Analysis of Contemporary Australian Public Healthcare Policy Framework

This report provides an in-depth analysis of a contemporary Australian public healthcare policy, focusing on the challenges posed by chronic diseases. It begins with an introduction to the healthcare system, specifically referencing the OECD's overview of Australia's health policy. The report then explains the chosen theoretical framework, the social cognitive theory, and its relevance to the policy. It identifies chronic diseases as a key policy issue, exploring stakeholder groups and their power dynamics. The report proposes alternate policy solutions, considering the perspectives of various stakeholders like doctors, nurses, and administrators, and suggests interventions such as health promotion, fiscal incentives, and improved primary care. The application of the social cognitive theory is discussed, highlighting facilitators and barriers to policy implementation, such as financial resources, public awareness, and environmental factors. The report underscores the importance of policy in managing healthcare functions and mitigating the negative impacts of diseases. Overall, the report offers a comprehensive examination of the Australian healthcare policy, providing insights into its challenges and potential improvements.

Analysing a contemporary
Australian public healthcare
policy using a theoretical
framework

Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................3
2. Explanation of your chosen policy theoretical framework..........................................................3
3. Policy Issue/problem...................................................................................................................4
4. Alternate policy solutions............................................................................................................5
5. Policy theory and application......................................................................................................6
6. Review the Usefulness of the policy theory framework you chose.............................................8
7. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8
References......................................................................................................................................10

1. Introduction
The contemporary Australian public health care policy that has been taken into
consideration is Health System of Australia is specifically being over viewed by OECD (Health
policy in Australia, 2015). It has been analysed that there are a range of problems that came in
front like re-arranging the wellbeing framework towards essential social insurance will require
arrangements that help to conquer a portion of the characteristic difficulties in the Australian
medicinal services framework, especially, discontinuity emerging from the separation among
Commonwealth and state supported administrations, complexities in financing, administration
and revealing courses of action, poor coordination of administration arranging and conveyance
inside the area and with other medicinal services, social and government assistance parts and
framework deficiencies, including workforce deficiencies and malnutrition.
2. Explanation of your chosen policy theoretical framework
The policy theoretical framework, it has been followed is directly linking with social
cognitive theory which specifically influences individuals experience towards actions of others
along with the environmental factors that may impact on health behaviours. On the other hand, if
it is talk about the different components that are linking with the social cognitive theory then
these are self efficacy, behavioural capability, expectations, expectancies, self control,
reinforcement, observational learning and so on. In present context, if it is talked about self
efficacy then and the belief of a particular individual considers control over and may become
able to execute behaviour towards a particular area. Including this, behavioural capability
consists of different understandings along with the skills that are required in order to perform
behaviour (Browne and et. al., 2019).
Social cognitive theory was developed in 1986 by Albert Bandura and the reason that came
in front was continuous rise among chronic diseases. This theory was implemented among
different areas like developing interventions for people who are living with Cancer, HIV, and for
the people who smokes and so on. This theory is specifically useful in present context is because
healthcare system of Australia has been a complex mix of federal and state government funding
and responsibility, interspersed with services that are delivered through the public and private
sectors which has affected overall society and public affairs. Including this, some of the
challenges in relation to the policy e has delivered integrated pathways for the ongoing care of
people with long-term chronic conditions, of a requiring coordinated access to services across

community, primary and acute care sectors. Consideration of social cognitive theory will
effectively manage the whole health care system as it will develop integrated care through
bringing in the responsibilities for both primary and acute care together at the government level.
This theory, will also improve the understanding towards medical Home style related services
where the primary health care centres of Australia will be focusing upon featuring different
teams like multi-disciplinary and specialist as per the requirements. Away with this, it will also
help Australian system of healthcare to focus on monk financial incentive that will be motivating
doctors towards integrated care system which will help the whole health care system to get
improved in much effective and in efficient manner (Hudson and Day, 2019).
3. Policy Issue/problem
The policy area that has been taken into consideration is directly linked with chronic
diseases. Australia has been at the front line of world endeavours to diminish the wellbeing and
social outcomes of tobacco utilization. Arrangements and projects incorporate the world's first
tobacco plain bundling enactment, which different nations are copying. Different methodologies
incorporate normally expanding tobacco costs through tax assessment, and a progression of
smoking bans the nation over. A few states are pushing toward the forbiddance of smoking in
open air eating regions. On the other hand, Australia has one of the most hefty populaces in the
OECD Australia has the fifth most fat populace matured 15 and over in the OECD. Just the
United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Hungary have a higher extent of fat grown-ups. The
ascent in grown-up heftiness in Australia before decade – from 19.8% in 2000 to 28.3% in 2011
– ought to be treated as a general wellbeing need. Weight is related with preventable conditions,
for example, type 2 diabetes and other ceaseless ailment (Arno and Thomas, 2016). On the other
hand, stakeholder groups in relation to present policy are government, private and public health
care agencies, employees, patients, investors and many more that carries different roles along
with the responsibilities and consists of different powers. In order to understand the same,
stakeholder analysis is specifically being performed which is carrying different it power grids
and these are: High power, high interest: specifically government and public investors are said
to be the crucial stakeholders that stays on on my priority as they directly stage link with the
public health care.
High power, low interest: if it is talk about this section of the stakeholder analysis then
particularly patients and technology specifically carries high power as due to change in course it

