Primary Care Impact Grants: Chronic Disease Prevention Program

Chronic disease is one of the most significant health challenges facing the North Coast community. Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, cancer and stroke account for a large proportion of illness, hospitalisations and reduced quality of life. The North Coast also has an ageing population and higher rates of chronic disease than many other parts of Australia. While many chronic conditions can be prevented or delayed through early intervention and healthier lifestyle choices, there are often barriers to delivering prevention programs, including limited funding, workforce capacity and access to evidence-based initiatives. The Chronic Disease Prevention Grants Program addresses these gaps by supporting local organisations to deliver prevention activities that improve health outcomes and reduce future demand on health services.

The Chronic Disease Prevention Grants Program uses a community-based grant funding model to support innovative and evidence-informed prevention initiatives across the North Coast. Through an open expression of interest process, eligible primary care providers, health organisations and community partners can apply for funding to establish or expand programs that focus on preventing chronic disease and improving quality of life. Funding is awarded to initiatives that demonstrate community need, equity, effectiveness, sustainability and the ability to achieve measurable outcomes. The program also encourages collaboration between healthcare providers, community organisations and health system partners to maximise local impact.

The design of the program has been informed by extensive engagement with primary care providers, Aboriginal Medical Services, allied health organisations, healthcare leaders and Healthy North Coast’s Clinical Advisory Council. Stakeholders contributed to defining program outcomes, assessment criteria, priorities and evaluation approaches. Feedback from general practices, Aboriginal health services and allied health representatives helped ensure the program addresses local needs and supports practical, community-based solutions. The program also encourages ongoing collaboration with Local Health Districts, disease-specific peak bodies, advocacy organisations and community partners to strengthen program design and delivery.

The program provides grants to support initiatives focused on the prevention of chronic disease in North Coast communities. Funded activities include health promotion, risk factor reduction, early intervention programs, screening initiatives, education and behaviour change programs, multidisciplinary models of care and community-based prevention activities.

The program also supports partnerships between primary care providers, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health organisations and community groups to deliver coordinated and sustainable prevention initiatives.

In addition to funding, Healthy North Coast promotes collaboration, knowledge sharing and connections with relevant health and advocacy organisations to strengthen local impact.

The program aims to reduce the future burden of chronic disease across the North Coast by supporting evidence-based prevention initiatives that improve health and wellbeing. It seeks to increase access to local prevention programs, reduce health inequities, improve health-related quality of life and support earlier intervention for people at risk of chronic disease. The program also aims to strengthen collaboration across the primary healthcare sector, build sustainable prevention approaches and increase the number of people who benefit from effective chronic disease prevention activities. Over time, these efforts are intended to improve population health outcomes and reduce avoidable illness, complications and hospitalisations associated with chronic disease.