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Bridging the gap: Health literacy, equity, and engagement

To Read or Not To Read: Health Literacy Matters

2025 Library and Information Week theme is "To Read or Not to Read: Health Literacy Matters." The district wide library service is emphasising the importance of creating a health-literate environment for our consumers, partnering with HNELHD Clinical Governance, NSW Health's Statewide Health Literacy Hub and the Sydney Health Literacy Lab (SHLL).

Health literacy encompasses more than just understanding health information; it includes the ability to find, comprehend, and use this information to make informed health decisions. In Australia, 60% of people have low health literacy. By improving health literacy through partnerships with patients, families, and caregivers, we can help reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes. This concept is closely linked to the NSQHS Standard 2, Partnering with Consumers with which focuses on engaging consumers in health service governance and decision-making.

Discover the Health Literacy Speciality Guide

31 July 2025

Presented as part of JHH Adult Medicine Grand Rounds

Sam Wierczorek - District Innovation Precinct Lead
Ashley Young - Director, Multicultural and Refugee Health
Nicole Coleman - Donation Specialist Nurse
Kendall Larsen - Social Worker, Maple Leaf House

Open Access logo Askew DA, Foley W, Kirk C, Williamson D. "I'm outta here!": a qualitative investigation into why Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people self-discharge from hospital. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 Sep 3;21(1):907. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06880-9. PMID: 34479571; PMCID: PMC8414851.

Department of Health and Aged Care logo Status and determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

AIHW logo Determinants of health for First Nations people

HNE Health logo Strategic Framework to Improve Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing in HNELHD Implementation Plan 2022-23

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