From tearful toddler to strident youth: Tackling health inequalities through primary care

Abstract

Australia, over many decades, has experienced marked differences in health status between population groups as defined by gender, geography, ethnicity and socio-economic status. For example, affluent, privileged people have better health and lower mortality than poor, disadvantaged people. Australia?s health is now one of the best in the world - but the only way for it to improve further is to tackle health inequalities as a central plank of health research, health policy, and health service delivery.