Taking Preventative Action
2.9 The Way Forward
Since 2007, the Government has taken decisive action to ensure the quick and effective roll out of comprehensive programs supporting individuals, families and communities. These efforts will yield benefits in the short and long term – reducing the prevalence of obesity, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol will improve health and wellbeing today as well as reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases into the future. Fewer chronic diseases will mean fewer people seeing doctors and being admitted to hospitals – that will be good for individuals, for the health system and for the economy.
In the specific chapters of this document that follow, the Commonwealth Government responds in detail to all 35 key action areas and 136 sub-recommendations.
This Overview summarises the many actions we have taken, including in 28 of the 35 key action areas identified by the Taskforce. There is still some way to go, and the Government will work with the Australian National Preventive Health Agency and with states and territories to achieve further outcomes. We have taken a progressive approach, acting on key priorities first and working through the remaining issues over time.
The Taskforce says that prevention is everyone’s business – and we call on the state, territory and local governments, on non-government and peak organisations, health professionals and practitioners, communities, families and on individuals to contribute towards making Australia the healthiest country by 2020.
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