Abstract:

This paper is written to encourage the quest for a national health policy for Australia. It begins with a consideration of the nature of health, its place in the life of the individual and of society. The social determinants of health and the social pressures that determine how resources for health are allocated are then considered. The objective of going beyond medical care in the search for better health began in Canada. The authors provide an overview of the concept of population health and the tension that arose between it and the more classical forms of health promotion. The historical legacy that has led to the present circumstances in health policy development in Australia is then explored, followed by an examination of changes in policy setting internationally. The authors conclude with a section exploring how policy has been, and may in future be, changed in Australia, and the role that all citizens have in the task.