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    Home > Resource hub > Australian perceptions of prevention

Australian perceptions of prevention

Our survey and focus groups on how the community perceives government action on prevention found people’s views are more nuanced than a simplistic ‘nanny state vs freedom’ argument. Download the Findings Brief PDF for a summary of the survey's key findings and relevance for policy and practice.
  • Australian perceptions of prevention

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    Findings Brief Findings Brief

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Key messages

  • In Australia, there has been little research into the community’s perceptions of policies and programs to prevent lifestyle-related chronic disease.
  • We conducted a survey and focus groups to find out how the community perceives government action on prevention and whether it’s commonly seen to be ‘nanny state’.
  • We found people’s views are more nuanced than a simplistic ‘nanny state vs freedom’ argument.
  • People can simultaneously hold contradictory views, depending on the target of the intervention, the risk factor being addressed and how the intervention is implemented.
  • A majority reported the government had not gone far enough in restricting advertising of unhealthy foods to children, setting salt limits on processed food and putting health ratings on packaged food.
  • Although most people think personal responsibility for health is important, it does not preclude a role for government in helping people stay healthy.
  • Alternative ways of conceiving the government’s role in health, other than the nanny state, include as a wise investor of taxpayer money, leader for healthy behaviour, and a partner in prevention.
  • These findings show it is important not to let debate about new policy and legislation to be hijacked by nanny state arguments.
  • To align better with community perceptions of prevention, it would be more helpful to reframe the debate to focus on the cost benefit, equity, the influence of vested interests and the likely effects of both action and inaction.

Associated content

  • Australian Perceptions of Prevention Survey – Technical Report, July 2016

    Resource category: Reports Reports
    Date 06 Jul 2016
Details

DATE 25 Jul 2018

TYPE Findings Brief

Prevention experts

  • Associate Professor Anne Grunseit

    University of Technology Sydney
    Headshot of Anne Grunseit
  • Dr Elly Howse

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Elly Howse

Prevention methodologies

  • Making the case for prevention ,
  • Research impact and translation ,

Related projects

  • Perceptions of prevention: What does the Australian community think?

    People holding different coloured speech bubble cardboard cutouts

Related resources

  • A case for ‘nanny state’ changes that save lives

    Resource category: Factsheets Factsheets
    Date 12 Jul 2016
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Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

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