bachelor’s degree: 16.3%
Advanced diploma: 7.4%
Vocational course: 19%
Nursing implications when practicing in this community?
Public health intervention strategies should be initiated by nurses to provide holistic healthcare
facilities to the members within the community. Owing to the fragile health, elders and minors
should be provided more care. The major diseases prevalent in the community like
cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension and cancer should be targeted for therapeutic
interventions and treated depending on patient centred needs. Nurses should have adequate knowledge
and training that will enable them to perform their duties effectively. Proper treatment and
good prognosis will give rise to a rewarding and gratifying personal experience for both the
nurse and the patient.
Health Priority Areas
The City of Ballarat has three main health concerns. These are: cardiovascular disease, overweight and
high blood pressure.
As well as addressing other chronic diseases such as :
Cancer: 545.6 per 1,00,000 (Vic average: 522.0)
Heart Disease: 8.1% (Vic average: 6.9%)
Osteoporosis: 4.4% (Vic average: 5.3%)
Arthritis: 21.9% (Vic average: 19.8%)
Type 2 Diabetes: 3.9%
(Vic average: 5.0%)
Healthy Eating
32.9% of population were overweight and
18.8% were classed as Obese.
(Vic average: 32.5% Overweight, 17.3% Obese)
56.0% do not meet fruit and vegetable intake.
(Vic average: 51.1%)
Mental Health
17.1% population are registered mental health clients.
(Vic average: 11.1%)
Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of global
deaths. They include diseases of the circulatory system.
The major cardiovascular diseases are coronary
heart disease, cerebrovascular disease,
peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart
disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The
most harmful risk factors are lack of physical
activity, unhealthy diet, tobacco smoking
and alcoholism. These factors can increase
the blood sugar level in the blood and lead
to obesity or overweight. This increases the
risk of heart failure.
Mental illness cause mild or severe
disturbances in our thoughts and actions. The
person becomes unable to cope with demands
of his life. Several types of disturbances exist
that alter the personality, mood and social
symptoms of the affected person.

Tobacco
15.6% population above 18 years smoke (Vic average: 15.7%)
Males: 21.9% (Vic average: 18.5%)
Females: 9.6% (Vic average: 12.9%)
10.7% population have asthma (Vic average: 10.9%)
26.6% have hypertension (Vic average: 24.5%)
References
Censusdata.abs.gov.au. (2017). 2016 Census QuickStats: Victoria. Censusdata.abs.gov.au.
Retrieved 15 September 2017, from
http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/
quickstat/2?opendocument
Communityindicators.net.au. (2017). Ballarat | CIV. Communityindicators.net.au. Retrieved 15
September 2017, from
http://www.communityindicators.net.au/wellbeing_reports/ballarat
Police.vic.gov.au. (2017). Victoria Police - Media. Police.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 15 September
2017, from http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?
a=internetBridgingPage&Media_ID=72178
Profile.id.com.au. (2017). Employment status | City of Ballarat | profile.id. Profile.id.com.au.
Most common mental disorders are dementia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, social
withdrawal and schizophrenia. These disorders lead to development of suicidal thoughts, trauma,
stress, amnesia and apathy. Other symptoms are intense fear, outbursts of anger, physical ailments,
substance abuse, changes in sleeping and eating habits. Proper counselling and interaction with family
members and peers help to redcuce the symptoms.
Overweight and obesity are caused due to an abnormal fat accumulation in the body that impairs health.
The fundamental cause is an imbalance in energy between the calories consumed
by the body and the calories that are expended. It occurs due to increased intake of
foods that are rich in energy and fat content.
It also occurs due to decrease in physical inactivity. The sedentary nature of work-
forms leads to these conditions. A change in diet and physical activity is caused due
to certain societal and environmental changes. People suffering form obesity should
increase fruit and vegetable consumption, grain and nuts consumption and engage
in physical activities.

Retrieved 15 September 2017, from http://profile.id.com.au/ballarat/employment-
status