What is Health Literacy… and why does it matter?

The Water Well Project aims to improve health literacy amongst communities and thereby improve access to local healthcare services and resources. We believe that this facilitates more effective, informed health consultations with medical services including local hospitals, GP clinics, allied health services and the refugee health nurse program.

Improving health literacy translates into individuals having greater autonomy over their health, and the health of their family and communities. Improved health knowledge and awareness of available healthcare and preventative health strategies. This not only reduces the burden of illness on individuals and communities, but also on the healthcare system.

As outlined by the World Health Organization- Health Literacy:

Health literacy is "the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. It means more than being able to read pamphlets and make appointments. By improving people's access to health information and their capacity to use it effectively, health literacy is critical to empowerment".