You+cannot+sift+out+the+poor+from+the+community.+The+poor+are+indispensable+to+the+rich.

You cannot sift out the poor from the community. The poor are indispensable to the rich.

HENRY WARD BEECHER, //Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit//

Justin Martin n5683904 Tutor: Michelle Newcomb


 * Cultural Artefact**

The Rod of Asclepins depicts a wooden staff entwined with a single serpent and has been adopted by medical and emergency organisation around the world as the symbol of medicine. The Rod, which should not be confused with the less noble Caduceus, a double snake with wings, dates back to the Minoan civilisation (16th century BC). The serpent, opposing our pathos by falling and rising, parallels the rejuvenation process with the continual shedding of skin while the wooden rod provides for eternity, and knowledge from the mythical Tree of Life (Antoniou et al., 2001).


 * PUBLIC HELATH ISSUE**

The Rod of Asclepins for most people who recognise it, represents a symbol of salvation from their struggles in life. For the medical and emergency organisations who wear it however, it is a direct reflection of society and a function of socio-economic status and circumstances infringing upon socially excluded groups.

Poverty is a public health issue as one’s country of origin, level of affluence, personal health and life expectancy are all intrinsically linked to the distribution of wealth and the requirements needed to provide both basic and vital health services (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003). This report will focus on poverty; its effects and the social exclusion suffered by this minority group as a direct result of the unequal distribution of wealth in Australia and how through effective policy, provide all Australian’s with at least a basic level of health. Effective and targeted health policy would reduce the inequalities surrounding health status and improve the maldistribution of wealth in Australia leading to the misconceptions associated with poverty. Policy targeting key transitions in life; school leavers, employment and retirement would also provide safety nets and allow for excluded groups a more fulfilling social integration, leading to better health standards.

Make Poverty History – Australia (2008 campaign featuring Missy Higgins) media type="youtube" key="rnZIUz1aC80?version=3" height="324" width="576" align="center"


 * LITERATURE REVIEW**

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) concept of poverty is described as “the people in a society that cannot afford the essentials (employment opportunities, food, housing, dental care) that others take for granted... not just caused by individual circumstances but by major inequalities built into the structure of Australian society” (ACOSS, 2011). While the United Nations under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noted poverty as the greatest threat to social cohesion, environmental health and political stability on the planet (ABS, 1996).

Measuring absolute poverty in a developed country such as Australia, according to the World Development Report of 1990, would show virtually no poverty if the $10 per week estimate were applied. As a result, poverty must be measured as a relative concept for those individuals below the average income (ABS, 1996). According to The Henderson Poverty Line of 1995-96, there were over 3.4 million Australian’s living in poverty if two working adults with two teenage children had a net income of $496 per week (ABS, 1998). Regardless of the correct method of measuring poverty or the poverty line in Australia (the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s poverty line is set at 50 percent of Australia's median income) the true figure ofAustralia's population living in poverty may never be known (ACOSS, 2011). Wilkinson and Marmot (2003) suggest this discrepancy is due to income exclusively measured to the detriment of other crucial indications; education, social exclusion, food and access to health services and infrastructure.

Poverty is a major health issue in Australia with approximately 3.4 million people living in poverty however the issues are more complex than a simple case of forgoing meals to pay for petrol or rent (ABS, 1998). People living in poverty and other marginalised groups are affected by social exclusion, and that places them at greater risk of further inequalities as a result of the maldistribution of wealth which is needed to provide the necessary services to assist with health and better social integration (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003).

The unequal distribution of wealth in Australia (or the world; []) is a blight on our society and intrinsically linked to poverty and its downstream effects of social exclusion, lack of employment opportunities and unequal access to health services leading to chronic stress. Economical and poor social circumstances increase the risk of serious illness and premature death by twice than those at the top of the social ladder (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003). Marks (2005) suggests evidence of wealth maldistribution in Australia’s is growing by showing; 10 percent of Australia's population own 45 percent of household wealth and 3 percent own 73 percent of assets with the greatest marginalised group at risk of poverty, singles over the age of 65 years (47%) followed by unemployed (45%) (ACOSS, 2011).

Poverty is associated with poor health through chronic stress. Chronic stress causes physiological shifts in processes normally reserved for tissue repair and maintenance to immunity and reproduction, to one of mobilising energy for flight or fright responses. The longer sufferers of these conditions are exposed to, the greater the physiological effects – leading to associated cardiovascular diseases and psychosocial risk accumulation (Wilkinson, 2006). Wilkinson (2006) highlights three sources of psychosocial stress; low social status, social integration and early life experience. Social status is 'based on privileged access to secure resources regardless of each other's needs'. As humans we compete for the same resources to survive and as a result, conflict may potentially occur. Those at the top of social standings, exerting the greater power, share the view of taking for the greater good. The role of Government through policy is to ensure that inequalities are not exacerbated leading to further exclusion, the provision of both basic and vital health services regardless of social standing and keeping social order. Social integration or exclusion depending on point of view is associated with affiliation. The unemployed, uneducated and those suffering from poverty inevitably leads to social exclusion. As a result of social exclusion and the need for effective policy, the necessary connections needed to be made with other humans (leading to social integration and support) is compromised and further adds to diminished health status (Wilkinson, 2006).

