If you’ve obtained a Master of Social Work qualification or completed a similar degree in the field, you’ll understand that the interconnectedness between people is what makes communities thrive. In the same way, community health focuses not just on the health of the individual, but instead, on caring for and treating the entire community as a whole, complete entity.
From this perspective, the health of one community member impacts the entire neighborhood – as the ripple effect of maintaining a positive level of well-being in each community member can be felt throughout. The connectedness of community health has many benefits – such as cultivating a sense of inclusivity and belonging among neighbors, promoting healthier and safer living environments, and creating more social cohesion within neighborhoods. This can have a positive impact on a geographic region’s liveability by creating a more socially connected and healthier atmosphere – and lifestyle – within that community.
Stay with us as we explore the concept of community health in further detail.
Defining Community Health: What Is It?
In essence, community health is about promoting a sense of collective responsibility for our entire community’s well-being. It means implementing community wellness programs and providing safe access to healthcare services for the whole neighborhood. This, of course, involves being able to support the community with a wide range of medical services – including, for example, family doctors, family nurse practitioners, and grassroots social workers.
Community health and public health are fundamentally intertwined. If policymakers care about the health of their communities, then, they will prioritize the provision of local healthcare services, for all. If the old adage of “all for one, and one for all” means anything, no one should get left behind when it comes to their health. This subscribes to the perspective that if any one community member is suffering from any type of health concern – be it poor physical health, or declining mental well-being – this impacts the rest of us, too.
For this reason, public health initiatives such as Medicare – which provides financial support such as bulk billing – need to be made a priority. With recent cuts in Medicare’s funding, though, community health is likely to suffer. If we want to maintain the good health of our communities, then, surely this is something the Australian government needs to focus on ramping up again.
Why Community Health is Important: The Benefits
The consequences of neglecting community health are extreme. Not only can our collective physical and mental well-being be adversely impacted, but there are also deeper socioeconomic ramifications: our inability to work and maintain our financial health due to medical neglect can lead communities to higher crime rates, and higher degrees of domestic and family violence. As a result, this can impair how safe we feel in our neighbourhoods. The neglect of community health initiatives can also result in lower educational achievement in children, and perhaps most importantly, affect our overall happiness.
Happiness is, arguably, the most important element of our lives. Without it, we lose our sense of purpose, and our lives feel meaningless – which can cause flow-on effects such as emotional distress, or in some cases, anxiety and depression. If community health is in disarray, then, so are our communities.
Accessing Community Healthcare in Australia: Where to Find It
The good news? Community access to healthcare services in Australia is – for the most part – well-supported. Thanks to initiatives such as Medicare, Australian citizens have far better access to safe, efficient, and quality healthcare and medical treatment than many other nations. Some would even argue that Australia’s healthcare system is one of the best in the world.
So, where can you access community healthcare services in Australia? First, start with your local family doctor or general practitioner. The best part? There exists an abundance of affordable medical clinics locally. Just be wary: due to the recent Medicare cuts, not every Australian medical clinic will bulk bill. Be sure to check the appointment fees on the clinic’s website before attending your medical appointment.
Community health is tied up with our collective wellness. Rather than focusing on our individual health conditions, we should be prioritizing the well-being of every community member.
To do this, we need to be providing medical services that cater to and care for the entire community – as a whole.
