Australian Government, in partnership with the states and territories, is strengthening the focus of the health system on prevention and health promotion, and management of chronic disease. From 1 July 2006, the Australian Government and the state and territory governments will begin implementing a five-year, $500 million national package called the Australian Better Health Initiative to reduce the impacts of chronic disease:

• Promoting healthy lifestyles

     This program will encourage people to make informed lifestyle choices and reduce the risk of developing chronic disease.

• Supporting early detection of risk factors and chronic disease

     45 years old health check to identifiable risk factors such as weight, smoking or family history and provide an opportunity to promote lifestyle changes, for example through Lifestyle Prescriptions (Lifescripts).

• Supporting lifestyle and risk modification

    The initiative will provide support for people at high risk of developing a chronic condition to make lifestyle changes and reduce their risk.

• Encouraging active patient self management of chronic conditions

     Encourage active patient self-management of chronic conditions through targeted training for health professionals to assist people with chronic conditions to better manage their health. State and territory governments will provide leadership and support for a range of local and regional level self-management activities for patients such as face to face group courses, telephone counselling and motivational counselling.

    The Australian government will work closely with health care professionals and state and territory health authorities to ....... ensure quality control and accreditation processes relating to a range of self-management interventions and innovative research on enhancing self-management practice.

• Improving the communication and coordination between care services

     Governments will provide incentive funds to appropriate organisations to improve the connections at a local level between service providers including private medical services, community health services and allied health services, so that patient’s needs are better met.

These five priority areas are consistent with the directions of the National Chronic Disease Strategy, endorsed by Health Ministers in November 2005.

The Promoting Healthy Lifestyles component will be jointly developed and funded by all governments.