Category Archives: Social Determinants of Health

Our health is at the federal government’s discretion

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Social Work in Health

In Australia the health of the general public, at  a population level, is in the hands of the federal government. They make decisions on the level of welfare payments, minimum pay, and legislation that affects job security and conditions. These … Continue reading →

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Challenging micro-aggressions against people living homeless through acts of acceptance

Posted on September 2, 2018 by Social Work in Health

In my present project I began with research showing that homeless and other very disadvantaged people have poorer health and use fewer health services. I considered this in the context of the Social Determinants of Health (Marmot & Wilkinson), that … Continue reading →

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‘System participants’ inform local action on hard to reach services

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Social Work in Health

Equity of access to health services is a key goal for primary health care internationally and in Australia (WHO, 1978). The systems used to gain entry to health services can impede or facilitate access, engagement and health outcomes. Equity of … Continue reading →

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Inadvertently locking out the most needy from health services

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Social Work in Health

In 1971 Tudor Hart believed that the people who most needed health services were the least likely to receive them, and that turns out to be true. His ‘Inverse Care Law’ is valid today. Since then Marmot and Wilkinson have … Continue reading →

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Why we don’t act on health inequality

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Social Work in Health

Wiser people than me have discussed our failure to act on what we now about the social determinants of health (Baum et al 2009, Katikireddi et al 2013). Poor health is located in social disadvantage and would need to be … Continue reading →

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