As the Tasmanian Government prepares to hand down its next state budget, we stand at a critical crossroads. With some of the poorest health outcomes in the country, this budget must be more than a financial statement. It must represent a bold commitment to change. It is a chance to invest in the front end of health, shifting our focus from reactive healthcare to proactive, preventative action.
Tasmania holds a unique and enviable advantage – one that, if unlocked, could be our greatest strength. It is our ability to connect and collaborate. Not as just a feel-good concept, but as a strategic imperative. This budget is an opportunity to harness that superpower – to fund the partnerships, programs, and community-led solutions that are already proving their worth, but lack the scale and long-term investment that will lead to true generational change.
St Lukes has a vision to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet, and we know from engaging with our members and the broader community that there is a critical need for greater support and encouragement that will empower individuals to lead healthier lives and enable them to stay healthy, for longer.
Social connection is at the heart of this, and lucky for us this ethos is already embedded in our state’s DNA.
Tasmania’s close connectivity, spanning government, private and public sectors is what makes us unique and gives us a chance to do things differently. To innovate, and to lead.
But we must not take this for granted.
Right now, our shared purpose couldn’t be clearer – we must shift from continuously funding a system that manages sickness, to investing in one that builds greater health and wellness.
Across Tasmania, individuals and organisations are doing brilliant work to empower people to live healthier lives. While our efforts may differ in scale and focus, we are all striving toward the same goal. Imagine the impact we could have if we combined our efforts more deliberately – sharing expertise, resources, and perspectives to see the bigger picture.
We’ve already seen what’s possible. The recent legislation restricting the availability of vapes in Tasmania is a powerful example of what collaboration can achieve. It wasn’t just strong government leadership that made it happen, it was the collective voice of community organisations, health advocates, researchers, and frontline workers. St Lukes was proud to stand alongside the Cancer Council, Quit Tasmania, the Pharmacy Guild, Home Base and others to advocate for the legislation.
But we need more than isolated wins. We need systemic change.
During the recent federal election, health was once again a top concern for voters. No surprises there. Yet once again we saw nothing in the way of bold, preventative health policy. St Lukes called for an election commitment to establish a Healthy Futures Fund dedicated to exclusively supporting preventative health initiatives.
Tasmania is the perfect place to pilot such a fund. We have the collaborative spirit and the innovative mindset to make it work.
We’re not seeking charity but rather support to empower the many Tasmanians already delivering outstanding programs that deserve to be scaled-up and sustainable. Yes, budgets are tight but now is not the time for caution. Now is the time for courageous, collaborative thinking, both from governments and communities alike.
We have the capability to turn Tasmania’s health story around. But we need investment, coordination, and innovation. If we stay focused on the end goal and support one another, we can build a movement that transforms health from a struggle into a strength.
This should not be seen as a cost, but an investment capable of delivering critical dividends, not just in monetary terms but in improved health and life expectancy.
Paul Lupo is the CEO of Tasmanian not-for-profit St Lukes.