Abstract
The Australian health care system includes a complex mix of consumers, organisations and health care providers. The Australian health care system is well regarded on the world stage (OECD 2013), with quality staff and facilities, good health outcomes and strong engagement of consumers. This complex system has many challenges such as determining access to services, prioritising health issues, funding, ensuring equity in publicly funded services and addressing variations in health outcomes. This chapter defines primary and secondary health care and the services delivered in these sectors, and the expenditure required to fund health care services. It also describes some of the defining aspect of the system.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Occupational Therapy in Australia |
| Subtitle of host publication | Professional and Practice Issues |
| Editors | Ted Brown, Helen Bourke-Taylor, Stephen Isbel, Reinie Cordier |
| Place of Publication | Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Publisher | Allen & Unwin |
| Chapter | 2 |
| Pages | 14-26 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Volume | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781925575026 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781925266634 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
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ISBEL, S., & JAMIESON, M. (2017). An overview of the Australian health care system. In T. Brown, H. Bourke-Taylor, S. Isbel, & R. Cordier (Eds.), Occupational Therapy in Australia: Professional and Practice Issues (Vol. 19, pp. 14-26). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin.