Overview
The healthcare industry is ever evolving to meet the increasing population growth, ageing population, increase in chronic disease rates, and mental health conditions. The Australian healthcare system is currently dominated by a biomedical model, focusing on diagnosing and treating rather than preventing disease. This model overlooks socioeconomic factors which often contribute to health issues. ACN advocates for a shift to a socialised model of care. This model identifies the role social determinants of health play in achieving equity-based healthcare. Nurses are the largest group of health professionals and are uniquely positioned across the health sector to enact change. Nurses taking a leading role in delivering a socialised model of care through nurse led services would allow for more accessible healthcare nationwide and longer consultation times for patients to focus on foundational issues causing diseases and ill-health. Embracing a socialised model of healthcare in Australia is a significant opportunity to enhance health outcomes and reduce disparities. Nurse-led initiatives are central to this transformation.
Key recommendations
ACN encourages federal, state, and territory governments to:
- Review the Healthcare Funding Model to Include Socialised Models of Healthcare and Funding for Nurse-Led Models of Care.
ACN recommends supporting the higher education sector and health institutions to:
- Develop National Guidelines for Health Education Providers to Embed Socialised Models of Healthcare into All Aspects of Nursing and Midwifery Curriculum.
ACN recommends that healthcare services and individual nurses should:
- Promote a Workplace Environment that Respects Social Determinants of Health.
- Protect and Promote Diversity to Ensure Equal Access to Healthcare.
