Health Inequality in Australia: Policy Brief on Social Determinants

This policy brief examines the health inequalities faced by Indigenous Australians, specifically Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, highlighting the detrimental impact of social determinants on their well-being. The report identifies key social determinants, such as income inequality and lack of basic amenities, and their links to various health problems including mental illness, chronic diseases, and substance abuse. It proposes policy recommendations like building hospitals, waiving fees, establishing rehabilitation centers, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation to bridge the health gap. The brief emphasizes the urgent need for government intervention through budget allocations and implementation of these programs to improve the quality of life and reduce health risks associated with these social determinants, ultimately promoting health equity within this vulnerable population.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS PROMOTING HEALTH INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA 1
Social determinants promoting health inequality in Australia
(Student’s name)
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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS PROMOTING HEALTH INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA 2
Social determinants promoting health inequality in Australia
The Australian indigenous people suffer from adverse health effects due to the social factors in
Australia. The indigenous people include the aboriginals and the Torres Strait islanders. The
social determinants are required to address the impact and promote healthcare and their way of
living. The Australian indigenous people over the years are the most disadvantaged group of
people within Australia. The people are most prone to mental illness, respiratory diseases,
chronic diseases in kidneys, trachoma, heart diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. The proposed
policy action tends to look at the social determinants that can be used to promote good health and
quality of life for the Australian indigenous people (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,
2016).
Scope of the problem
The Australian indigenous people suffer from various health problems and a unique disease
among women that affects at least five aboriginal who suffer from low dietary value and breast
cancer. The unequal distribution of income and lack of basic amenities are the major causes of
health problems (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015)). Similarly, excessive use of
tobacco, illicit particles, and alcohol promotes the affection rates of these diseases.
Policy alternatives
Lack of basic amenities and inequality in income levels constitute the two social determinants
that lead to health inequalities in Australia. Inequality in income levels has led to increased
obesity levels, poor nutritional values, alcohol abuse, and inadequate accessibility to health and
sanitation services. The proposed policy action may ensure easier access to hygiene and health

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS PROMOTING HEALTH INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA 3
facilities for the indigenous people. Their inaccessible geographical areas have limited health
facilities to admit patients for particular diseases, and therefore the survival risks are high.
The lack of basic amenity as a social determinant determines the health inequality among the
indigenous people (Warwick et al., 2019). Proper hygiene and health factors result from access
to water sanitation, and proper intake of nutritional value foods helps one gain appropriate
nutrients in the body. The lack of information on the importance of nutritional values, inability to
afford nutritional values, and access to clean drinking water increases the health risk of the
indigenous people. Lack of basic amenities leads women into abusing alcohol and tobacco that
affects their reproductive organs and menstrual cycle. The low occupational rates by these
individuals increase their inability to access basic amenities (Australian institute of health
wellbeing), 2018).
Policy recommendation
Inequality of income level social determinants should be addressed through the building of
hospitals, waving the hospital fees, and making sure hospitals are accessible to the indigenous
people (WHO, 2018 (world health organization). Through budget allocation to building hospitals
and equipping of the hospitals, the ministry will have helped the individuals, thus bringing the
health inequality gap. The federal government should build rehabilitation centers to help in
rehabilitating women and men addicted to alcohol.
The lack of basic amenities can be improved through a budget to ensure access to clean water
services in their areas. Furthermore, garbage collection exercise programs set to ensure those
areas maintain the best hygiene.
Summary

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS PROMOTING HEALTH INEQUALITY IN AUSTRALIA 4
The social determinants, when solved through the programs recommended to the ministry, will
help in bringing the health inequality gap among the indigenous. Furthermore, it will help in
improving the quality of life and reduce health risks associated with social determinants.
References
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