Public Health in Australia

Running Head: PUBLIC HEALTH
0
Public Health
Public Health in Australia
(Student details :)
4/7/2019

Public Health
1
Contents
Public Health of Australia..........................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Public Health of Australia..........................................................................................................2
The nature of the health problem...........................................................................................2
The population affected by the problem................................................................................3
The magnitude of the health problem within targeted population.........................................3
The distal and proximal determinants of the chosen health problem.....................................3
The core features of the targeted population..........................................................................3
The case for why an intervention strategy by Minister of Health is needed..........................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................5

Public Health
2
Public Health of Australia
Introduction
This report is based on public health policy and practice within Australia. In order to
brief to a Minister for Health, this report will outline the health case of Australia for
intervening in order to improve population health. In addition, with the help of this paper
articulating the strategy as well as justifying it based on priority assigned to the health
problem will be covered. Moreover, some important ethical implications of the favoured
intervention strategies will be taken into account while writing this report. In this way, a
detailed research over a critical health problem of Australian public will be conducted from
the perspective of briefing it to the Minister of Health (Macri, 2016).
Public Health of Australia
In this context, public health is more important than the absence or presence of
disease; as it incorporates public’s physical, social and mental-wellbeing (Patel, Flisher,
Hetrick, & McGorry, 2009). Out of all top disease burdens in Australia, mental-illness is the
most popular among teenage, young-age as well as old-age public of Australia. In addition, 1
in 2 i.e. 50 per cent Australians have observed having at least 1 of 8 common chronic
diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health conditions, back pain, arthritis,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and asthma (AIHW, 2018).
The nature of the health problem
In this way, the chosen health problem to be briefed in front of the Minister of Health
is Mental-illness among Australian public. The chosen health problem ‘mental disorder’
which can also be seen as ‘Mental illness’ describes a broad range of mental-health as well as
behavioural disorders (Naylor, et al., 2012). Mental-illness along with the substance use
disorders is mainly responsible for 12 per cent of the total diseases burden within Australia.
Mental-illness is the 3rd highest disease group post cancer as well as cardiovascular diseases
(Think Mental Health, 2018). In this way, nature of the health problem can be seen as it
affects not only individuals, but also families and their carers. Besides, it has a remote-
reaching impact over the whole Australian society, through creating issues like
unemployment, poverty and homelessness (Vargas, 2018).