Health for individuals and communities
Health is a concept that means different things to different people, shaped by personal experiences, community values, and social structures. In this module, you will explore how health is defined and measured, particularly in an Australian context. You will develop an understanding of how social justice principles and the social determinants of health influence the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Throughout this focus area, you will have opportunities to analyse health data, investigate young people’s perspectives on health, research key health issues, and explore how individuals, communities, and organisations work to promote better health outcomes.
NB: It’s important that when we look at health, especially about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and marginalised groups, we do so with care and respect.
KIQ1: How do we understand and measure Australia’s health?
You will begin by exploring the many different meanings of health, including how organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) define health, and why individuals’ understandings of health can differ depending on their experiences and circumstances. You will then investigate the dynamic nature of health, examining how the dimensions of health interact, how health changes over time, and how an individual’s environment and life circumstances affect their wellbeing. As you explore the health status of Australians, you will learn how epidemiological data such as mortality, infant mortality, morbidity, incidence, and prevalence are used to measure and explain trends, using real-world reports like Australia’s Health as key sources. You will investigate how social justice principles — including participation, equity, access, and rights — influence both individual and community health outcomes. Finally, you will discuss the broad range of determinants of health — such as sociocultural, socioeconomic, environmental, and biomedical factors — and explore how these determinants interact to create health inequities among different population groups.
KIQ2: What are young people’s meanings of health?
In this section, you will explore how young people today perceive health and how these perceptions compare to those of previous generations. You will investigate similarities and differences across generations, identifying what has stayed the same and what has evolved over time. You will undertake your own research project, developing a research question, choosing appropriate data collection methods, and considering how the determinants of health impact young people’s views on what is important to their wellbeing. You will analyse how young people define and prioritise aspects of their health, and learn to critically assess the validity, reliability, and credibility of the information collected. Through this process, you will strengthen your ability to present findings, draw conclusions, and identify further research questions that could be explored in the future.
KIQ3: What key issues affect the health of young people and how can they protect and promote good health?
You will examine the health status of young people in Australia, including specific focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, using current data from sources like Australia’s Health and related health reports. You will explore trends in youth health issues, investigating their causes, protective factors, and the role of the determinants of health in shaping health-related behaviours. Through focused research, you will choose one health-related issue to explore in depth, assessing its nature, examining the available data, identifying protective strategies, and proposing new approaches to improve outcomes for young people. You will also analyse how skills for strengthening the individual — such as self-efficacy, health literacy, help-seeking behaviours, problem-solving, resilience, coping strategies, sense of purpose, ethical behaviour, and connectedness — contribute to protecting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of individuals and their communities. Finally, you will reflect on your own personal health behaviours and propose realistic, achievable actions for improving your own wellbeing.
KIQ4: What are the opportunities for improving and promoting young people’s health?
In this final section, you will examine how young people advocate for their own health and the health of others. You will consider examples from the past, present, and emerging advocacy movements, and reflect on the role of individuals in shaping positive change within their communities. You will discuss how organisations — including government and non-government organisations (NGOs) — and community groups advocate for the health of young people, particularly Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander youth. You will explore the nature of health promotion in Australia, learning about different approaches to health, the influence of global health policies, and the significance of frameworks like the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. You will also investigate how partnerships with communities help strengthen health outcomes across a range of cultural groups. Finally, you will examine how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being used both globally and within Australia to promote health, and reflect on how these goals could be applied at a local community level to improve the wellbeing of young people.