| What is inequality |
What is meant by “Inequality”?Overall, the level of wellbeing of the South Australian population is high when compared to the populations of many overseas countries. However, these summary statistics hide substantial differences in the health and wellbeing of specific groups within our population. For example, compared with other South Australians, Aboriginal people are disadvantaged across a broad range of social and economic domains, including education, health, employment, income and housing. ‘Inequality’ simply means ‘a difference’. Numerous inequalities exist across the population in South Australia and they tend to divide our community into different groupings. There are many types of inequality – age, sex, ethnicity and race, social and economic position, disability, geographical area, health status etc. Some dimensions of inequality, such as age, are unavoidable and unable to be altered. Other inequalities occur as a result of differences in: access to education, material resources, safe working conditions, effective services, living conditions in childhood, and so forth. Many such inequalities result because of differences that are unfair. The challenge is to find those effective interventions that will address these inequities and improve the wellbeing of all those who are disadvantaged. The socioeconomic environment is a powerful and potentially modifiable factor, and public policy is a key instrument to improve this environment, particularly in areas such as housing, taxation and social security, work environments, urban design, pollution control, educational achievement, and early childhood development. For South Australia to remain an inclusive community, we need to continue to address inequalities at local, regional and state-wide levels
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