Health and wellbeing
Every citizen has the right to the highest possible standard of physical and mental health.
Article 12, United Nations International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights
Health and wellbeing is central to both the individual and Victoria as a whole. A healthy community brings substantial personal, community and national benefits, with good health being one of the key foundations for Victoria’s human capital and economic development. VCOSS believes that it is critical to understand and address the social and economic conditions that impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Effective health services are an essential aspect of Victoria’s social infrastructure, and are key to reducing disadvantage and strengthening community wellbeing. Preventative and early intervention services are a critical element of the health services system. The work of VCOSS is focused on reducing health inequalities and increasing the access to preventative and early intervention health services.
VCOSS identifies five key factors in ensuring the accessibility of health services:
- Affordability: unless the costs of services are affordable, the access by Victorians on low incomes will be limited, even prohibited.
- Timeliness: people need to be able to access services when they need them. The timeliness of services is critical, as the provision of support when a person needs it can prevent them reaching crisis point.
- Proximity: Services need to be close-by to those who need them, to be easily accessible. Victorians who do not have access to good public transport, who live in rural and regional Victoria or on the metropolitan/urban fringe generally do not have easy access to services close-by as many local services have been closed and/or centralised.
- Inclusive: Services need to be responsive and sensitive to the diverse community needs, such as Indigenous Victorians, Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability.
- Sustainable: people need to be able to access services for as long as they need them. Time limited support undermines the steps forward by a person that this support can enable.
VCOSS believes that services based on a social model of health are most effective in supporting and promoting the wellbeing of Victorians. This is because a strong correlation exists between social inequalities and poorer health outcomes. The social determinants of health, such as education attainment, employment, housing and socioeconomic status (including level of income), environmental conditions and the extent to which a person feels a part of the community, have a significant impact on health and wellbeing. Housing is of particular importance, as a lack of access to affordable, safe, appropriate housing is a profound barrier to attainment of good health and wellbeing. VCOSS works across areas such as health inequalities, Indigenous Victorian’s health and wellbeing, children’s health and development, young people’s health and wellbeing, dental health and women’s health.
We raise these issues in our annual State Budget Submission. Download the health and well-being chapter in the VCOSS 2008-09 State Budget Submission. Following each budget VCOSS writes an analysis of the Government’s spending commitments.
Click here for links to organisations that work with on health issues. Publications on the subject are listed here. If you would like to find out more about VCOSS work on health policy contact:
Carolyn Atkins
carolyn.atkins@vcoss.org.au