Public interest disclosure Social determinants and Indigenous health Forthcoming releases Our data collections Freedom of information These socioeconomic differences are called the social determinants of health that are behind the observed differences in health outcomes (see Social determinants of health and Health across socioeconomic groups). This website needs JavaScript enabled in order to work correctly; currently it looks like it is disabled.We'd love to know any feedback that you have about the AIHW website, its contents or reports.The browser you are using to browse this website is outdated and some features may not display properly or be accessible to you. Most of these social determinants are closely related; for example, higher levels of education usually lead to better employment prospects and higher incomes, and that leads to healthier housing conditions.For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the social determinants of health also include factors such as cultural identity, family, participation in cultural activities and access to traditional lands. Among the health risk factors, the key component was the difference in smoking status between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians (which contributed to 10% of the health gap).The 47% of the health gap that remained unexplained after accounting for the selected social determinants and health risk factors can be related to other variables not able to be included in the analysis, which include differences in access to health services.For more information, see ‘Chapter 6.7 Size and sources of the Indigenous health gap’ in Differences in social determinants can also account for a large part of the differences in health status within the Indigenous population. Social Determinants of Health Aboriginal Health and Welfare For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, health is a holistic concept which incorporates the physical, spiritual, social, cultural and ecological components, rather than simply being illness free, both for the individual and the community.
AIHW data by geography Corporate publications Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community 44:219–32.Brotherhood of St Laurence & MIAESR (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research) 2019. Latest releases Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Social determinants and Indigenous health [Internet]. The conditions in which people live and die are, in turn, shaped by political, social, and economic forces’ (CSDH 2008).According to the WHO, social inequalities and disadvantage are the main reason for avoidable and unfair differences in health outcomes and life expectancy across groups in society.This page provides selected data to monitor key social determinants of health in Australia.See ‘Social determinants of health in Australia’ and ‘Housing conditions and key challenges in Indigenous health’ in ‘Social determinants of health’ has rapidly become a central concept in population and public health, leading to the emergence of new theoretical models and frameworks.Although there is no single definition of the social determinants of health, there are common usages across government and non-government organisations.In 2003, the World Health Organization Europe suggested that the social determinants of health included socioeconomic position, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food and transportation (Wilkinson & Marmot eds. Natural environment and health 2003). Latest news & events Subscribe to release notices Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. 1 These 4 determinants are employment status, Year 12 attainment, housing standard and socio-economic ranking of the region the household is in.The proportion of Indigenous Australians who report excellent or very good self-assessed health is higher for those in the more favourable socio-economic category on each of these four variables.
Latest releases Health prevention and promotion, and timely and effective treatment and care, are also important contributors to good health. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.