Impact of Social Theories on Australian Society, Systems and Policies

This report provides an analysis of Australian society, systems, and policies, focusing on the application of social theories such as conflict theory and social practice theory within the context of health. It explores how these theories relate to issues of social justice, particularly in relation to healthcare access and outcomes for Indigenous populations. The report examines the impact of factors such as financial status, income levels, and social position on health disparities. It also delves into the specific health challenges faced by Indigenous Australians, including higher mortality rates and prevalence of diseases like heart disease and kidney failure. The study highlights the role of social workers in addressing these disparities and emphasizes the importance of fairness and equality in healthcare provision, concluding with the need for greater efforts to achieve social justice in health outcomes.

Australian Society, Systems
and Policies

Introduction
• Theories that will be discussed are:
a.) Conflict theory
b.) Social practice theory
c.) Indigenous health in Australia
• Theories maintain social justice
• Focuses on fairness and equality

Conflict theory
• Relates with conflict between social groups.
• Max weber theory
• Determine power and socio status
• Health care facilities
• Improve average well being status

Conflict theory
• Theory relates with
a.) financial status
b.) level of income
c.) source of income
• Discrepancy between the health
facilities and accessibility.

Indigenous health in Australia
• Average mortality rate is low
a.) home grown population
b.) social and political issue
• Worst health conditions
• Affected the indigenous population

Indigenous health in Australia
• Indigenous groups with high humanity rate.
• Majority of the people have
a.) heart disease
b.) kidney failure
• Differences enhanced due to reasons:
a.) biological
b.) socio
c.) political
d.) economic

Theory of social practice
• Health issue on the global
platform
• Social theories covers
a.) class inequalities
b.) social power structure
c.) Health differences
• Indigenous groups has to suffer more from the health
problems.
• More Indigenous groups are admitted as compared to
general population

Conclusion
• It is concluded that
a.) Social justice has the motive to provide
fairness and equality treatment.
b.) Equal worth to health disparities
c.) social workers made more efforts.

References
• Willis, K., Daly, J., Kealy, M., Small, R., Koutroulis, G., Green, J., ... & Thomas, S. (2007).
The essential role of social theory in qualitative public health research. Australian and
New Zealand journal of public health, 31(5), 438-443.
• Dick, D. (2007). Social determinants and the health of Indigenous peoples in Australia,
humanrights, Retrieved from: http://
www.humanrights.gov.au/news/speeches/social-determinants-and-health-indigenous-p
eoples-australia-human-rights-based
• Rosenstock, A. et al. (2013). Closing the Gaps: competing estimates of Indigenous
Australian life expectancy in the scientific literature. Australian and New Zealand Journal
of Public Health, 37(4), 356-364.
• Saggers, S. & Gray, D. (2007). Defining what we mean, pp.1-20, In Carson, B. et al. (eds.),
Social Determinants of Indigenous Health, Allen & Unwin
• Turrell, G., Stanley, L., De Looper, M., & Oldenburg, B. F. (2006). Health inequalities in
Australia: morbidity, health behaviours, risk factors and health service use. Health
Inequalities Monitoring Series, No.2, AIHW Cat No. PHE 72. Canberra: Queensland Univ.
of Technology and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare