Large scale Australian Health Survey

The health of Australians will be getting its most comprehensive check-up with the Australian Health Survey.

To be conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, the survey will build on ABS’s long running health survey program.

The survey is being planned in close consultation with the Department of Health and Ageing and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, who have provided supporting funding for new components of the collection.

The survey will include new and better measures of what Australians are eating and how physically active they are.

It will also collect other health information, such as whether people have been diagnosed with arthritis or heart disease.

The survey will also measure chronic disease risk factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Around 50,000 people across Australia will be asked to take part in the survey, which will start in April 2011.

Health Research for a Vital Australia
Research Australia has unveiled a package of measures focused on vital Australian health and medical research.

Research Australia is a unique national alliance of over 1,770 member and donor organisations with a common mission to make health and medical research a higher national priority.

“Health and medical research is vital to a better health system and a healthier population, but given current commitments, is at risk of going backwards in Australia,” Rebecca James, chief executive of Research Australia said.

It is unacceptable that Australians are suffering from conditions that would be curable with more investment in health and medical research.

Political parties cannot afford to ignore the potential impact of a fall in spending on health research.

Research Australia opinion polling shows that 90% of Australians agree that health and medical research into prevention, treatment and cure will play an important role in Australia’s future.

A total 80% think that more funding for health and medical research is an important priority for over the next two to three years.

Research Australia’s policy statement “Vital Research for a Vital Australia” calls for a commitment to a 4% increase in funding for the National Health and Medical Research Council (in real terms) from 2011 ($500m), a $100 m package to support clinical research as part of the health reform package, a new Innovation and Technologies Fund to aid commercialization of Australian discoveries, and a national consultation to develop a Ten Year Strategic Health and Australia.

“Investing in health research today, will save lives tomorrow,” Ms James said.

The policy is available at http://researchaustralia.org/RA.aspx