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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1107 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The plan is also an essential component of a compendium of strategic initiatives that have been developed to carry forward health policy in the ACT over recent years. The goals of this strategy are in line with the third national strategy on HIV/AIDS and the national hepatitis C action plan and are to reduce the transmission of STDs and blood-borne diseases in the ACT and to minimise the personal and social impact of infection with STDs and blood-borne diseases.

To meet these two policy goals, the strategic plan outlines four specific objectives, all of which aim to increase the community's capacity to achieve the policy goals: To promote the use of safe behaviours; to promote strategies which increase or maintain quality of life for those who are HIV and/or HCV positive; to encourage attitudinal change to combat discrimination against those perceived to be in high risk groups and those who are HIV and/or HCV positive; and to plan an ongoing coordinated health response to HIV/AIDS and HCV based on comprehensive research, including data collection, critical evaluation and collaboration between all major stakeholders. The plan provides details of the broad strategies and actions which are planned to be undertaken to meet these objectives and achieve the policy goals. Examples of other initiatives have been the ACT's approach to drug reform, mental health and youth suicide. Like these other initiatives, this strategic plan is founded in four key concepts: A partnership approach; a whole-of-government approach; a population health approach; and the concept of harm minimisation.

The ACT has a strong commitment to practical partnerships supporting the response to HIV/AIDS. There has been a cooperative relationship between government, community organisations, the education sector, the medical and scientific sectors, and people living with HIV/AIDS. The continuation of this partnership approach is crucial to the effective implementation of services. It is exemplified in the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Diseases Advisory Committee, which provides a mechanism for the involvement of community agencies and service providers in the formal policy development process. The ACT is currently working with the Commonwealth and non-government organisations to formulate practical partnerships in response to HCV.

Second, this strategy recognises that an effective response to blood-borne diseases requires a coordinated approach across government. Prevention strategies must at least include the Department of Education, and any law reform efforts must involve the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The Department of Urban Services is also an integral partner in this approach. Mr Speaker, I see this plan as an opportunity to forge stronger intersectoral links between the agencies within my portfolio and those of my Cabinet colleagues.

Third, the response to HIV/AIDS to date has been the targeting of effort to particular population groups who are most at risk of infection or most in need of support, treatment and care. It is important to acknowledge that membership of one of these groups does not necessarily mean engagement in risk behaviour. A population health approach recognises the social health context of these populations and acknowledges the importance of the active involvement of these groups in developing and delivering appropriate services to their communities as far as possible.

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