The Australian Government’s National Preventive Health Strategy (2021-2030) addresses the third pillar (prioritising mental health and preventive health) of Australia’s Long Term National Health Plan and align with the 2020-25 National Health Reform Agreement.
Development of the National Preventive Health Strategy
To inform the development of the Strategy, the Australian Government released a Consultation Paper that outlined its aims and how they might be achieved. Australian Genomics prepared a submission with several key focus areas, such as the importance of including genomic technologies in the Strategy, the potential for genomics as the foundation of screening programs and the need to support the translation of outcomes from genomic research projects to enhance current preventive action.
Draft National Preventive Health Strategy
Australian Genomics’ submission highlighted emerging areas where the application of genomic technologies has real potential to be incorporated in and impact national preventative health strategies, such as reproductive carrier screening, newborn screening and pharmacogenomics.
Draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing
The Australian Government consulted on the draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing, which was designed to address a priority for action under the National Preventive Health Strategy to engage the community in the design and implementation of preventive health policy. Australian Genomics’ response suggested adding case studies to provide examples of consumer involvement, highlighting the importance of remuneration and acknowledging consumer involvement, as well as providing information on how consumers were involved in developing the strategy and guidance for the evaluation of involvement to build an evidence base for policy makers and consumers.