Tasmania Statement a healthy step forward

Primary Health Tasmania enthusiastically welcomes the Tasmania Statement as bold step forward in improving the health and wellbeing of all Tasmanians.

The Statement was signed on 14 August by the Premier, the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and the Chair of the Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council.

Primary Health Tasmania CEO Phil Edmondson said it recognises the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians is impacted by – and the responsibility of – all State Government portfolios.

“This is a bold decision of the Government and will accelerate efforts to address some of our long-standing health and wellbeing challenges,” he said.

“It is the strongest commitment to preventive health and early intervention that we have seen in this state for some time.

“It recognises the important role of things like education, housing, employment and planning in determining people’s health and wellbeing.

“We congratulate the Premier on his leadership in this area and applaud all who have been involved in making it happen.”

Mr Edmondson encouraged all Tasmanian organisations across the government, community and private sectors to follow the State Government’s lead and think about how they can apply the principles within the Tasmania Statement to their own activities.

“Whether our organisational focus is health or something traditionally seen as unrelated, we should all be thinking about the impact our decisions and actions might have on the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians,” he said.

“We need to apply a ‘health and wellbeing’ lens to everything we do.”

Mr Edmondson represents Primary Health Tasmania on the Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council.

Primary Health Tasmania receives Australian Government funding to design and put primary health care initiatives on the ground in Tasmania. This includes commissioning health services to meet identified local needs; connecting health and wellbeing services; and supporting Tasmania’s primary health workforce to provide the best possible care to Tasmanians.

“Consulting local communities and providers to work out what’s going to get the best results locally is a key part of our approach,” Mr Edmondson said.

“It’s great to see the Tasmania Statement also acknowledges and embraces the particular expertise that communities and the private sector as well as all levels of government can bring to health planning.

“We look forward to an increasingly collaborative and productive relationship with the State Government and all involved in creating a healthy Tasmania.”