Stroke Foundation welcomes the Australian Government's launch of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions 2026-2035, which provides a refreshed roadmap for national actions for the prevention, early detection, and management of chronic conditions in Australia.
Stroke is one of Australia's leading causes of death and disability, with around 46,000 stroke events impacting Australians of all ages occurring every year. Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death and 14th leading cause of burden of disease in healthy life years lost in Australia. First Nations peoples are disproportionately impacted by stroke, experiencing 2-3 times greater rates of hospitalisation and death, as well as earlier onset and worse stroke care outcomes.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, welcomed the release of the Framework.
"The new National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions aligns strongly with priorities that Stroke Foundation has long championed; better community education on the Face, Arms, Speech, Time (F.A.S.T.) signs of stroke; addressing modifiable risk factors through greater investment in the prevention of chronic conditions; support for the 30/60/90 National Stroke Targets and Living Guidelines for Stroke Management to improve acute care pathways; improvements to transitions between the acute and rehabilitation sectors to support recovery, and equitable access for every Australian impacted by stroke."
"We know that a stroke is not a single event - it is a lifelong condition for survivors and their families. The Framework's prioritisation of multidisciplinary integrated care across different areas of the healthcare system, and an explicit focus on health literacy, prevention, early intervention reflects the complex reality of people living with multiple chronic conditions," Dr Murphy added.
With more than 80 per cent of strokes being preventable, Stroke Foundation strongly supports the Framework's emphasis on embedding prevention, early detection and managing multi-morbidity throughout the health system.
Stroke Foundation also welcomes the Framework's focus on data and monitoring and focus on person-centred multidisciplinary care and the acknowledgement that a 'Health in All Policies' approach will be required to address chronic conditions not just as a health issue but a whole-of-society issue.
Stroke Foundation looks forward to actively engaging with the Australian Government, health services, and partner organisations to implement the Framework's priorities and to ensuring that stroke care outcomes remains on Australia's chronic condition agenda.
We echo the sentiments expressed by Minister Butler in the foreword to the Framework, and together hope to build a future where chronic conditions such as stroke are better prevented, managed and understood, and where every Australian has the opportunity to live well.
