At different stages of a person’s life, the presence or absence of certain social building blocks will determine how long we live and how healthy we will be during our lifetime.
Experts know these building blocks as the social determinants of health – the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age. And, according to the World Health Organisation, it is the social determinants of health which are mostly responsible for the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.
This book brings together a unique collection of essays on the social determinants of health from some of Australia’s leading health and social policy experts – medical professionals, academics, opinion leaders, thinkers and writers.
Contained within its pages are diverse and confronting policy and practical proposals that invite all Australian governments to broaden their health policy parameters to include a new focus on the social determinants of health.
The book shows a way forward. It offers tangible solutions to help Australia build a more just and better health system–one premised on a fair go and health for all.
This is a must read for politicians, policy-makers and those working or studying in health, social services, education, housing, political science and social justice.
