Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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The health of Australians is among the best in the world. Nationwide efforts, such as the recognition of national health priority areas, will help to ensure that this status continues.

The National Health Priority Areas (NHPA) initiative emphasises collaborative action between Commonwealth Government and the State and Territory Governments, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), non-government organisations, appropriate experts, clinicians and consumers. It is overseen by the National Health Priority Action Council (NHPAC) which was established as a sub-committee of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) in June 2000, and comprises representatives of Commonwealth Government, the State and Territory Governments, Indigenous groups and consumer groups.

At present, six priority areas have been endorsed by Australian Health Ministers. These are:

• cardiovascular health;

• cancer control;

• injury prevention and control;

• mental health;

• diabetes mellitus; and

• asthma.