The Australian Government’s National Preventive Health Strategy was released on 12 December 2021 by Health Minister Greg Hunt.

The Strategy has a vision to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians at all stages of life through prevention. By building on previous success and momentum, addressing the increasing burden of disease, reducing health inequity and increasing preparedness for emerging health threats, the Strategy provides an overarching approach to creating a stronger and more effective prevention system in Australia.

Collectively the Strategy’s Framework for Action will support a reduction in the impact of injury in Western Australia, however the following targets in particular support creating a safer WA:

• Towards zero suicides for all Australians.
• At least a 10% reduction in harmful alcohol consumption by Australians by 2025 and at least a 15% reduction by 2030.
• Less than 10% of young people (14-17) are consuming alcohol by 2030.
• Reduce the prevalence of insufficient physical activity amongst children, adolescents and adults by at least 15% by 2030.
• Reduce the prevalence of Australians undertaking no physical activity by at least 15% by 2030.
• Increase the prevalence of Australians who are meeting the strengthening guidelines by at least 15% by 2030.
• Halt the rise and reverse the trend in the prevalence of obesity in adults by 2030.

Injury Matters supports the Strategy in its acknowledgement that Australia has a strong health system, but that Australia’s prevention efforts need to be “systematised, enhanced and strengthened in order to create long-term, sustainable improvements to the health and wellbeing of all Australian’s”.

Australia is ranked 20th in the world for per capita expenditure on preventive health and therefore Injury Matters welcomes the Strategy’s keynote proposal that “investment in preventive health will rise to be 5% of total health expenditure across Commonwealth, state and territory governments by 2030”.

We all have a role to play in achieving the best health outcomes for all Australians. Click here to access the 2021 to 2030 National Preventive Health Strategy, to learn more about the future of Australia’s prevention system.