Australia’s Healthcare System – Government Responsibilities
Australia’s healthcare system is funded 48% by the federal Commonwealth government, 23% by state, territory and local governments and 29% by the non-government sector (including individuals). Over 90% of health expenditure goes towards curative measures (reflecting the biomedical model of health), while only 2-5% is spent on health promotion.
You should be able to list some of the federal, state and local government’s responsibilities in relation to health, healthcare, and health funding – either in general or linked to specific conditions.
Federal Government Responsibilities
- management and funding of Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- management of private health insurance
- management and funding of national health promotion programs, e.g. Shape Up
- management of quarantine
- purchase of vaccines
- management and funding of aged care/HACC services
State Government Responsibilities
- provision and funding of public hospital services
- provision (not funding, individuals pay) of ambulance services
- provision of community health services (child, youth, family, school, dental, sexual health)
- funding health promotion programs through bodies like VicHealth
Local Government Responsibilities
- organise local immunisation programs
- maintain sanitary environment
- maintain roads and public places to uphold safety and reduce injury
- organise and maintain recreational and cultural facilities
- local maternal and child services
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