Australia's population is on the rise. It increased by approximately 1.3 per cent per year between 1997 and 2007. Just over 50 per cent of this growth resulted from more births than deaths, while just fewer than 50 per cent resulted from net overseas migration. In June 2007, Australia's population was estimated to be 21 million people. This figure is projected to increase to between 30.9 and 42.5 million people by 2056, and to between 33.7 and 62.2 million people by 2101. These projections take into consideration recent trends that suggest more births than deaths in Australia, as well as rising net overseas migration.
Australia's population is also ageing. Around nine per cent of our population is aged 70 years or older. This is expected to increase to 13 per cent by 2021 and to 20 per cent in 2051. These expectations are the consequence of sustained low fertility levels and increasing life expectancy at birth.
This trend is shaping as one of the biggest challenges facing the health of Australia. In the syllabus it is broken down into 4 sections.
1. HEALTHY AGEING - this is best described as a process or strategy to combat the challenges faced by our growing and ageing population.
The next three are the challenges that we are and will continue to face as Australia's population continues to grow and grow older!
2. INCREASED POPULATION LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND DISABILITY
3. DEMAND FOR HEALTH SERVICES AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
4. AVAILABILITY OF CARERS AND VOLUNTEERS
Australia's population is also ageing. Around nine per cent of our population is aged 70 years or older. This is expected to increase to 13 per cent by 2021 and to 20 per cent in 2051. These expectations are the consequence of sustained low fertility levels and increasing life expectancy at birth.
This trend is shaping as one of the biggest challenges facing the health of Australia. In the syllabus it is broken down into 4 sections.
1. HEALTHY AGEING - this is best described as a process or strategy to combat the challenges faced by our growing and ageing population.
The next three are the challenges that we are and will continue to face as Australia's population continues to grow and grow older!
2. INCREASED POPULATION LIVING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND DISABILITY
3. DEMAND FOR HEALTH SERVICES AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
4. AVAILABILITY OF CARERS AND VOLUNTEERS
A growing and ageing population should be always shown as a double impact challenge. As the two graphs above show as our population ages, our capacity to support it gets smaller.
The clip below is from HSC Help ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbEG_ZGRWsI ) - it provides a overview of a growing and ageing population with sample exam questions and answers.
ACHPER - A growing and ageing population
To the left is a recording of a clip from the 2010 PDHPE HSC Enrichment Day Core 1 webinar presented by ACHPER NSW to support PDHPE teachers and students in their work.