News

Anita Thomas, Health Promotion and Primary Prevention Manager, Barwon South West Public Health Unit

Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or geographic location. While Australia is often praised for its universal healthcare system, we continue to grapple with significant health inequities. These gaps are clear through the higher rates of preventable diseases that affect certain groups more than others. If we are to truly embody the ethos of a "fair go," this means giving everyone an equal opportunity to live a healthy life.

Preventable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, account for a significant portion of Australia’s health burden. Recent data shows almost a third of people in the Barwon South West region have at least one long-term health condition. For many population groups and communities, health outcomes continue to lag behind and progress has been limited, despite our best efforts.

There are deep and complex reasons for health inequity in Australia, often tied to broader social factors such as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. Poor housing, limited access to education, and unemployment contribute to higher rates of risk factors associated with preventable diseases, including poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, vaping and excessive alcohol consumption. For instance, people living in some neighbourhoods or regional communities have reduced access to healthy, nutritious and culturally appropriate food options, safe recreational spaces, and effective healthcare services, leading to poorer overall health outcomes.

Education and advocacy are powerful tools in the fight against preventable diseases. Barwon Health has an important role in improving local health literacy that can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health, with various programs and ongoing campaigns designed to educate the community about the risks of smoking, vaping, poor diet, and physical inactivity. It’s also vital to address the barriers that stand in the way of making healthier choices, leading to significant improvements in health outcomes.

Advocacy from health services, community groups and government can help create healthier environments, such as pushing for policies that reduce the availability of junk food in schools, workplaces and sports clubs, or increasing the availability of fresh affordable and culturally appropriate produce in regional and rural areas. A multi-faceted approach is the best way to achieve health equity, addressing the social factors of health and investing in targeted interventions that can empower communities through education and advocacy. By focusing on those most at risk, we can reduce the burden of preventable diseases and move closer to a truly equitable healthcare system.

Improving health will require long-term efforts from different generations and partners, working together to strategically address the root causes of health inequality. The challenge is great, but the potential benefits—for individuals, communities and the country as a whole—are even greater. It's time for us to collectively commit to health equity, not just as an ideal, but as a tangible, actionable goal. Only then can we ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.