Wilkinson and Marmot (2003) suggest the foundations of adult health care are those experiences embedded in early childhood and education which lead to more fulfilling social integration. Poor emotional support and nutrition provided by parents is associated with cognitive impairments and slow biological development affecting health throughout life and future foetal deficiencies – resulting from smoking, alcohol and drug misuse. Health policy aimed at educating parents at the beginning of pregnancy and pre-schooling years regarding nutritional needs for child brain development, as well as increasing parental confidence ensures parent-child relationships are fostered and maintained. Positive outcomes from policy changes ensure socially excluded groups have better and fair access to health services whilst reducing associated health effects before become a problem occurs (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003).


 * ANALYSIS**

“//We can't abolish poverty because it is a function of individual behaviour//”

(Tony Abbott, Minister for Workplace Relations, Four Corners, ABC TV, Broadcast: 09/07/2001).

Human agency theorists argue that “people create social systems, and these systems, in turn, organise and influence people's lives” (Bandura, 2006). Bandura (2006) further suggests people who engage in active social encounters are the fortuitous ones. The assumption that an individual has control over their own life and subsequent misfortune is prejudice to the health inequalities of political and social environments that affect active participation in society and socially excluded groups. People living in poverty are at greater risk if illness, unemployment, disability and social exclusion due to health access inequalities. Poverty is also associated with malnutrition which in-turn affects one’s overall health status leading to diminished quality of life continuing the perpetual cycle (Pena and Bacallao, 2002). Wilkinson and Marmot (2003) suggest public policy is at the core of changing these outcomes and shaping a positive social environment, adding that health experts need to focus their attention on changing current policy.

Once thought of as merely providing medical care, health policy is undergoing a transformation by looking at the social and economical conditions that make people ill (treat the cause, not the problem). Effective health policy not only provides a safety net but also aids in the crucial transitions of retirement; projected to increase to 23 percent in 2050 from 13 percent in 2010 of Australia's population, employment participation; expected to fall below 61 percent of population (Australian Government, The Treasury, 2010) and education (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003).

Education is of particular interest for health policy as the decisions and behavioural patterns of school leavers will have consequences later on in life. Effective health policy targeting school leavers would guide these future members of society into making better decisions and reduce the risk of social exclusion resulting from the potential effects of poverty. With each subsequent transition in life comes an increased risk of exclusion so offsetting earlier hardships with effective policy, higher health standards can be achieved and exclusion reduced (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003).

Syncopation for non-musically minded, is an interruption/disturbance to the regular flow of rhythm and it is this placement of a stressor into a position that would not normally occur, this author feels represents the paramedic/medical professions. Wearing the Rod of Asclepins they see the effects of poverty, maldistribution of wealth and other marginalised groups first hand. These professions are the barometers of society and treat those affected by social pressure acting on thses groups.
 * ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION**

Researching poverty in Australia has broken some of the stigmas and points of view this author held, none more so than the work by reporter [|Chris Middendorp] and his story of [|Harry]. Is it because we cannot ‘see’ poverty in Australia the same way it is splashed across the TV depicting African countries that compels people to donate or feel sorry? Maybe we are ashamed of poverty in Australia because we live in the lucky country; the fact is we have an increasing population of unnecessary victims to inadequate policy and the growing disparity of wealth.

On a lighter note, what better way to illustrate the efforts of paramedics and what society throws at them, than the 1999 Scorsese drama Bringing Out the Dead.

media type="youtube" key="sfUwvmRmMtw?version=3" height="324" width="576" align="center"

Oh and yes paramedics **are** dam good!

[] [|http://www.bsl.org.au/] [] [] [] [] []
 * LINKS**


 * REFERENCES**

Antoniou, S., Learney, R., & Granderath, F. The Rod and the Serpent: History's ultimate healing symbol. //World journal of surgery//, 35(1), 217-221. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from []

Wilkinson, R & Marmot, M. (2003). Social Determinants of Health: the solid facts (2nd ed.). WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. Retrieved October 9, 2011 from []

ACOSS. (2011). Poverty Report October 2011 Update. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from []

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1996). Year Book Australia. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from []

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1998). Australian Social Trends. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from []

Marks, G., Headey, B., & Wooden, M. (2005). Household wealth in Australia: Its components, distribution and correlates. //Journal of Sociology,// 41(1), 47-68. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from[]

Wilkinson, R. (2006). The Impact of Inequality. //Social research,// 73(2), 711-732. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from []

Bandura, A. (2006). Toward a Psychology of Human Agency. //Perspectives on Psychological Science//, 1, 164-180. Retrieved October 7, 2011 from []

Peña, M., & Bacallao, J. (2002). Malnutrition and Poverty. Annual Review of Nutrition, 22, 241-253. dio: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.22.120701.141104

Australian Government, The Treasury. (2010). The 2010 Intergenerational Report. Retrieved October 16, 2011 from []