WELLNESS AND WELLBEING

Wellness and Wellbeing

Wellness and Wellbeing

The concept of holistic health is not just achieving physical health and fitness but to include a wellness in all dimensions of health. Holistic health is defined by Donatelle as “the ever-changing process of achieving individual potential in the physical, social, emotional, metal, environmental and spiritual dimensions” (Donatelle, R, J. 2006, 6). The holistic health status of Australians continues to improve overall and standing up against other countries Australia has a level or leading health status (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008, p6). However, holistic health has yet to be experienced equally by all Australians. Many factors influence whether a person in experiencing holistic health. Factors include the region you live in Australia, your culture, your lifestyle, your age, your knowledge of holistic health and social-economic situation.

Although, Australia has a population of only 21 million which is small compared to the rest of the industrialized world. Australia is a vast country made up many different living environments and regions. While many Australians reside in the cities and surrounding suburbs and metropolitan areas there is still a large population living in rural and remote regions of Australia. The area that we live impacts both positively and negatively on the holistic health. Each region of Australia has its own negatives and positives, but the most negatively impacted areas are the remote areas of Australia. Many view living in rural Australia as a healthy lifestyle surrounded by beautiful landscapes and clean air, full of activity as appose to Australians living in the cities surrounded by what seems like many people who are overweight and increasing smog and population levels. Just under one third of Australians live in rural or remote regions. These people generally have poorer health than Australians living in urban areas (status (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008, p23) With higher smoking populations and poorer access to health services contributing to the lower quality of health as well as preventable cancers such as cancers associated with sun exposure and smoking, cancers that are detectable through screening (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008, p24) many health risk for rural Australians are preventable, with an increased by 8% in smoking rates and males are more increase the chance of alcohol abuse. While people in rural and remote areas are more likely to engage in behaviours associated with poorer health, their diet is likely to include more vegetables (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008, p26).

In a family, fathers represent an important resource for children, ideally investing the time, money, and emotional support that contribute to healthy child development. Over the past four decades, two important changes have occurred within the post-industrial family, reflecting shifts in family gender roles as well as the division of household labour and market work. First, mothers are increasingly likely to be employed outside the home; and second, fathers' roles have expanded from primarily that of “breadwinner,” who provides economic support, to include that of ...