Project background

Right word. Right time. forms part of a larger ‘Preventive Health System - Supporting prevention across Victorian health services’ initiative.

It aims to ensure all Victorian health services incorporate preventive health within their practice, with support to engage in new prevention initiatives and actively share experiences to support implementation at scale.

The project is led by Alfred Health and is funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Facts which helped to inform the campaign:

  • Nine out of 10 deaths in Australia are due to chronic disease. (AIHW, 2014).
  • Chronic diseases are largely preventable .
  • Every year nine out of 10 people in Australia see a health professional (ABS, 2017).
  • One glass of alcohol daily projected 4.2 kg gain annually (LiveLighter, 2016).
  • Regular alcohol consumption above two standard drinks per day increases the risk of liver disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health conditions and cancer (NHMRC, 2009).
  • Physical inactivity doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity (Wilmot EG et al, 2012 and Pietiläinen KH et al, 2008) .
  • One can of soft drink projected 6.5 kg weight gain annually (LiveLighter, 2020) .
  • Losing just 5% of weight can reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke (NHMRC, 2013).
  • One in every 33 conversations from a health professional will lead to a patient successfully quitting smoking (Stead L et al., 2013).
  • Each year, approximately one in every five Australians will experience a mental illness (Mindframe, 2014).  
Medical specialist talking to interviewer

Start the conversation

This campaign is also supported by Start the conversation which aims to ensure all people who access the Victorian health system are asked about their smoking and offered support to quit.

Visit our 'Start the Conversation' website

Contact

Want to know more about the campaign?

Email prevention@alfred.org.au

References:

  1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Internet). Australia’s health 2014. Australia’s health series no. 14. Cat. no. AUS 178 Canberra: AIHW 2014 (cited 26 October 2017]. Available from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2014/contents/table-of-contents
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2011-12 [Internet]. Canberra ACT: ABS; 2017 [cited 26 October 2017]. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/F758234080C6F33BCA257B39000F296E?opendocument.
  3. State of Victoria. Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015-19 [internet]. Victoria; 2015 [cited 26 October 2017]. Available from https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/health-strategies/public-health-wellbeing-plan

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