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National Strategies Coordination Reference Network

Current Issues

The NPHP Agenda 2002-2004 identifies a number of common themes for integration across its priority areas. The themes include

• addressing health inequalities;

• improving quality public health practice;

• effectively engaging with stakeholders;

• strengthening the evidence-base for interventions;

• integrating key risk groups,

• settings and priority areas into work programs;

• public health research; and

• regulatory reform.

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To assist in effective integration, the National Strategies Coordination Reference Network (formerly the National Strategies Working Group - NSCWG) has been asked to provide advice to the NPHP Group in the following areas:

• achieving consistency in the evaluation of national public health strategies and their implementation; and

• how health inequalities might be addressed across the breadth of the NPHP Agenda.

The Network is largely comprised of representatives of Commonwealth, State and Territory Health Departments.

The Network also takes over the NSCWG responsibility for a resource to complement the 1999 Guidelines aimed at encouraging a more strategic approach to the development, implementation and evaluation of national public health strategies that respond to the values and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (the ‘Guidelines Project). This work is being undertaken by a Project Steering Group chaired by Associate Professor Ian Anderson and with representation from:

• the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
• the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• state and territory health departments.

The Guidelines Project is being undertaken in two parts. The first part comprised a review of the national and international literature in this area and consultation with key stakeholders across Australia on the issue for Indigenous Australian communities as they relate to the possible scope and content of the proposed guidelines.

The outcome of this part is reported in Guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of National Public Health Strategies in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Approaches and Recommendations (2002). While guidelines represent only part of the solution, their production is supported as part of the overall effort to improve the effectiveness of health gain strategies.

The second part of the Guidelines Project is underway. A national workshop was convened in February 2003 to consider a preliminary draft of the Guidelines.

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