Enduring Strategy 1 – Commit and collaborate to address major public health issues

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of illness, disability and early death in our community. Many chronic conditions share common modifiable risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, tobacco smoking, alcohol use, poor diet and insufficient physical activity. Injury is also a leading cause of preventable disability and death.

Priorities for 2023

• Launch the WA Health Promotion Strategic Framework.
• Release a revised Evaluation Framework and Implementation Guide to support evidence-based health promotions programs.
• Explore options for embedding and tracking activities that support access and equity for people of CaLD backgrounds and people living in low socioeconomic conditions in the work of the health system.
• Develop and deliver the Working with Consumers and Carers Toolkit to support stronger systemwide engagement and ensure initiatives promote equitable access to appropriate care.
• Develop and deliver the WA Continuous Improvement in Care (CIC) Transition Plan to assist with identifying the possible strategic and operational requirements to transition from current proof of concept model for patient reported measures.
• Identify gaps and develop resources to support engagement with people of CaLD backgrounds, including increasing understanding of health equity and health literacy.
• Launch the new Foodborne Illness Reduction Strategy for WA which aims to reduce foodborne illness related to Campylobacter and Salmonella.
• Manage the response to Japanese Encephalitis virus which was detected in WA for the first time in 2023, with a multi-agency one-health coordinated approach encompassing animal and human health, through evidence-based surveillance and response activities.

Achievements

• Release of the WA Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2022–2026 (HPSF), which provides broad strategic guidance to the WA health system and its partners to help prevent chronic disease and injury. The HPSF sets out a strategic plan to help empower and enable Western Australians to lead healthier lives by supporting equitable and sustainable improvements in health behaviours and environment.
• Release of an updated Evaluation Framework and Implementation Guide to assist stakeholders with program evaluation. Evaluation is a vital step in ensuring that the Western Australian community is benefiting from programs funded and managed through the Department of Health and its partners.
• FreshSNAP (Fresh School Nutrition Advisory Program) is a whole of school healthy eating program delivered by Nutrition Australia which offers support to all school communities through consultation services and resources for nutrition education and healthy food practices, processes, and environments in classrooms, school canteens, and the whole school community.
• Better Health Company is delivering free, healthy lifestyle programs for children who are above a healthy weight and their families through the Active8 Program for 2 to 5-year-olds and the Better Health Program for 6 to 12-year-olds.
• The Well Collaborative is an initiative from the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan and is a collaborative project undertaken by WA Health, Health Consumer’s Council and WA Primary Health Alliance.
• The updated WA Health Language Service Policy and Guidelines set out the minimum standards to enable effective communication with consumers and carers who have difficulty communicating in Standard English, or who are deaf or hard of hearing. The updated Language Services eLearning module provides WA Health staff with greater understanding of how to apply the policy.
• An updated Decision-making tree for engaging interpreters resource is now available. A list of Language Services Coordinators based in metropolitan hospitals has been developed to support staff to book interpreters and translators.
• Translated health resources for consumers of CaLD backgrounds are available on the Healthy WA website, including information on advance care planning, sexual health, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
• WA Continuous Improvement in Care (CIC) Transition Project current state analysis has been completed regarding the use of patient reported healthcare experience and/or outcome measures.
• The Mental Health Commission delivered Introduction to Alcohol and other Drug (AOD) Prevention in Communities Training in May 2023. Twelve participants attended from the Kimberley, Pilbara, Great Southern and metropolitan regions. The sessions supported AOD workers to deliver effective, evidence-based strategies to prevent alcohol-related harm in their communities.

The WA health system will continue to address the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in alignment with the WA Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Framework 2015-2030 and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Priorities for 2023

• Develop an Aboriginal Graduate Development Program for the WA health system.
• Progress the implementation of hospital procedural variance key performance indicators into WA Health’s existing performance reporting mechanisms.
• Develop a WA Aboriginal Health Dashboard to enhance and consolidate systemwide performance and progress monitoring of Aboriginal health measures and reporting requirements, and to support strategic planning and cultural governance.

Achievements

• Introduction of the new registered profession, Aboriginal Health Practitioner role. An EOI has closed with up to 10 practitioners to be appointed in the next few months.
• 38 cadets have been recruited into the 2023 Aboriginal Cadetship Program.
• 60 Aboriginal employees graduated from the WA Health Aboriginal Leadership Excellence and Development Program.
• Dedicated Aboriginal health workforce officers have been established across Health Services to grow the Aboriginal workforce at all levels in clinical and non-clinical roles.

WA Health will address climate change, promote a healthier environment, and address its own environmental footprint.

Priorities for 2023

• Develop and deliver a systemwide Strategy on climate action and sustainability.
• Produce a Health Sector Adaptation Plan to identify and respond to climate-related health sector risks.
• Measure public awareness and understanding of the health impacts of climate change to inform public health communication strategies.
• Deliver the national 2023 Greening the Healthcare Sector Forum.

Achievements

• The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) is leading and coordinating a systemwide response on climate action and sustainability.
• WA Health has identified its carbon footprint to understand carbon hotspots and inform strategic planning for the health system.
• The SDU established a scholarship program for WA Health staff to build skills, expertise and capacity of staff to lead sustainability quality improvement initiatives across the system.