Australians will be better supported to find, understand and use reliable health information, with the first National Health Literacy Framework launched today at the University of Sydney.
Health literacy is vital life skill which gives people the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health, from understanding when to get a screening test to knowing where to seek care and making sense of treatment options.
Lower health literacy is linked with delayed care, higher hospital use, poorer chronic disease management, medication errors and avoidable hospitalisations.
The framework provides the first nationally coordinated approach to improving health literacy in Australia. It offers evidence-based guidance to support the development of policies and programs by all levels of government, health services and community organisations to improve health literacy.
The framework estimates that improving health literacy by 25% could save $7.3 billion annually.
With Australians exposed to more health information that ever before, particularly through social media, online resources and artificial intelligence (AI), being able to identify information that is accurate and trustworthy is increasingly important.
Importantly, the framework recognises that improving health literacy is not just the responsibility of individuals. Health services, information and systems must also be easier to access, understand and use.
It also supports the delivery of culturally safe and inclusive health information and services for diverse communities, including First Nations peoples and multicultural communities who may face additional barriers to accessing care.
The Australian Government provided funding to the Sax Institute and the Sydney Health Literacy Lab at the University of Sydney to develop the Framework as part of implementation of the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
“Health literacy gives people the confidence to understand their health and make informed decisions about their care
“With more health information at our fingertips than ever before, particularly through social media and AI, knowing what information you can trust really matters.
“People shouldn’t have to be health experts to understand their own health. This framework provides a national roadmap to help all people in Australia make informed health decisions and make sure health information is communicated clearly in a way that is easy to understand. “
Quotes attributable to Professor Kirsten McCaffery, Director of the University of Sydney Health Literacy Lab:
“Health literacy isn’t just about understanding information. It’s about knowing where to find information and who to trust.
“There is a lot of useful health guidance available online and on social media, but there is also much that is misleading, false or linked to influencers with vested financial interests.
“Helping Australians unpick what can be trusted and what should be scrutinised is vital – and is why we’re so pleased to have worked with government on the National Health Literacy Framework.”
Quotes attributable to Saad Khalid, Chair of the Community Panel, Sydney Health Literacy Lab:
“For many communities, especially migrant and multicultural communities like mine, it can be hard to know where to go for the right information.
“Making sure that information and services are easy to find, understand and use will help people navigate the health system more easily and access the best possible guidance.”
Saad Khalid is a 24-year-old Pakistani-Australian and a nationally recognised leader in multicultural media and ethnic community broadcasting. A 2024 Young Australian of the Year finalist, he continues to advocate for migrant and multicultural communities through work spanning health, media, governance and public policy. He chairs CoSHeLL, the Sydney Health Literacy Lab’s Community Panel, and draws on his own lived experience to bring community experiences into the institutions and systems that shape people’s lives.
