A new book by the team behind the HealthLit4Kids program is providing further evidence to support calls for funding of their initiative in Tasmanian primary schools.
HealthLit4Everyone founder Dr Rosie Nash said the book, titled ‘Global Perspective on Children’s Health and Literacy’, presents insights from 61 health literacy experts across 17 countries.
“It’s not often as researchers we can say that we have a silver bullet, but through HealthLit4Kids and this new book we provide tangible solutions to some of the key focus areas of the government’s 20-year preventative health strategy,” Nash said.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 60% of Tasmanians face significant challenges with health literacy, which can lead to difficulties in understanding and using health information and services.
“When we started engaging with stakeholders to improve health literacy outcomes in Tasmania nine years ago, we kept getting passed around,” Nash said.
“People working in education would tell us it was a health issue, those in health would pass us onto the community sector. But a siloed approach doesn’t work.”
“This book is the evidence and includes the practical recommendations needed by our leaders, our policy makers, our teachers, our health workers and our community to create intergenerational change.”
The HealthLit4Kids program has been piloted in selected schools, with proven results in building the health literacy of staff, students and the wider school community.
They are now calling on the state government to consider the program in the 2025-26 budget so that It can be rolled out to schools statewide over the next three years.
Tasmanian not-for-profit health insurer St Lukes has been a strong backer of the statewide rollout of the program, with their CEO saying there is ‘overwhelming evidence’ it improves students’ understanding of good health and healthy decisions.
“Starting young to improve the health literacy of every Tasmanian child is an absolute no-brainer. It will have an intergenerational impact on how we stay well and avoid ending up in hospital with preventable chronic conditions,” St Lukes Health CEO Paul Lupo said.
“Here, we have an internationally sought-after child health literacy program, developed right here in Tasmania.”
“It’s baffling that the program is not already embedded in every school, given its proven efficacy and alignment with the government’s own 20-Year Preventative Health Strategy.”
Tasmanian Education Minister Jo Palmer said the government recognises the importance of health literacy and education for young people at school, saying they support several programs and funding commitments.
