Developing Health Literacy Through School Based Health Education: Can Reality Match Rhetoric?

Louise McCuaig, Sally Corre, Kristie Carroll, Doune Macdonald, Tony Rossi, Robert Bush, Remo Ostini, Peter Hay, Rebecca Johnson

Research output: Book/Research ReportResearch report

Abstract

Recently in Australia, the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (2009) and National Preventative Health Taskforce (2009) recommended that one way to strengthen consumer engagement within a health system is to ensure health literacy comprise a core element of the National Curriculum for primary and secondary schooling. However, whilst nationally and internationally schools are mandated to teach health education, there is considerable disjuncture between societies’ broad expectations and schools’ capacities to deliver programs that promote healthy living (Marks, 2010; Basch, 2010). Given the centrality of literacy education in contemporary schooling (Snyder, 2008), ‘health literacy’ has been identified as a construct that offers the potential to close this perceived gap (McCuaig, Coore & Hay, 2012; Kickbusch, 2001). To date, there has been limited research as to what a health literacy focused, school based health education curriculum could look like.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationSt. Lucia, Qld.
PublisherUniversity of Queensland
Number of pages89
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • health literacy
  • health education
  • schools
  • Australia

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