Page 36 - RFDS TASMANIA - Senior Health Studies presentation _ Final Version v4_Neat

Health of Rural

and Remote

Tasmania

Health-related Issues

The 2015 report, commissioned by RFDS, explains that there are
two major health related issues that adversely affect Tasmania’s
population:

• High rates of lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease (smoking, nutrition,
alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity and mental health); and

• High rates of chronic disease and multi morbidity (particularly cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal conditions and injury).

The report provides detail at a Local Government level and will be released every 3
years by RFDS.

• Tasmania has a regionally dispersed population with one third of Tasmanians
living outside Hobart and Launceston;

• Tasmania has an ageing population with a higher median age than other States or
Territories across Australia;

• Close to one third of Tasmania’s land mass is classified as remote with 2.1% of
the population living in these areas;

• Those living in remote areas are more likely to be socio-economically
disadvantaged and/or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin;

31.