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There are several ways to assess the causes or ‘determinants’ of
community wellbeing and health. A simple cause and effect link
can be made in relation to some health issues - for example an
individual’s inactivity and poor diet can directly result in a higher
risk of obesity and diabetes – but an individual’s likelihood
of maintaining health is also affected by wider environmental
and social ‘determinants’ such as access to nutritious foods,
access to recreational opportunities, socio-economic status,
employment status, community and family support, education,
and a health-supporting built environment.These social and
environmental determinants are known to be very significant
factors in an individual’s wellbeing and her or his capacity to
maintain good health practices.
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To gain maximum benefit, best practice public health programs
aim to address both influences – for example, the OPAL
program 2015, supported by the State Government and
Council, is working directly with school children in Kilburn, Blair
Athol and surrounding suburbs to educate and assist children
(and their parents) regarding healthy activity and diet regimes.
The program also researches and advocates in regard to
improving access to local parks and recreational opportunities,
and highlighting important urban planning and design issues
that may be limiting choice and opportunity. OPAL is a strong
example of how a range of risks can be addressed in an
integrated way in program design – that is, focusing not just on
the individual but also on the social and urban environment in
which the individual lives.
Community wellbeing, therefore, is improved not only by
intervention via health-specific projects, but also by wider
support programs and resources such as community and
cultural engagement programs, access to community ‘spaces
and places’ where people can meet and learn, precinct or
‘place-making’ projects, or targeted employment and local
economic development programs. Programs should be
prioritised to the neighbourhoods or groups where needs are
greatest and the most beneficial outcomes can be achieved –
so as to improve equality of opportunity across the Council.
“ Public health in the 21st century has a lot to do
with the way our community is organised and how
our society shares its benefits and advantages …..
It reflects how resilient we are, how we recover
from hardships and breakdowns, and how we can
together rebuild and restore our sense of wellbeing
and community.Therefore, public health is about
all of us – preventing the causes that make us sick
and building on those things that protect us and
improve our health and wellbeing.”
SA Public Health Plan 2013
(referencing theWorld Health Organisation)
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See for example, how urban densities and design can positively or negatively affect health in ‘Transit-oriented
developments – Through a Health Lens” SA Health 2011