Prevention report shows clear path forward
The health of Australia's children depends on a firm national commitment to implement the comprehensive strategy outlined by the Preventative Health Taskforce.
The reports recommendations have been welcomed by The Kids for Child Health Research and its Director, leading child health advocate, Professor Fiona Stanley.
"What is very clear from this report is that we know what to do and how to do it. It's now a matter of getting on with it without delay," Professor Stanley said.
"Alcohol, obesity and tobacco all profoundly affect child development and wellbeing from the womb through to adulthood. As a nation - governments, corporates and communities - we must now commit to making it happen."
Professor Stanley said a focus on prevention was the most humane and economically viable solution to the ongoing crisis in our health system.
"The current approaches are unsustainable - we cannot continue to absorb spiralling costs when many of the most burdensome health conditions are lifestyle based and preventable," she said.
"There is a history of industry opposition to these types of initiatives, but now is the time to stand firm and commit to a pathway that will bring real quality of life to so many people, particularly our children.
"Unless we make these changes, there is the real likelihood that our children will have a lower life expectancy than their parents - that cannot be our legacy."
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