VCE Health and Human Development key terms

The state of a person's physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual existence, characterised by an equilibrium in which the individual feels happy, healthy, capable and engaged.

The five interrelated areas of physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual health that together shape a person's overall state of health and wellbeing.

The efficient functioning of the body and its systems, including adequate energy levels, fitness, body weight and freedom from illness or injury.

The ability to form meaningful relationships, communicate effectively with others and maintain a supportive network of family, friends and community connections.

The ability to recognise, understand and express emotions appropriately, and to manage feelings such as sadness, anger and happiness in everyday situations.

The current state of a person's mind, including their ability to think, reason, problem-solve and process information, and their level of confidence and self-esteem.

A sense of purpose, belonging, peace and values that guides a person's actions and gives meaning to life, often linked to religion, culture, hope or reflection.

The idea that health and wellbeing is continually changing in response to events, circumstances and choices, rather than remaining fixed at one level.

A model that places health on a scale from optimal health and wellbeing at one end to poor health at the other, with individuals moving along it over time.

A subjective experience in which a person feels unwell or perceives their health as poor, which may occur with or without a diagnosed disease.

A physical or mental disturbance involving symptoms, dysfunction or tissue damage that can be diagnosed and measured by health professionals.

An overall measure of the health of an individual or population, judged using indicators such as life expectancy, mortality, morbidity and self-assessed health.

The average number of years a person born in a particular year can expect to live, assuming current death rates remain unchanged.

The number of deaths in a population over a given period, often expressed as a rate and used to compare health between groups and countries.

The rate at which a disease, illness or condition occurs in a population, referring to levels of ill health rather than death.

A measure of the gap between current health and an ideal state of full health, combining years lost to premature death and years lived with disability.

Disability-adjusted life year; one year of healthy life lost, made up of years of life lost to premature death plus years lived with disability or illness.

Years of life lost, a component of burden of disease counting the years a person would have lived had they not died prematurely.

Years lived with disability, a component of burden of disease counting years lived in states of poor health or injury that are less than full health.

The fundamental conditions needed for health, including peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity.

The fair distribution of resources, opportunities and privileges within a society, so that all people can access what they need for a healthy life.

The fair treatment of all people, giving extra support to those who need it so that everyone can reach a similar level of health and opportunity.

Treating everyone in exactly the same way and giving identical resources or opportunities, regardless of individual circumstances or disadvantage.

Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, including environmental, social and economic dimensions.

The process of enlarging people's choices and improving their lives by building capabilities, expanding freedoms and creating opportunities for a long, healthy, creative life.

A composite measure of human development based on life expectancy, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.

Seventeen global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.

The increasing interconnection of countries through trade, investment, technology, communication and the movement of people, goods and ideas across borders.

A company that operates in more than one country, often with headquarters in a high-income nation and production or sales in lower-income nations.

Assistance given by one country or organisation to another, including money, goods, expertise or emergency relief, to support development and wellbeing.

A not-for-profit organisation that operates independently of government, often delivering aid, advocacy or health programs within and across countries.

All the organisations, institutions, resources and people whose main purpose is to promote, restore or maintain health, including hospitals, clinics and community services.

Australia's universal public health insurance scheme that provides free or subsidised treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all citizens and residents.

A voluntary insurance policy that covers some hospital and ancillary services, offering choice of doctor and shorter waiting times for elective procedures.

The social, economic and environmental conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, which strongly influence their health outcomes.

Differences in health status between population groups that are unfair, avoidable and caused by unequal access to resources and opportunities.

Influences on health that relate to the body and its genetics, such as sex, hormones, body weight and genetic predisposition to certain conditions.

Actions and choices a person makes that affect their health, such as diet, physical activity, tobacco smoking, alcohol use and sun protection.

The process of enabling people to increase control over and improve their health, through education, policy, supportive environments and community action.

A 1986 World Health Organization framework for health promotion built around five action areas, including healthy public policy and supportive environments.