How Australia improved health equity through action on the social determinants of health. (Special Issue: Australia in 2030: what is our path to health for all?)

The fantastic journey laid out in this chapter offers glimmers of hope for what the future could bring if there was committed social and policy action on the social determinants of health equity. Sadly, the reality is that social and health inequities and environmental degradation are getting worse, shining a light on the continuing fundamental ruptures in today's society. However, a systems perspective reminds us that nothing is static, and that the shifting political and economic sands due to COVID-19 provide an important window of opportunity to collectively change the system such that communities are able to live with good health, dignity and in an environmentally sustainable way.