The country's peak body for public health congratulates the South Australian Government for enacting legislation today that creates the new agency, Preventive Health SA.
The Preventive Health SA Bill 2024 will ensure ongoing investment and commitments to public health and health promotion across the state.
"This is a great day for the many people who've worked tirelessly for a long time on preventive health efforts across our state," said South Australia-based Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) President, Prof Caroline Miller.
"We commend Health and Wellbeing Minister, Chris Picton for his leadership and commitment to preventive health. We congratulate his office, and the team at Preventive Health SA for making this legislation happen.
"We also thank the members of the SA Public Health Consortium – comprising PHAA SA Branch, South Australian Council of Social Service, and Australian Health Promotion Association SA Branch – whose 2022 election platform featured preventive health as a pillar.
"It was during our consortium's public health debate that Mr Picton, then in opposition, pledged that if his party won office, it would take prevention seriously by creating a dedicated agency."
As Minister, Mr Picton created the Preventive Health Establishment Advisory Council, chaired by former federal health minister the Hon. Nicola Roxon, whose members also included PHAA President Prof Miller.
PHAA South Australia Branch President, Dr Mary Brushe, said a new agency focussed on preventive health will help ease the pressure on the state's stretched hospitals and ambulance systems.
"Keeping people healthy and well means they're less likely to need hospitals or call an ambulance, because around half of all chronic diseases are preventable," Dr Brushe said.
