The Role of Social Capital in Reducing Health Inequities Lin Hatfield Dodds
Lin Hatfield Dodds, UnitingCare Australia: The Role of Social Capital in Reducing Health Inequities
Nov 18, 2014
Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director, UnitingCare Australia delivered this presentation at the 2013 Social Determinants of Health conference. The conference brought together health, social services and public policy organisations to discuss how social determinants affect the health of the nation and to consider how policy decisions can be targeted to reduce health inequities. The agenda facilitated much needed discussion on new approaches to manage social determinants of health and bridge the gap in health between the socially disadvantaged and the broader Australian population. For more information about the event, please visit the conference website: http://www.informa.com.au/social-determinants.
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The Role of Social Capital in Reducing Health Inequities
Lin Hatfield Dodds
A decent
life for all
Communities where everyone belongs
can contribute and is valued
A fair and
inclusive Australia
where all individuals and communities have the resources they need
to reach their full potential
and participate in
and benefit from
social and economic
life
Our
Vision
Wellbeing
It is
important to
reduce health inequities
Productivity
Health
The
smallest unit
of humanity
is not the
individual but
the individual
in relationship
Social Cohesion and Capital
Social
networks
have value
In societies with greater equality:
People
are more likely
to trust
each other
There is
greater
community
involvement
Social
cohesion
Health and
well-being
Health
equity
A Virtuous Cycle
The
Australian
Context
Australia’s
levels
of income inequality
are higher
than the OECD average,
and the gap
between rich
and poor
is continuing to
rise - OECD (Dec 2011), Divided we Stand: Why inequality keeps rising, Country Note Australia
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Gro
ss w
ee
kly
ho
use
ho
ld i
nco
me
1988-89 1993-94 1998-99 2003-04 2009-10
Real incomes by gross income deciles, 1988-89 to 2009-10 2011-12 dollars, 1 lowest decile, 10 highest
Productivity Commission 2013
Rising Gap Between
Rich and Poor
In Australia, about five per cent or
640,000 people are experiencing
multiple and entrenched
disadvantages - 2012 Australian Social Inclusion Board report, Social Inclusion in Australia – How Australia is faring
In 2010,
2,265,000 people
or 12.5%
of all people
lived in households
below the
poverty line
- Poverty In Australia, Australian Council of Social Service (2012)
Including
575,000 children
But
Poverty is not just about
Numbers
Barriers
to health equity
and equality
Social Determinants
The Social Gradient
Stress
Early Life
Social Exclusion
Work Unemployment
Social
Support
Addiction
Food
Transport
Housing (our addition)
Social
Determinants
of Health1
1As outlined by the World Health Organisation Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts Second edition, 2003, WHO
Steps toward
achieving health equity
A
Partnership Approach
Effective action
will arise when
government,
businesses,
not-for-profits
and the
community
collaborate
in a serious way
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