SYLLABUS CONTENT
How do we understand and measure Australia’s health?
Explain the dynamic nature of health by exploring the interactions between the dimensions of health, the concept of good health, the health continuum, how health changes over time, and how an individual’s circumstances affect their health.
As a class read through page 8 of the textbook and recap our understanding of dynamic health.
As a class we will read through the handout exploring the five dimensions of health.
Then, read through the article exploring Greg Inglis and his health battle, then complete the corresponding questions.
The Concept of Good Health
While there may be variations in the meaning that people give to health, it is widely accepted that good health is a valuable resource. To the individual, good health means an improved quality of life, including less sickness and disability, a happier family and social existence, and the opportunity to make choices in work and recreation.
To the community, good health means a higher standard of living, greater participation in making and implementing community health policies, and reducing healthcare costs.
But what does good health actually mean? As we learned earlier, the meanings that people attribute to health are relative and so therefore is the concept of good health. The concept of good health is relative to individual circumstances and stage of life.
Activity -
Complete the following textbook activity:
The Health Continuum
The idea of viewing our health on a continuum, with optimum health at one end and poor health at the other, can help us to understand its relative and dynamic nature. Judging where we fit on the continuum at any one point in time is highly subjective and is the product of many varying factors
Activity
Individually draw a continuum into your books and complete task 1, assigning each individual to a point. Then using a large continuum on the board, deliberate, compare and justify your choices as a class. Reflect on why it may be difficult to agree!
Complete question 2 and 4 (Do not worry about 3).
Health Over Time
Read through the text on pages 11-12 and discuss. Then, complete the case study on pages 14-16.
Activity - Effect of Individual Circumstances on Health
Read through the text on page 15 exploring how individual circumstances can impact an individuals health. Then, within groups you will be assigned one of the following population groups. Brainstorm all the determinants/factors that may lead certain populations having poorer health then others:
Rural and Remote
Socioeconomic disadvantage
Indigenous Australians