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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (14 October) . . Page.. 3168 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Over the past three years Healthpact has moved from funding the community to respond to diseases to a focus on health-promoting behaviours. Many of the diseases, conditions and activities which have the highest morbidity and mortality rates - such as those that affect the cardio-vascular system, some cancers, diabetes, injury and so on - can be prevented or their severity reduced through the same positive behaviours. For example, heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes can all be influenced by a healthy diet and moderate exercise. Similarly, appropriate diet and exercise can help promote mental health and wellbeing. Consequently, Healthpact has had a strong focus on health-promoting behaviours over the last three years.

In that time, they have also undertaken and maintained contact with current research into health and its maintenance. This research is demonstrating more clearly over time that a number of social and environmental factors have a considerable impact on health. Healthpact is therefore developing a series of responses to the social determinants of health. These responses fall into the areas of research and evaluation, monitoring of outcomes, and training, as well as affecting the way Healthpact distributes funding to the community.

As a result of Healthpact's increasing knowledge, the strategic plan identifies a shift in the community funding program over the next three years to focus on healthy people, healthy places and a healthy social environment. This will allow for continued efforts to support people in making and maintaining healthy lifestyle choice - that is, supporting people to take as much responsibility as possible for their own health. The developing approach also acknowledges that physical and social environments impact on individual health, and it allows Healthpact to undertake additional efforts to effect these determinants as well.

The strategic plan for 1999-2002 makes clear Healthpact's continued commitment to working in line with the principles of the Ottawa Charter and the more recent Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion. It also demonstrates the values and principles on which Healthpact works, the key areas of activity and the initiatives planned for the next triennium.

As part of the continuing consultation on the strategic plan, Healthpact would be pleased to brief interested members. It is in this context that I take pleasure in tabling the strategic plan for your information.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

PAPERS

MS TUCKER: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table some documentation which I hope will be useful to you in making a ruling on the point of order that I raised yesterday based on House of Representatives Practice. It relates to the ability of members of this place to comment on actions of the judiciary. The documents are a series of letters. Thank you.

Leave granted.

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