Determinants of the gap in health and wellbeing between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who live in the Australian state of Victoria – the contribution of the social determinants of health

This thesis investigates selected social determinants that contribute to the gap in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who live in Victoria. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults disproportionately experience food insecurity, psychological distress, and racism. Experiences of racism account for 34% of the gap in self-reported health status, equivalent in strength to smoking. Racism in all its forms is hypothesised to be the pivotal determinant of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and a conceptual model is proposed.