There is growing recognition that some inequalities in health and in access to health care are systematic, avoidable and have been judged to be unfair – that is, inequitable. Access and equity are core values of the NSW Health system that drive a commitment to health for all in the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD). HERDU is a unit of Population Health in SLHD and a research hub of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity at UNSW Australia that aims to improve the health of groups of people and places that are most at risk.

Is equity an issue in SLHD?

What we do?

HERDU aims to work with SLHD staff, partners and with communities to identify health inequities and improve the health of groups of people who do not have opportunities to receive the health care and resources they need to be as healthy as others in the population.

There are four strategic directions to our work:-

Re-orienting local health services, policies and plans towards improving health equity

We do this using data and tools to build skills, knowledge and capacity, such as:

Equity Focused Health Impact Assessments (EFHIAs)

• Renal
• SLHD strategic plan
• Hospital in the Home
• After Hours Care Planning 

Health Impact Assessments (HIA): Green Square Urban Renewal Area

Contributing to new Models of Care & building equity into local policies

• Can Get Health in Canterbury: review
• About Can Get Health
• Bi Lingual Community Educators (BCEs)

Working with government, non-government, private and community organisations to address the determinants of health inequity

• Kids Don’t Fly
• Urban development

Conducting high quality research to describe health inequities, translate evidence into practice, and evaluate the impact of interventions, policies and programs on health equity

• The 45 & Up study: Primary and Community Health Cohort
• Hospital in the Home in Sydney Local Health District
• Universal Health Home Visiting
• Healthy Homes and neighbourhoods
• Reasons for attendance at Canterbury ED for new migrant parents

Building organisational capacity to address equity

• HERDU's achievements 
• Learning by Doing
• Seminars
• Forums

To achieve this HERDU aims to engage the leadership and staff of SLHD and to work in partnership with local organisations including the Primary Health Network.  It also aims to build its own infrastructure of qualified and experienced staff and to collaborate with other research organisations to provide leadership in health equity research at national and international levels.