SA: The Heaps Unfair State: The Statistical Report

This is a companion report to SA: The Heaps Unfair State: Why have health inequities increased in South Australia and how can this be reversed?

Australia is a prosperous country. Our relatively small population has benefitted from sustained economic growth, and continual progress across a range of social and economic indicators including health, learning and knowledge, jobs, living standards and participation (1, 2). South Australia has shared in this progress, but throughout the country there has been uneven distribution of these benefits, resulting in growing inequities, including a steepening socio-economic gradient. People in South Australia have good health in general, but the burden of age-related disease is increasing, social connectedness and mental wellbeing are being cited as significantly affecting health, and there are variations in health outcomes resulting from the circumstances in which people live (3).