This essay examines two key influences that have shaped the Australian healthcare sector: healthcare policies, particularly Medicare, and the socioeconomic status of the population. The essay details how Medicare, a universal healthcare scheme, has broadened access to healthcare services and subsidized costs for Australian residents. It also explores the impact of socioeconomic disparities on health outcomes, highlighting how factors like income, education, and occupation affect access to care and health disparities across different regions, with a specific focus on the disadvantaged area of Cherbourg in Queensland. The analysis further discusses the implications of these influences on the demand for registered nurses, emphasizing the need for increased staffing and specialized training to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare system and a growing and more informed population seeking healthcare services.