About FaHCSIA

• What we do
• Careers with FaHCSIA
• Key corporate publications
• Newsroom
• Contact FaHCSIA

Budget 2008-09 > Women's Budget Statement 2008-09 > Women's Health and Wellbeing

Women's Budget Statement 2008-09 - Women's Health and Wellbeing

The Government recognises that by improving the health of all Australian women, it improves the health of the whole community.

Women are the majority of health consumers,² the majority of health service providers³ and the majority of carers⁴ in the Australian community. On average, women live for 4.8 years longer than men, so women are more likely than men to experience health conditions common to old age.⁵

The Government is developing a national policy on women's health to ensure the development of solutions specific to the health needs of women.

Budget and other measures

Investing in a health system for the future

The Australian government will establish a $10 billion Health and Hospitals Fund to support strategic investments in health as part of the Government's reform agenda to equip Australia's health and hospital system.

Ending the blame game: Reforming the health and hospital system

All women will benefit from the Government's commitment to ending the blame game in health and reforming the health and hospital system. These measures tackle the current and future challenges in the Australian health system including the growing burden of chronic disease, the ageing of the population and rising health costs. Budget measures include:

• National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission - $4.6 million in 2008 09;
• Elective Surgery Waiting List Reduction Plan - $600 million over four years;
• National Advisory Council on Mental Health;
• Supporting nurses back into the workforce - $39.4 million over five years; and
• Increasing the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds so that singles below $100,000 and families below $150,000 don't have to pay this surcharge.

Keeping people well - Focus on prevention

Preventative health care will get a boost in the 2008-09 Budget as the Government focuses on keeping Australians healthy and out of hospital. The National Preventive Health Strategy will have an initial focus on tobacco, alcohol and obesity. Budget measures include:

• National Preventative Health Strategy - $4.5 million over five years;
• National Tobacco Strategy - $15 million over four years;
• National Binge Drinking Strategy - $53.5 million over four years;
• Illicit Drug Use - targeting young people who use methamphetamines (Ice); and
• Obesity Reduction - $1.7 million over four years.

Fighting cancer - Australia's biggest killer

The fight against cancer is a national challenge and the Government is committed to supporting researchers, clinicians, practitioners and other health professionals involved in cancer research and treatment. Budget measures include:

• National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers - $5.1 million over three years;
• Specialist breast cancer nurses - $12 million over four years;
• Breast prostheses - $31 million over four years;
• Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centres - $15 million over two years;
• Completion of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Register - $19 million over four years; and
• Listing of TykerbŪ (lapatinib) for women with advanced breast cancer under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 1 May 2008 - $83.5 million over four years.

Delivering health care to all Australians

Improvements to rural, regional and outer metropolitan health services mean working families will receive health care where and when they need it, no matter where they choose to live. Budget measures include:

• GP Super Clinics - $275.2 million over five years;
• Rural Health - Additional Funding for the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program - $12 million over four years;
• Rural Health - Specialist Obstetrician Locum Scheme - $7.9 million over four years; and
• Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - $1.2 million over four years.

Supporting child and maternal health

The Government will improve the health and wellbeing of our children by helping children and their parents learn about the importance of diet and nutrition and preparing them to make healthy choices for life, as well as improving maternal health. There are also a number of Government initiatives focused on Indigenous early childhood health. Budget measures include:

• Perinatal Depression - national plan - $55 million over five years;
• Breastfeeding Mothers - funding for a 24-hour helpline - $2.5 million over five years;
• Child Health - health check for four year old children - $25.6 million over four years;
• Preventative Health - Healthy Guidelines for Early Childhood Obesity Reduction - $4.5 million over five years; and
• Child Health - Kitchen Garden Program - $12.8 million over four years.

Closing the gap in Indigenous health

The Australian Government is investing $334.8 million towards closing the 17 year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation.

Notes