The text provides an overview of the Australian Health Care System at a level suitable for 1st year undergraduate students. It describes the 'architecture' of the system and its key components (public hospital sector, private hospital and health insurance, GPs and primary care, community health, public health), some of the things that shape the system and introduces key concepts that underpin it such as the idea of the welfare state or a universal health system.

A updated overview of Australia’s health care system, addressing its core features, concepts and issues Understanding the Australian Health Care System, 2nd edition is an excellent university book for undergraduate and postgraduate students alike. Published four years after the original, this second edition has been fully revised to reflect major Australian health care reform. Its fully up-to-date content includes current governmental and legislative changes impacting Australia’s health care system. Other topics addressed include quality and safety within the system, health insurance in Australia – both public and private – the PBS and integrated medicine. This outstanding medical book delves deeply into the system’s theoretical framework, structure and organisation and includes comparisons with the US and UK health care systems. This new edition of Understanding the Australian Health Care System will be a valuable reference for those studying health science, health promotion, sports and exercise science, physiotherapy, human services, nursing, midwifery, medicine, paramedicine, health system management, medical radiations science and health informatics. Online student and instructor resources Stronger focus on social determinants throughout text Addresses a wide range of health professions – now including disability professionals and social workers Current theoretical framework for healthcare reform (Tuohy 2009) Stronger focus on social determinants throughout text Addresses current position on national registration Features an excellent ancillary package on Elsevier’s Evolve platform Includes three new chapters addressing: disability professionals; quality and safety; and social work Reflects major health care reform in Australia (COAG 2009) Discusses current theoretical framework for healthcare reform (Tuohy 2009) New contributors

- New chapters on workers' compensation systems, oral health and dental services, clinical exercise physiology and pharmacy - Significantly expanded glossary - Up-to-date information on the most recent Australian health reforms - Case studies on all of the major health care professions in Australia, including nurses, midwives, speech pathologists, audiologists, health managers, paramedics, social workers, dietitians, doctors (GPs), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dentists and oral therapists, exercise physiologists, pharmacists and homeopaths - A suite of video interviews with multidiscipline practitioners and thought leaders exploring aspects of Australian health care, theories and challenges now and for the future.