Hey! Would anyone happen to have some solutions to the VCAA sample questions? I'm not sure how many marks to give myself on the 10 markers
Here are some sample responses:
Q3 Selecting evidence from the sources presented and using your understanding of dietary change, draw conclusions about the impact of dietary initiatives on the health and wellbeing of Australians, and the challenges faced by organisations that are focused on bringing about dietary change in Australia. (10 marks)
Spoiler
Overall dietary initiatives have seen some success in encourage healthy eating, however multiple challenges have failed to be overcome, contributing to rising obesity rates. Some dietary initiatives have seen some progress in improving the diet of Australians, evident in Source 1, the Alfred Health’s nudge project which implemented a labelling system resulted in 77% people stating that it influenced their meal choice. More importantly, the program found a 26% increase in the consumption of ‘green’ (healthy and nutrient dense) meals, and a 17% decrease in ‘red’ (unhealthy and energy dense) meals, demonstrating the promotion of healthy eating. Hence, dietary initiatives have seen an increase in the consumption of nutrient dense foods, thereby promoting physical health and wellbeing. Additionally, the Australian Dietary Guidelines provides advice for Australians when it comes to their diet, for instance Guideline 3: Limit intake of foods high in saturated fat, added salt, added sugar and alcohol, hence when Australians follow the advice of Guideline 3 they are less likely to eat energy dense foods and thereby promote dietary change. However numerous challenges have bene presented and need to be overcome to bring about dietary change. This is evident, since in 1995 the total obesity rate was 18.7% which increased overtime to 27.9% in 2014/2015 (source 2). Such challenges include; personal preference most people prefer foods high in fat, salt and sugar as they are flavour enhancers and stimulate the taste buds and the brain’s reward system. Additionally, individuals most often do not have the willpower or commitment to change food intake and are unable to resist temptations of unhealthier food choices. Coupled, with the time inconvenience healthy foods have (e.g. preparation, cooking) individuals are less likely to consume healthy foods, and as a result, only 24% of women and 15% of men meet the fruit and vegetable guidelines (source 3) highlighting the detrimental impacts the challenges have in promoting healthier food choices. Therefore, more effort and improvement in dietary initiatives is needed to overcome the plethora of challenges in bringing about dietary change in Australia.
Q4 ‘Climate change has greater implications for the health and wellbeing of high-income countries than for low-income countries.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? (8 marks)
Spoiler
I mainly disagree with statement above, low-income countries experience greater implications for their health and wellbeing compared to high income countries due to climate change. Climate change impacts the quality of air and water, the availability of food and shelter, specifically rising sea levels cause an increase in salt in freshwater and thereby a reduction in the availability of fresh water, causing water scarcity and thus leading to water-borne illnesses such as diarrhoea negatively affecting physical health and wellbeing. Low-income countries do not have the money or resources to overcome water sacristy, whilst high-income countries are more likely to afford the resources to recover from such an event. Also, with climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, for instance natural disasters can increase homelessness leading to social isolation, negatively affecting social health and wellbeing. Low-income countries have lower levels of employment and education, thereby have limited health and social services, resulting in victims of natural disasters not being compensated and unable to overcome from such distress, negatively affecting mental health and wellbeing, whilst high-income countries have better access to health and social services and are more likely to receive support in such situations. Finally, changing weather patterns, has resulted in increasing temperature, contributing to crops being destroyed low-income countries have higher levels of food security, compared to high-income countries who have access to money and resources to combat climate change, and preserve crops whilst in low-income countries do not have access to such resources and as such are less likely to consume nutritious foods, negatively affecting physical health and wellbeing.
Q5a Describe the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). (2 marks)
The NDIS supports individuals with a significant or permanent disability under the age of 65 and their families over the individuals lifetime. The NDIS also support individuals with a disability to gain independence, involvement in their community, education, employment, through mainstream support such as installation of ramps in the house.
Q5b Analyse how the NDIS promotes health and wellbeing in Australia. Your response must include a discussion of access, equity and sustainability. (6 marks)
Spoiler
The NDIS entails an accessible healthcare system, evident with the NDIS providing individuals with a significant disability under the age of 65, access to community services and support (e.g. sporting clubs) thus individuals are able to develop meaningful social connections, thereby promoting social health and wellbeing. Additionally, the NDIS promotes equity by ensuring a fair health system as it provides additional financial funded supports, such as the installation of ramps to make the house wheelchair accessible, this instils fairness as it allows those who are disadvantaged due to disability have the resources to lead an ordinary life, such funds reduce the stress and anxiety of individuals, promoting mental health and wellbeing. The NDIS promotes sustainability, through he increased Medicare levy (2%) ensured adequate funds were met to maintain the NDIS, and thus individuals with a significant disability under the age of 65, can receive the support they need such as access to healthcare, thereby promoting physical health and wellbeing.
Q6a From the table above, identify the cause of death that shows the greatest decrease between 1907 and 2000. Discuss how the biomedical and social models of health could have contributed to a reduction in death rates. (6 marks)
Spoiler
Infectious diseases has seen to have the greatest decrease between 1907 and 2000, evident in the table above in 1907 12.6% of deaths reduced to 1.3% in 2000. The biomedical model focuses on the physical or biological aspect of disease and illness, with the biomedical model there was advances in medical technology, resulted in the introduction of antibiotics, contributing to a decrease in infectious diseases such as pneumonia. Hence, the biomedical model is associated with the diagnosis, treatment and cure of diseases, and such efforts from this model has resulted in a reduction is deaths for infectious diseases. The social model of health considers the physical, sociocultural and political environment, focusing in prevention of diseases. The social model applies the principle ‘empower individuals and communities’ through education, for instance campaigns and advertisements on safe sex practises, saw a decrease in sexually transmitted infectious (such as HIV/AIDS) thereby contributing to a reduction in death rates for infectious diseases.
Q6b To what extent could low-income and middle-income countries improve their health status by implementing the actions of the ‘old’ public health system from countries like Australia? (6 marks)
Spoiler
To a moderate extent the actions of ‘old’ public health system can improve the health status of low and middle-income countries. The ‘old’ public health system focused on changing the physical environment to prevent the spread of disease. For instance, measures such as government funded water and sewage systems ensured people had cleaner water to drink, and better sanitation seeing a decrease in infectious diseases from 12.6% in 1907 to 1.3% in 2000, and thus decrease in mortality from infectious diseases. Also, improved housing conditions led to reduced respiratory conditions, evident in 1907 14.3% deaths due to respiratory conditions decreased to 8.9% in 2000 thus due to improved air quality resulted in decreased mortality from respiratory conditions. However, the ‘old’ public health system is limited and only focuses on the physical environment, not considering the impact of the social, economic and political environment, for instance low and middle-income countries have lower levels of access to healthcare, thereby are less likely to be tested nor scanned for pre-existing conditions which can result in conditions, such as cancers being left undiagnosed and thus result in higher mortality rates.
Q8b Collaborative action aiming to reduce maternal mortality is more effective when the collaboration addresses the relationship between SDG 3 and other SDGs.’ With reference to one other SDG, to what extent do you agree with this statement? (4 marks)
Spoiler
I completely agree with the above statement, action taken to end violence against woman and girls (SDG 5: Gender equality) will decrease sexual assault, and by achieving gender equality means more women will be educated, and thus educated women are more likely to marry later, and as such give birth at a later age, where there body is better equipped to carry a baby, thus resulting in reduced maternal mortality (SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing)