The NSIF is well researched and sound; it had high levels of input from key stakeholders; consultations indicate its content is still held to be current and applicable. However, despite being endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers in 2006, the Framework has not been fully utilised and has only been partially implemented, often in an ad hoc fashion by the jurisdictions.
There are various reasons why this is the case; key amongst these has been a limited take up of the Framework as a base for structured planning with associated actions, resource allocation and performance measures. In this absence, other priorities have taken over, some complementary and some competing.
A number of themes for moving forward have emerged through the work undertaken. These are:
These themes link to major health reforms and health strategies underway in Australia, particularly the following:
Ernst & Young has taken the consistent themes, tested them against evidence and practice, balanced them with key national priorities and developed a set of prioritised recommendations for action, using as reference points key documents such as the National Service Improvement Framework for Heart, Stroke and Vascular Disease and Time for Action – the action plan developed jointly by the National Heart Foundation and the National Stroke Foundation.