Public Health Local and Global Perspectives

This chapter introduces readers to primary health care (PHC) and community health in Australia. PHC is an integral part of health care provision and the first point of contact with the country’s health system. In this chapter, definitions of PHC and its rationale are described. Then an overview of current PHC in both Australian and global healthcare systems is provided including discussion of health reforms that have shaped PHC development and funding models. Finally, effective models of care within PHC and community health are examined using a range of examples in Australia and elsewhere. The final section of the chapter provides insights into some of the current challenges and future directions in PHC to respond to rising health care expenditure resulting from increasing costs of investigations, medications and health services and an epidemic of chronic diseases in a rapidly ageing population.