Health equity

People who experience social or economic disadvantage are at greater risk of poor health, higher rates of illness, disability and death, and shorter lives than those who have more advantaged circumstances.

For instance, Aboriginal South Australians experience a higher rate of burden of disease than non-Aboriginal South Australians across nearly all age groups and, on average, South Australians living in rural and remote areas have poorer health outcomes in comparison to those living in metropolitan areas.

Preventive Health SA is committed to take action to reduce these disparities in health and wellbeing outcomes, and to be responsible to the needs of priority populations, especially for South Australian Aboriginal people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Addressing the needs of these priority populations requires consideration of the specific social, economic and health inequity within these communities, to develop programs and policies that build resilience, and link people to appropriate support networks, services and resources.