National Parks: A Prescription for Public Health?

Visiting a national park can save our healthcare system billions of dollars. New research in Adelaide reveals that every visit to a national park saves the health budget almost A$100 ($96). With 22 million national park day trips across Australia in 2019, this adds up to an incredible $2.1 billion in potential healthcare savings.

But here’s the catch—access to these benefits isn’t equal. People in lower socioeconomic areas often have to travel three times farther to reach a park, making fewer visits. This means they miss out on health benefits like reduced stress, lower rates of chronic diseases, and overall improved wellbeing. Read the recent article in The Conversation co-authored by the University of Adelaide’s Assoc Prof Patrick O’Connor, Adam James Loch and John Maclean.

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Key findings:

• Every visit to a national park can save about $96 in healthcare costs.
• National parks could reduce South Australia's healthcare expenses by $140 million annually.
• Lower-income communities are disproportionately missing out on these health benefits.
• We need better access to nature for all, especially those who stand to gain the most. It's time to rethink how we invest in the environment to ensure healthier communities across the country.

Let’s protect and restore our natural spaces—it’s a win for both the environment and public health!