Think for a moment what life could be like if we replaced good intention with action – especially when it comes to our health and wellbeing. Best of all, it doesn’t take much to initiate. Just one small step can start the process, and the benefits will follow. All you need is the decision to begin. The reward will be a happier, healthier and hopefully longer life.
The start of a new year often inspires people to pause and re-evaluate their priorities. Why not use this moment to take ownership of your health and wellbeing?
Too often, we depend on the health system to fix our issues, when true wellbeing starts with taking control of our own health. Health is more than the absence of illness. It reflects the choices we make every day – eating nutritious foods, staying active, prioritising sleep and connecting with others. These habits influence physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. By cultivating positive routines, we build resilience, prevent chronic conditions and improve our quality of life. Health and wellbeing thrive on proactive, personalised care – not reactive treatment.
However, while individual responsibility is a crucial starting point, our environments shape our health too, and governments have a critical role to play in enabling communities to make better choices through infrastructure, planning and education. Safe walking paths, green spaces, accessible transport and affordable, nutritious food should never be luxuries – they are the foundations of a healthy society. Education that builds health literacy empowers informed decisions, while urban planning that promotes healthy eating and supports active lifestyles turns good intentions into everyday habits.
Our natural environment is one of Tasmania’s greatest assets. But deliberate planning and investment is needed to protect and enhance these spaces. Parks, trails and community hubs are essential infrastructure for health. They help prevent illness before it begins.
Equally important is access to timely, quality care. Geography and system complexity create barriers, especially in regional Tasmania, so we must innovate through telehealth, integrated care models and public-private partnerships that bring services closer to home. A responsive, coordinated health system built on trust gives people confidence and comfort – another critical component of wellbeing.
Finally, social connection matters – they are key to people taking that first step to better health. On the other side, loneliness and isolation are major health challenges linked to mental illness and chronic disease. Social networks provide people with the support, encouragement and accountability they need to sustain healthy behaviours, and building them requires investment in places and programs that bring people together.
This is why the Tasmanian Government’s 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy is so important. For it to succeed, it must be a coordinated, whole-of-government plan that addresses every barrier to wellbeing, including housing, transport, education and urban design. Health should be a shared priority for every area of government, not just our health departments.
Similarly, the community must also understand the role it has to play in the strategy’s success. I urge every Tasmanian to review the draft – now out for a second round of consultation until February 27 – and put your views and ideas on the table to ensure it addresses the needs and expectations of the community it serves. St Lukes will be providing feedback and advocating for a whole‑of‑government approach to ensure the strategy receives the focus and support required to deliver real outcomes – all part of our work to make Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet.
If we want a Tasmania where everyone can live well, we must all play our part. We have a unique opportunity to lead in health prevention by taking advantage of our power of connection – to our natural environment and to each other.
The journey to better health and wellbeing doesn’t begin with a grand gesture – just one small step, one choice, one connection. The Government’s Preventive Health Strategy is called The Health Revolution, and for good reason – real change is driven by an organised movement, and each of us has a role to play.
Paul Lupo is the CEO of Tasmania’s leading not-for-profit health and wellness organisation St Lukes.