Feedback was requested on a proposed framework and ideas to be included in the strategy.
GLOBE strongly supported a national obesity preventive strategy as a fundamental tool to address overweight and obesity in Australia.
We strongly support the National Obesity Preventive Strategy as a fundamental tool to address overweight and obesity in Australia.
GLOBE agrees with the overall approach to the Strategy.
We are particularly supportive of the guiding principles, objectives, ambitions, and individual strategies in the Strategy, and the inclusion of:
- a strong focus on changes to the environment, in particular food and physical activity environments; and
- strategies that address broader social determinants of health and multisectoral actions beyond the health system.
However, the draft Strategy does not represent a strong commitment to sustained, best practice action and, in its current form, is unlikely to reduce overweight and obesity and reduce inequities in obesity prevalence.
To ensure its objectives and ambitions are realised, the Strategy must be accompanied by:
- strong targets that, at a minimum, align with the National Preventive Health Strategy.
- a national governance committee to oversee implementation of the Strategy, with representation from all governments, led by Health Ministers.
- a national implementation plan to be developed within six months of the Strategy’s release and including:
– agreed evidence-based actionsfor each strategy, with responsibility for each action assigned to federal, state and territory governments or both, as appropriate.
– a timeline for implementation and reporting, with the Strategy’s 10-year timeframe divided into blocks at three, six and nine years. - a funding plan that identifies committed, ongoing and adequate funding from all governments. iht.deakin.edu.au Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B 2
- a monitoring and evaluation framework, requiring regular reporting on implementation and outcomes from each jurisdiction and an independent evaluation of impact.
- a process free from conflicts of interest.
The full submission can be read here.
