Together, the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) advocates for long-term health and wellbeing of all Australians.
Established in 2001, the ACDPA brings together Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia, Heart Foundation, Kidney Health Australia, Stroke Foundation, and Lung Foundation Australia, providing a powerful united voice for those living with, or at risk of, chronic disease.Everyone should be able to enjoy longer and healthier lives.
The need to coordinate and act to improve the health of Australians through prevention has never been stronger. One in two Australians live with at least one chronic condition. Up to 40% of chronic disease burden, including illness and early death, can be prevented.
The Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) was formed in 2001 with support from the Australian Government to develop policy recommendations and combine its members’ capacity to reduce the impact of chronic disease in Australia. In 2005, ACDPA became entirely self-funded, strengthening its advocacy as an independent voice for policy reform. Together, the diseases represented by member organisations form a large proportion of Australia's chronic disease burden. Jointly addressing shared modifiable risk factors has the potential to greatly reduce the impact of chronic disease in Australia.
For more than 20 years, ACDPA has worked with government, public health groups and other stakeholders to promote evidence-based measures and initiatives to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and decrease overweight and obesity.
ACDPA continues to provide an independent voice addressing key risk factors of chronic disease and advocating for policy that recognises the value of prevention.
At the heart of ACDPA's work is the people affected by serious chronic conditions. The non-government organisations comprising ACDPA represent, and are informed by, the lived experiences of people affected by chronic conditions including cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart, lung and chronic kidney diseases. Through a focus on prevention, we strive to reduce the social and financial burden of chronic conditions on individuals and the community and reduce the impact on the health system.
Public health requires long-term vision and a multifactorial approach to securing health, reducing risk factors, and ultimately, preventing chronic disease.
Among shared successes ACDPA counts the 2021-2030 National Preventive Health Strategy, introduction of health star food labelling system, and Cardiovascular Risk (CVD) Guidelines and Calculator unique to Australia. Our advocacy activities include letters and meetings with government, submissions and position statements highlighting ACDPA recommendations on evidence-based policies, community awareness, stakeholder engagement and policy input, and representation on significant government committees to shape national health policy.
