Fair Foundations: The VicHealth framework for health equity

Fair Foundations: The VicHealth framework for health equity is a planning tool for health promotion policy and practice. It outlines the social determinants of health inequities, suggesting entry points for action.

Health inequities are differences in health status between population groups that are socially produced, systematic in their unequal distribution across the population, avoidable and unfair.

Evidence tells us that health equity is best achieved by addressing the social conditions that influence health, and the social processes that distribute them unequally in society. These are called the social determinants of health inequities. 
 

Fair Foundations: The VicHealth framework for health equity (247 KB) is a conceptual and action oriented framework designed to assist with health promotion planning. It depicts the social determinants of health inequities as layers of influence and entry points for action. The framework can be used for any public health issue.

About Fair Foundations and promoting health equity (673 KB) is a resource to support the Fair Foundations framework. It provides further explanation, and other supplementary information about promoting equity in health. 

Fair Foundations has been used to guide the following eight evidence reviews that look at the social determinants of health inequities relevant to each issue, and what can be done to address them. 
 

There are full reports and summary versions of each review, as well as peer reviewed versions in a special supplement of Health Promotion International:

 Promoting equity in child and adolescent mental wellbeing

Summary: Promoting equity in child and adolescent mental wellbeing (360 KB)

Full report: Addressing the social determinants of inequities in mental wellbeing of children and adolescents (756 KB)

 Promoting equity in physical activity

Summary: Promoting equity in physical activity (242 KB)

Full report: Addressing the social determinants of inequities in physical activity and related health outcomes (659 KB)

 Reducing tobacco-related health inequities 

Summary: Reducing tobacco-related health inequities (428 KB)

Full report: Addressing the social determinants of inequities in tobacco use (748 KB)

 Reducing alcohol-related health inequities 

Summary: Reducing alcohol-related health inequities  (389 KB)

Full report: The social determinants of inequities in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related health outcomes (1.2 MB)

 Promoting equity in healthy eating

Summary: Promoting equity in healthy eating (457 KB)

Full report: Addressing the social determinants of inequities in healthy eating (754 KB)

Promoting health equity through social innovation

Summary: Promoting health equity through social innovation (433 KB)

Full report: Social innovation for healthy equity promotion (701 KB)

 Promoting equity in early childhood development for health equity through the life course

Summary: Promoting equity in early childhood development for health equity through the life course (718 KB)

Full report: Early childhood development and the social determinants of health inequities (1 MB)

Promoting health equity through addressing social determinants in healthy settings approaches

Summary: Addressing determinants in healthy settings approaches (394 KB)

Full report: Settings for addressing the social determinants of health inequities (834 KB)

To view the Fair Foundations audiovisual material from 2013, click here.