Adapting to the changing profile of Australians’ health needs

Our health system is experiencing significant demographic and health status changes in the population, including:

• Increased prevalence of chronic disease accounting for 87% of deaths, 61% of total disease burden and 37% of hospitalisations
• 63% of adults (over 11 million) and 28% of children are considered overweight or obese. Unhealthy diets are the biggest contributor to burden of disease in Australia, with more than 99% of all children and 96% of adults not eating the recommended amount of vegetables
• In 2016, more than 25% of the Australian population was born overseas, and more than 21% spoke a language other than English at home
• In 2017, 15% of Australians (3.8 million) were aged 65 and over; this proportion is projected to grow steadily over the coming decades
• Approximately 45% of Australians aged 16–85 experience mental illness in their lifetime
• 18% of Australians (approximately one in five) have a disability
• One in 11 people aged 65 and over have dementia
• Increasing demand for end of life care
• Emerging vulnerable populations (for example, climate refugees), and public health system impacts associated with climate-related disaster and health impacts

Our research contributes to the national response to these challenges by:

• Preventing obesity in children by activating healthy communities
• Creating healthy food environments
• Generating economic evidence for obesity prevention policies, programs and interventions
• Exploring ways to improve care for pregnant women with obesity
• Investigating and optimising end of life care
• Advancing new models of care for older Australians
• Working with government to identify the most cost-effective mental health interventions
• Increasing understanding of early intervention to prevent complex mental health illnesses developing
• Increasing understanding of organisational systems on employee mental health and well-being
• Supporting guideline development for diabetes in adults, with an emphasis on the special needs of older people with this condition
• Increasing understanding of medication-taking behaviours of older people of non-English speaking backgrounds living in low socioeconomic areas
• Supporting people of non-English speaking backgrounds living with cancer
• Developing health services aimed at improving the health of patients with chronic cardiovascular disease
• Developing national guidelines to improve the management of people with chronic heart failure
• Understanding the health impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations