In October 2022, the government committed to a first tranche of funding to commence the National Health and Climate Strategy development. Thanks to Fiona Armstrong of CAHA, who inspired many, including myself as the representative of AFMW to be part of a little bit of history here. We each generously lent our time, expertise and intellect to offer advice, and to contribute to this important outcome.
There is much more to do of course, but we are finally underway. To everyone at CAHA: thank-you and congratulations for your advocacy!
A big budget win for the health sector after a decade of climate advocacy [Extract]
Investment in Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy is warmly welcomed by Australia’s peak body on climate and health, the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA).
An initial $3.4 million has been assigned to making climate change a national health priority by establishing a National Health and Sustainability Climate Unit, and developing the National Health and Climate Strategy. “This investment is a very welcome start, and a big win for the health sector who have been crying out for federal leadership when it comes to climate,” said Mr Roland Sapsford, CEO of CAHA.
“Members of the Climate and Health Alliance and other supportive health voices have been calling out for a National Health and Climate Strategy for a very long time,” said Mr Sapsford.
“This is a real milestone for collaborative, evidence-based advocacy and the work of the Climate and Health Alliance, our members and our supporters.” Last month, 40+ health leaders gathered at the Better, Healthier Futures Roundtable to discuss the early priorities for the national climate-health strategy, outlined in their joint statement. Health leaders also called for a Sustainable Healthcare Unit at a national level. This budget is an initial step to fund both these initiatives.
September’s Roundtable was the most recent example in a decade of advocacy from the Climate and Health Alliance and other health sector partners for a national strategy and serious action to decarbonise Australia’s health sector.
Mr Sapsford says the investment is a good start, but a lot more needs to be done.
“At least two people have died in the most recent flooding, on top of the 23 people who died in floods earlier this year in southeast Queensland and northern NSW. Hundreds died during the bushfires in 2019-20 and thousands are dying in our cities during extreme heat.
“We welcome recent acknowledgement from both Health and Climate Ministers that climate change is a pressing health issue. The evidence tells us the pressure on health from climate change, and the health benefits of climate action, are growing year on year.
“We look forward to continuing work with the Minister and the federal health department to
ensure the Health and Climate Strategy drives the action Australia requires,” said Mr Sapsford.
Download the pdf here
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor. Magda is member of The Australian Health Team contributing monthly articles.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
