The University of Queensland’s Healthy Communities Research Centre is continuing to support international efforts in the field of community health by bringing UK Emeritus Professor Richard Wilkinson to Ipswich for a lunch seminar on August 25.
Professor Wilkinson has played a formative role in research and public awareness of health inequalities and the social determinants of health for more than 30 years.
He played a key role in the production of The Black Report on Health Inequalities, published in 1980, which investigated why some people achieve good health while others do not.
Since then, he has continued to lead ground breaking research on the health and social effects of income inequality.
His most recent book, written with Kate Pickett, is called The Spirit Level: why more equal societies almost always do better.
Published earlier this year by Penguin, it has received widespread attention and praise.
It sets out the evidence and explains why bigger income differences have such devastating effects on the social fabric of societies and how this in turn reduces health and wellbeing.
Director Professor Robert Bush said that the Healthy Communities Research Centre was a unique part of the mix that was building the research platform for health and wellbeing in the City of Ipswich.
“The Centre continues to support international efforts that are helping to ensure people in their communities have the best opportunity to achieve optimum health. The Richard Wilkinson Lunch Seminar is part of our international efforts," Professor Bush said.
Support for Richard Wilkinson’s visit has been generously provided by the Ipswich Hospital Foundation, the Ipswich City Council, West Moreton South Burnett Health Service District, the Faculty of Health Sciences at The University of Queensland and QCOSS.
The event is being organised by the Healthy Communities Research Centre.
Media: Stacey Menear, Healthy Communities Research Centre, 338 11083, 0411 245 998 or s.menear@uq.edu.au
