The social and cultural determinants of health and disease – including income, education, living and working conditions, housing, food security, safety, and social integration, among others – impact all of our clients and their families. We know they play a critical role in the wellbeing of our communities and optimising health outcomes.
Healthcare system
The healthcare system is one part of a larger ecosystem.
Research from goinvo shows the healthcare system is a small contributor (11%) to the health outcomes achieved by the population.
Other factors, known collectively as social determinants, are by far the most significant contributors to health outcomes. These social determinants include socio-economic status, level of education, physical environment, and family and social connections.
We require the involvement of stakeholders not directly involved in the delivery of healthcare outcomes, but who nonetheless influence the social determinants of health.
Healthy Towns is an example of our work to improve the social determinants of health. Healthy Towns work in partnership with North Coast communities to design local initiatives to improve health and wellbeing.