Cultural models of health and health care

This chapter discusses models of health and wellbeing in Australia and internationally with a focus on the biomedical, biopsychosocial, primary healthcare, Indigenous, and Eastern perspectives. The chapter encourages students to investigate and critically analyse how these models manifest and intersect in healthcare settings nationally and globally and how they are used and supported. These aspects are then linked to health and wellbeing outcomes for diverse populations through case studies and research findings. Students then engage with interactive and self-reflection activities to explore their “culture of health” and how it compares to models present in broader society such as Australia. By the end of this chapter, students would have developed a comprehensive understanding of the role of diverse models of health in establishing culturally safe healthcare environments.