Student worksheet

What are the social determinants of health?

Watch the video:

Social determinants of health (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbP1_qd5FHQ)

Note down as many examples of the social determinants as you can. At the conclusion of the clip, share your answers with the class and add any that you missed to your list.

Social Determinant of Health	Examples

How do social determinants influence your health and wellbeing?

Read the prompt below and explain how each of the depicted social determinants could negatively impact a person’s health (physical, social, emotional, mental or spiritual)?

Prompt: “Our individual health is influenced by a range of social determinants.”

Social Detriment - Education

Impact

Social Detriment - Family Income

Source:http://povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Work-income-and-health-inequity_August-2021.pdf

Impact

Social Detriment - Housing

Impact

Social Detriment - Food Security

Impact

Social Detriment - Access to
health services

source: povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ACOSS_Cohealth_health-inequality-infographic.pdf#new_tab

Impact

Being sick can make you poor but can being poor make you sick?

Work, Income and Health Inequity - A Snapshot of the
Evidence 2021

Key Findings:
People under 65 whose main source of income is government income support are more likely to report mental health issues (50%) than those whose main source of income is salary or wages (18%).
People who are without paid work are almost twice as likely to report mental health issues than people who work full time.

People with higher incomes (60%) are more likely to report good health, while people with lower incomes are less likely to report good health (32%).

Source: http://povertyandinequality.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Work-income-and-health-inequity_August-2021.pdf

View the Poverty and Inequality Make Us Sick infographic and complete the graphic organisers, outlining three examples of how the social determinants can potentially impact the health disparities identified.

Now that you have reviewed how the determinants of health can impact health, it is time to look at how poverty can put pressure on people, pushing them into homelessness. We can relieve the pressure on people’s health and lives by creating affordable housing and helping people get decent jobs. We can also help people withstand this pressure by strengthening our social security system and ensuring all payments are lifted above the poverty line. We can reduce poverty, end homelessness increase housing affordability and increase health outcomes. Investing in social housing is both the right and smart thing to do.

Watch the clip:

Imagine a world (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OF6lUGIAg&t=43s )

After watching “Imagine a world...” choose one of the statements from the clip, listed below and explain how achieving this statement could reduce poverty, and positively impact health (physical, social, emotional, mental or spiritual).

“Imagine a world where people can be safe and warm”
“The homes are built to be warm in winter, cool in summer."
"Energy bills go down”
“Homes are close to public transport, shops and entertainment”
“Building social housing will provide employment for thousands of people in the construction industry”
“Raising the rate of social security payments will ensure all people can afford to pay rent as well as buy food and necessary medications.”

How does your statement lead to a reduction in poverty and improved health outcomes?

Provide at least three reasons and examples that support their statement:

Statement

Write a letter to your MP

Write to your local MP: Let’s turn imagination into reality.

You now have a grasp on the impact that poverty has on an individual, as well as the wider community. It is up to you to take a stand and make a difference. Small, simple actions such as writing to your local MP, can have a big impact on the outcomes for those living in poverty. Refer to the How to template below and write a meaningful letter to your local MP about one of the following issues, or another one related to poverty in Australia that you are passionate about.

The level of poverty and inequality in your hometown, state, territory or country
Raising the rate of social security payments such as JobSeeker
Making affordable housing and social housing more accessible
Addressing food insecurity in the population.

Reflection

After completing your worksheet and letter to your MP, briefly look back over everything you have worked through today, including your initial thoughts from part A, and complete the thinking routine by completing the following sentence:

I used to think…

Now I think…

Template: How to write a letter to your MP

Address your letter correctly, with the correct title

If you are sending your letter by snail mail, then you will need to set out the name and address of the MP or Senator in the top left-hand corner. If you choose to send your correspondence by email, this part is not necessary though.

Correct title stated in the address for an MP: ‘Mr/ Mrs/Ms/Dr First Name Last Name MP’
Correct title stated in the address for a senator: ‘Senator First Name Last Name’.

Note: MPs or Senators who are, or have been, government Ministers, are given the title ‘The Honourable’. For ministers in the House, this becomes ‘The Hon. First Name Last Name MP’ and ‘Senator the Hon. First Name Last Name’ in the case of Ministers who are Senators.

When you start your letter, you should use the following title formats:

For an MP: ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr Last Name’
For a Senator: ‘Dear Senator’ or ‘Dear Senator Last Name’ in the case of Senators.

If you are unsure of who your representative/senator is and how to address them, you can find the necessary details here.

Introduce yourself and your issue

Start your letter by saying a bit about yourself and why you are concerned. Let them know you are a member of their electorate, with a voice to be heard. It can also be useful to identify your connection to the community, for example, the name of your school, local sporting group, church, club or organisation that you regularly attend.

Keep it brief

Your letter should be as short and simple as possible. Try to keep it to one page. Ideally it should be typed or written very neatly and signed by hand. Stick to one issue per letter and use simple points to make your case. Write logically in well set out paragraphs.

You may also wish to refer the MP to a website, article or book where they can get more information about poverty and any of the broader issues you want them to understand.

Use your own words

Politicians’ offices receive hundreds of letters from constituents. Your aim is to make your letter stand out, so make sure you include your own thoughts, in your own words and consider using one of the following ideas to support them:

Relevant facts and figures
Reference to a recent news item about the issue
Highlight a local connection to the issue
Inclusion of a personal experience that made you want to speak up on the issue.

Be polite

Being polite and respectful in your letter is far more likely to achieve positive results than being insulting or rude. If you disagree with a stance, action or comment from your MP, then say so, but in a reasoned, forthright way. Rather than generating a response, an abusive or threatening letter may be forwarded to the police.

Tell them what you want them to do

Telling your MP about how you feel is important, but it is just as important to tell them what you would like them to do about it. This may include any number of actions, from voting for or against something in Parliament, to raising your concerns in parliament or with their party. That said, the most important thing you should do is ask for a reply to your letter.

Provide your contact details

It’s no good writing a passionate letter requesting action if you forget to provide your contact details. Make sure your letter includes your first and last name, your address, telephone number and email address if you have one.

Be patient. MP’s receive a lot of letters from the community and for this reason, you need to be patient. Await up to one month for a reply isn’t unusual.

Follow up

If you have not received a response after one month, telephone the MP office to remind them about your letter and check when you are likely to receive a response. If you do not receive a response within a fortnight of your call, try again. And keep trying until you succeed. Persistent, but polite, constituents tend to get what they want! Remember, your MP has a responsibility to represent you and to communicate with you. That is why they were elected and why they are paid.

Poverty and Inequality in Australia - Poverty and the Social Determinants of Health

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