Australia's Healthcare System
What is the main purpose of Australia's health system?
To promote health, prevent illness, diagnose and treat disease and injury, and support the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
What is a local community health service?
A service that provides healthcare and support to meet the needs of people within the local community.
Name two rights that all healthcare consumers have.
Examples:
What is meant by access to healthcare?
The ability of people to obtain appropriate healthcare services when they are needed.
Identify the company called that deal with health complaints?
Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC).
Identify the three government funded healthcare programs studied in this unit.
Medicare
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Identify four local community health services available to young people.
Examples include:
Explain one responsibility when accessing healthcare.
information about their diagnosis
information from the doctor or health service on the costs of the proposed treatment, including any likely out-of-pocket expenses
seek other medical opinions about their condition
information on visiting arrangements for family and friends while they are in hospital
privacy of and access to their own medical records
treatment with respect and dignity
care and support from nurses and allied health professionals
participate in decisions about their care
make a comment or complaint about any aspect of their hospital or medical treatment.
Give one barrier and one enabler to accessing healthcare.
Barrier:
Enabler:
Identity two outcomes that may occur due to a complaint?
an explanation about what happened, and why it happened
an apology
access to treatment
access or amendment to health records
a refund or compensation
a change in policy or practice to prevent future problems.
Explain one role of Medicare.
Medicare provides Australians with access to free or subsidised healthcare services, helping reduce the cost of visiting doctors and receiving medical treatment.
Explain one role of headspace.
Headspace provides support for young people experiencing mental health concerns as well as assistance with physical health, education, employment and alcohol or drug issues.
Why is confidentiality important for young people accessing healthcare?
Confidentiality helps young people feel safe discussing sensitive health issues, encouraging them to seek healthcare when needed.
Define health literacy.
The ability to access, understand, evaluate and use health information to make informed decisions about health and wellbeing.
Explain how Medicare improves the health and wellbeing of young people.
Medicare reduces financial barriers to healthcare by providing free or subsidised GP visits and medical services. This allows young people to access treatment earlier, improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
A student is feeling anxious about Year 11 but doesn't know where to seek help. Recommend one local community service and explain how it could improve their health and wellbeing.
Headspace could provide counselling and mental health support. This may improve their mental health by reducing anxiety, emotional health by helping manage emotions and social health by improving relationships and confidence.
A teenager is embarrassed to discuss their mental health with a doctor. Explain one right and one responsibility that apply in this situation.
The student has the right to confidential and respectful care. Their responsibility is to provide honest and accurate information so the doctor can provide appropriate treatment.
Explain how digital media can improve access to healthcare.
Digital media allows young people to access reliable health information, book appointments, use telehealth and connect with health services more easily.
living in rural and remote areas
Cost
Language barriers
Expanding on a diagnosis
Confidentiality issues
Scheduling/time constraints
Name four issues that the Health Complaints Commissioner can investigate.
A 17-year-old has injured their ankle playing netball. Explain how Australia's health system could support them from injury to recovery.
The student could visit a GP using Medicare, receive a diagnosis, be referred for an X-ray if required, access subsidised treatment and be referred to an allied health professional such as a physiotherapist to support rehabilitation.
A Year 11 student has been feeling anxious, is struggling to sleep and doesn't want their parents to know.
Recommend one local community health service and explain how it could improve two dimensions of the student's health and wellbeing.
A suitable service is headspace. It provides counselling and mental health support. This could improve:
A Year 11 student has been searching for health advice on social media.
Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of using digital media to access health information.
Confidentiality - Young people can access health information in private through an app or website and not be concerned that they will be identified in a waiting room or seen by someone they know.
Time - Digital media allows health information to be accessed at any time, which for young people means that they don’t have to miss school or work.
A Year 11 student believes their personal health information was shared without permission by a local health clinic. Explain the steps they should take to resolve the issue.