Health literacy is the ability to access, understand and use information about physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Health literacy in Tasmania
Almost two in three Tasmanians, including one in three with a university degree, lack the health literacy skills to manage their health and wellbeing.
Most Tasmanians do not:
- understand or remember health information
- know how to access services
- know who to see and when to fill in forms
- tell service providers what they need to know
- know how to arrange appointments, routine immunisations and screenings
- know how to prevent health problems or pick them up early.
Tasmanians who experience lower health literacy skills are more reliant on services, healthcare providers, hospital and emergency services. They also find it difficult to use programs to improve their health.
Organisational health literacy
All organisations can make it easier for people to find, understand and use information and services for better health and wellbeing.
Good organisational health literacy practices include:
- providing clear information to help people make informed decisions
- engaging with people in a friendly, welcoming manner
- involving people in decision making.
HeLLOTas! Toolkit
The HeLLOTas! Toolkit helps you explore your organisation’s health literacy practices by providing:
- a step-by-step self-assessment and to develop a Health Literacy Action Plan
- practical tools to help you with these tasks
- links to accreditation standards, resources and further reading material.