Be Health Aware

 

Understanding our own health and how to access the care we need is now more important than ever. Advances in modern medicine and knowledge about what care best suits each of us is flourishing, increasing our options.

How do we make good decisions about our health and care? Improving our Health Literacy is how we become equipped to achieve better health.  

 

 

 

 

Be Health Aware is the CHF portal for evidence-based information and resources.

The best health outcomes rely on people who are engaged and informed about their health and healthcare choices. The resources on this page will help you with your health care decisions and choices. They have been created by credible and reputable sources. Be Health Aware is a part of our advocacy of health literacy, central to consumer-centred health care.

Use the links in the right-hand column to navigate the page and find the information you need, whether in relation to a particular disease, treatment, service or policy. If you have ideas of resources to include on this page we would love to hear from you

What is health literacy?

Health literacy is how people understand information about health and health care, and how they apply this information to their lives, use it to make decisions and act on it (Australian Commission of Safety and Quality in Health Care or ACSQHC).

Resources

About Health Literacy

Quick links


    Covid-19 and vaccination

    Information from the Australian Department of Health

    The COVID-19 restriction checker from Healthdirect — a search tool to help you find the restrictions in your state or territory.

    Healthdirect provides free, approved medical advice and |information for Australians on COVID-19.

    For medical advice visit Healthdirect or see your doctor or pharmacist.

    More from Health direct

    Is it true? Answers to common questions and misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines

    National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline

    If you need information about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines or help with the COVIDSafe app, call the COVID-19 helpline 1800 020 080. More information about the helpline, finding a vaccination service and FAQs from the Australian Department of Health.

    How to find your COVID vaccination record

    Advice on different ways to access your vaccination record from the Australian Digital Health Agency

    Your COVID-19 action plan

    If your doctor has assessed you as being at high or moderate risk of severe illness if you contract COVID-19, this action plan will help you manage risks.

    COVID-19 factsheets and posters in other languages

    Available from the Healthdirect website under the heading: "Resources in other languages."

      Australian Department of Health

      World Health Organisation

      National COVID-19 clinical evidence taskforce - High-priority, evidence-based clinical COVID-19 guidelines

      Digital Health Agency - accessing proof of vaccination

      Connections for older Australians, - advice from COTA

      More advice and support line for older Australians to stay healthy and safe.

      Making sense of COVID-19 - information for HIV and LGBTIQ communities

      Stay up-to-date with news about COVID-19 - ABC coronavirus hub

      Coronacast - podcast by Dr Norman Swan, Physician and Health Journalist with the ABC.

      Covid19 Data - Data verified with federal, state and territory health departments run by Fairfacts Data and volunteers.

      Consumer information about vaccines

      The following resources about the vaccination program are from the science community and have been published by trusted organisations.

      Get the facts on the pandemic, vaccines and misinformation in this explainer from the Australian Academy of Science.

      The Australian Academy of Science also provides credible consumer information about COVID-19 and the science of immunisation

      What to ask your doctor

      Asking the right questions and getting the right information from your healthcare providers is vital to gain a clear understanding of your own health. 

      Medicine and medical devices

      Learn more about your medicines, medical devices, and where to go if you are having issues with them.

      Falls, troubles concentrating, dry mouth and more. Could it be your medicines?

      NPS MedicineWise has produced information in collaboration with the Older Peoples Advocacy Network (OPAN) and Carers Australia to help people prepare for a medicines review, ask questions and understand the options around changing your medicines and make any changes to the medicines you are taking.

      Digital health

      Learn about digital health and how it can help us track, manage, and improve health outcomes, care environments and lead to greater independence. 

      How to use your vaccination record

      You can now get your immunisation history statement from My Health Record to show proof of your vaccinations. The statement is also available if you're not eligible for Medicare but have a record. Learn more

      Private Health Insurance

      Do you need Private Health Insurance? With so many policies to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? On 1 April 2019, private health insurance begins the most extensive changes in recent years. Learn more about how it works, compare policies and understand your options. 

      Medicare

      Learn more about Medicare, the scheme that gives Australian residents access to healthcare. You can access your Medicare account through myGov, a system that allows you to securely access multiple government services with one login.

      Health concessions guide

      Learn about healthcare concessions and which ones you may be eligible for. 

      Oral health 

      Oral health is fundamental to overall health and wellbeing. Take control of your oral health and enjoy better general health overall.

      Mental health

      Foster your own mental health and enjoy a general state of wellbeing, including the ability to cope with changes and challenges and live your life in a positive and meaningful way.

      Healthdirect — mental health resources from the governement-funded healthcare information service

      Head to Health — Australian Department of Health: apps, online programs, online forums, and phone services, and a range of digital information resources

      SANE Australia — mental health support and resources

      Lifeline Australia — 24-hour telephone support for people in crisis and suicide prevention services

      Beyond Blue — information and resources for Australians to acheive their best mental health

      Black Dog Institute — medical research institute for the early detection, prevention and treatment of common mental health disorders - public resources including research studies, education programs, digital tools and apps and clinical services

      Healthy Mind — an online Easy Read tool designed for people with Intellectual Disability (ID)

      Indigenous health

      Resources to support the physical, cultural, social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. 

      Wellmob - healing our way - Social, emotional and cultural wellbeing online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, developed by eMHPrac (e-Mental Health in Practice) in collaboration with the Australian Indigenous HealthInfonet, at Edith Cowan University 

      Disability services

      Services and resources to support people living with a disability and their carers.  

      Carers

      Carers are those who provide care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. If you are a Carer, it is important that you also take care of your own health and wellbeing.

       

      Finding a health service or advice

      Find quality, approved health services and information to suit your circumstances.

      Hotlines

      Whether you have a health enquiry or are looking for support during difficult times, there are many free hotlines that provide information, referrals and advice for a range of situations.

      healthdirect 1800 022 222 — Non-urgent 24/7 health advice

      Medicine line 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) — Information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines.

      Cancer council 13 11 20 — Confidential information & support on cancer-related issues

      Strokeline 1800 787 653 — Information and advice on stroke prevention, treatment and recovery

      Lifeline 13 11 14 — 24/7 crisis support

      Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 — 24/7 support & advice from a trained mental health professional

      Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 — 24/7 support for kids, teens & young adults

      QLife 1800 184 527 — nonymous LGBTI peer support and referral

      Consumer centred care

      Working towards creating mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients and families. 

      Multicultural health & support

      Services that ensure quality health care for all people living within our culturally and linguistically diverse society.

      Do you need an interpreter to help with a medical emergency or inquiry?

      Always call 000 directly if you need to contact emergency Ambulance, Police or Fire services. The 000 emergency services line will call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) and connect you with an interpreter using a priority line 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

      TIS National can help communications with: medical and health practitioners, pharmacists and emergency services. It provides interpreting services to people who do not speak English and to agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients. These services enable non-English speakers to independently access services and information in Australia.

      TIS National can call on 3000 interpreters across Australia in more than 160 different languages. Non-English speakers can access immediate telephone interpreters through TIS National by calling 131 450.

      Alternatively, if you contact an organisation directly it may organise an interpreter on your behalf.