This section includes key terms that are important to adult learning and health. The purpose of including these terms is to broaden understanding of how health and adult learning interconnect, and to provide an understanding of the broad context in which health and adult learning might occur.

The AWG seeks to promote an inclusive model of how adult learning fits into the broad arena of health. Adult learning refers to informal, non-formal, and formal ways that adult learn. Health is defined broadly as not just the absence of disease but as including all aspects of an individual’s health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is affected by social determinants such as income, housing, racism, social exclusion, and access to health services. Health is seen as a fundamental human right with a vision of equitable, inclusive and just provision of health services to all, with particular attention to marginalized groups.

The AWG examines the links between adult learning and health. The link between health and adult learning is about helping people gain control over the conditions that affect one's health, and most importantly about understanding and being able to act upon the conditions that affect one's health. Adult educators have a significant role to play in engaging others in thinking about and changing the social and institutional factors that impact health.

The goal of the learning works towards access and equity in all areas related to health, and building and sustaining healthy communities. Learning is for everyone involved. This includes not only community members who make up priority groups but also service providers, policy makers and the general public. This idea refers to a transfer of knowledge, and then a transfer of knowledge to practices. Learning involves use of health, advocacy and self-help. Organizational capacity building that translates into more accessible and appropriate health care is also part of the link between adult learning and health.