In January 2023, AAHMS submitted a response to the Australian Treasury’s consultation, Measuring what matters.

The Academy welcomes the Government’s plans to consider and monitor a range of factors that contribute to Australia’s progress and wellbeing through a ‘Measuring What Matters Statement’.  Health is a fundamental component of a population’s quality of life and productivity. It should therefore be included as an essential component when measuring the progress and wellbeing of a nation.

Health as a key metric of progress and wellbeing

We have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic how a specific health issue can impact the lives of the Australian community, including on education, income, access to services and social activities. By measuring health through metrics that paint the clearest picture of health and wellbeing, we can better monitor health trends across the nation, intervene to address potential health threats, reduce health inequities– particularly those relevant to the Australian context – and ultimately drive forward targeted and widespread benefits for the health of the public.

We note the Treasury’s reference to the OECD Framework for Measuring Well-being and Progress and welcome steps to seek input from other nations who have already done important work in this area. However, health is underrepresented in the OECD framework. If Treasury uses the OECD’s framework as a starting point, we urge them to place more emphasis on health as an individual theme.

Further details are available in our full submission, which can be downloaded below.

The Academy made a second submission to Treasury on 26 May 2023: find it on our policy page.