is pretty much required by Australian government to who develop amendments and because of
that, policies can also may required to get changed based on the situation. On the other hand,
Low power, high interest: investors carries low power but high interest as they specifically get
the high returns on investment that they have made within the policy (Pogrmilovic and et. al.,
2019). In present context, some of the other stakeholders that comes under this area are the
NGOs that are linking with the health care policy which has been developed for the betterment of
healthcare standards of citizens of Australia. Low power, low interest: Patients or the individuals
that are linking with the policy are said to be some of the crucial stakeholders that carries low
power and also show concept of low interest as well.
4. Alternate policy solutions
In accordance with this report the prominent positions of the four stakeholders group are
considered as the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and health administrators considering the set of
policy preposition which is supported by the government as well. In terms of this the objective of
this assessment is to analyse the criteria of convergence in prominent groups in order to support
suitable policy and solutions and also analyse the points of resistance that explain the identified
inability to execute evidence-based Healthcare administration in order to change the policy. By
considering this the stakeholders suggest their suitable opinion regarding the chronic diseases
that put positive impact on the health system of Australian civilians. According to this the project
management team of help organisations thoroughly consult and engage the clinical leadership in
the hospital that is capable enough to achieve more credibility within the organisation. Along
with this it brings suitable Momentum towards the project and also moves prominently until the
completion (Ulucanlar, Fooks and Gilmore, 2016).
Hence, in order to overcome the chronic diseases and prevent the Australian citizens from
these diseases suitable steps can be taken by the doctors, nurses and many more. As they deliver
Health Promotion content and awareness regarding the healthy diet and physical activity with the
help of social media among the people. Moreover, it also leads to provide fiscal incentives
considering the enactment of food prices including high fat and sugar content. Along with this
they also need to suggest and provide awareness regarding the fast and unhygienic food that
leads to limit the children’s exposure. Despite from this it also leads to offer the significant
information on the food label that is helpful towards the citizens in order to provide suitable
information on the basis of their choices and also motivate the basic care physicians to take

counselling regarding the risk patients in order to make and develop Healthy lifestyle choice.
Moreover it also leads to promote the probable care by bringing responsibility towards the acute
and on the consideration and undertaking of government. It also leads to create the Primary
Health Care environmental system around the general practice and also improve their role
towards the care and coordination on the health of patient in order to prevent them from chronic
diseases (Howlett, McConnell and Perl, 2017).
Along with this, suitable policy put positive impact on the public health and the citizens of
Australia by continuous monitoring towards the health system variation and also increases
awareness among the people with the help of public reporting. They also collect and report from
rate information on the basis of outcome of the care and inform the stakeholders regarding the
practice pattern my comparing it with their colleagues and peers. It also leads to make sure that
patients are probably involved within the decision-making regarding their treatment as they need
to know each and every aspect that involve in their treatment procedure and also promote wisely
campaign.
5. Policy theory and application
It is important to formulate a proper policy within the healthcare which will help in
managing different functions as well as decreasing the negative impacts of unwanted diseases.
For implementation of the policy there is use of a theoretical framework which is important part
of this theory and helpful in implementation of the particular policy. The Framework used is
named as social cognitive theory. This theory is main focus and psychological educational and
communication which old main part of an individual knowledge acquisition of different
information by observing the other. It also includes the social interaction experience and outside
media influences on individual (Wiseman and et. al., 2017).
There are various reasons for choosing this policy within Australia. These reasons are
directly related to the health and wellbeing of different individuals who is living within the
Australia. According to the government of Australia Australian health system is a complex mix
of federal and state government funding and responsibilities which make it difficult for different
organisation to manage between the centre and state governments. So this OECD policy is
helpful to the health system of the Australia where it inbuilt the expenditure in the Australia
about 8.8 % of the GDP. There is various reasons for choosing this policy because according to
the data presented by the Australian government Australia has one of the most obvious

