Australians are now living longer than at any other stage in history. At the same time, our society has been burdened by a dramatic increase in chronic disease. In 2005, it was estimated that 77% of Australians are living with a long-term chronic condition.

Associated with this increase is a change in our understanding of the determinants of health. Public health has moved past viewing disease only within the confines of the germ theory and the age of antibiotics. Modern discussions are now dominated by the understanding of the impact of lifestyle behaviours as a major determinant of individual health and wellbeing.

Studies now show that the top 10 individual risk/lifestyle behaviours contribute to 40.7% of Australia’s chronic disease burden. Not only does chronic disease significantly impact an individual’s quality and length of life, it also: - results in significant cost to business and industry due to decreased productivity through absenteeism, presenteeism, shortened working life and early retirement; and - has lead to increases in total healthcare expenditure. If current levels of health care expenditure were to continue increasing at a constant rate into the future, this expenditure could not be met from the current funding sources (public and private) alone and a funding ‘gap’ would be the result.

It is through adoption of individual positive lifestyle behaviours that Australia can reduce its chronic disease burden. Ultimately, we all have a collective interest in a healthier, more productive society; and change at both the individual and systemic level is necessary to facilitate this.

What role should the individual, business, the health industry and Government play in getting individual buy-in to a collective positive ‘wellness’ approach to health?