population within the whole nations of the world. obesity is directly related to health diseases
within an individual because it is observed from various celebrities and researches that most of
the obese people are infected with some other diseases which are related to heart, liver and any
other organ. This policy adopted for the prevention of these kinds of failures and overcoming
them effective health care system.
It is also identify that there are various facilitators as well as barriers within the
development of this policy and implementation of this policy on the nation. Some facilitator
which will help in implementation and development of this policy on the nation of Australia are
availability of finance, awareness within individuals and current need of a proper healthcare
facility to eliminate different kind of risk. These are some facilitators which are directly related
to development and implementation of the policy on the whole nation. As policy includes high
level of finance and awareness within the individuals who are working on some health related
jobs. Australia is also known for its fit and healthy environment where it contribute large amount
of individuals in athletics. This directly focuses on the thing that there are various peoples who
are aware about the fitness as well as different health care related policies which should be
implemented on the nation to improve healthcare.
Every factor policy also has some barriers on its development and implementation which
are directly related to working of the policy and try to reduce the effect of policy within the
nation. Climatic conditions are one of that barrier which directly impact on this health policy
because the climatic condition of Australia is always warm that effect on its businesses as well as
different farming activities. They have to expend a large amount of finance on bushfires and
forest fire. This can impact negatively on the final celebrity of this and related system as because
of regular climate change Australia has plans for the unexpected conditions.
This policy is important as well as effective uses within the Australia because it covers
different type of functions which are directly related to the habits of Australian people like
smoking habit obesity and many other reasons which have impacted and focus of government
toward it. this also bring a proper structural reforms which is not mentioned within different
other policies related to healthcare as well as this policy is also helpful for those people who
belongs to low income group and cannot afford high level of healthcare facilities because of their
low level income. Australia also facing face of old age persons and it have to make perfect

healthcare facility for them because of their age factor which directly influence on their working
as well as impact on their performance and habit to use healthcare facilities.
6. Review the Usefulness of the policy theory framework you chose.
The current policy directly related to the behaviour of individuals in the society and the
chosen Framework is directly related to the society behaviour where the influence of individual
experience action and other environmental factor are studied for increasing the individual health
and wellbeing. This theory is directly help in identification of different aspects related to policy
because it includes the key components which are self-efficiency, behavioural, capacity,
expectation, expectancies, self-control, observational learning and reinforcement. These all are
directly associated to implementation of the policy and understanding all the related aspects in an
appropriate manner (Braithwaite and et. al., 2018).
This theoretical framework of social cognitive theory directly helps in identification of
the process for policy development where it identified different needs of individuals related to
healthcare facilities within Australia. After that, it help in identification of the resources address
combining them for fulfilling these needs and what are the measures which can be taken to
reduce the negative impacts and increasing the positive aspects of health care facilities within
nation.
These theories have limited limitations which are related to and depend on the behaviour
of the society where they can easily provide the information. these limitations doesn't rise within
the Nations like Australia because the people have good behaviour as well as provide different
information regarding their needs and requirements related to healthcare and personal. This all
minimise the negative impact of the theory and increase the positive outcomes and reduces the
field chances of failure within the nation. after performing the activity in an effective manner and
reaching to the outcome there is no need to determine other than this every because it is effective
as soon as it provide the positive outcomes and can be implemented in any kind of situation. This
makes this theory and perfect example as well as helpful theory for implementing within the
healthcare sector.
7. Conclusion
Considering the above mentioned information, it can easily be said that developing an
effective policy within healthcare industry of Australia is not that easy because of the different

range of complexities that came in front like governance structure which has raised ample
number of issues on the overall health care standards. Therefore, it is primarily important for
government of Australia to first improve and make the governance structure simple and easy to
understand and also to invest among different policies that can help civilians of Australia to get
proper healthcare benefits.

References
Books and Journals
Browne, J., Coffey, B., Cook, K., Meiklejohn, S., & Palermo, C. (2019). A guide to policy
analysis as a research method. Health promotion international, 34(5), 1032-1044.
Hudson, V. M., & Day, B. S. (2019). Foreign policy analysis: classic and contemporary theory.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Arno, A., & Thomas, S. (2016). The efficacy of nudge theory strategies in influencing adult
dietary behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC public health, 16(1),
676.
Pogrmilovic, B. K., O’Sullivan, G., Milton, K., Biddle, S. J., Bauman, A., Bellew, W., ... & Pratt,
M. (2019). The development of the Comprehensive Analysis of Policy on Physical
Activity (CAPPA) framework. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity, 16(1), 60.
Ulucanlar, S., Fooks, G. J., & Gilmore, A. B. (2016). The policy dystopia model: an interpretive
analysis of tobacco industry political activity. PLoS medicine, 13(9).
Howlett, M., McConnell, A., & Perl, A. (2017). Moving policy theory forward: Connecting
multiple stream and advocacy coalition frameworks to policy cycle models of
analysis. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 76(1), 65-79.
Wiseman, V., Asante, A., Ir, P., Limwattananon, S., Jacobs, B., Liverani, M., ... & Jan, S. (2017).
System-wide analysis of health financing equity in Cambodia: a study protocol. BMJ
global health, 2(1), e000153.
Braithwaite, J., Churruca, K., Long, J. C., Ellis, L. A., & Herkes, J. (2018). When complexity
science meets implementation science: a theoretical and empirical analysis of systems
change. BMC medicine, 16(1), 63.
Online
Health policy in Australia. 2015. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.oecd.org/australia/Health-Policy-in-Australia-December-2015.pdf>.