department of
health and community services

media release

Territorian appointed to National Preventative Health Taskforce

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

The Department of Health and Community Services is proud to acknowledge the appointment of Dr Christine Connors to the recently announced Australian Government National Preventative Health Taskforce.

The taskforce is made up of a number of health experts from around Australia with the aim of developing a plan to tackle the health challenges caused by tobacco, alcohol and obesity, and develop a National Preventative Health Strategy.

Dr Rob Moodie, an internationally recognised leader in health promotion and preventative health, chairs the taskforce. The Taskforce reports to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

Last week, the Australian Health Ministers Council nominated two government representatives with particular experience in Indigenous public health and rural and remote public health to membership of the Taskforce.

Dr Connors, a Territory health professional of some twenty years, is a general practitioner and public health physician who is currently the Director of the NT Preventable Chronic Disease Program for the Department of Health and Community Services.

Dr Connors is honoured to be working alongside notable Australian health professionals on the Taskforce, which will be assessing the evidence for effective population level strategies to tackle the increasing chronic disease burden caused by the obesity epidemic as well as further addressing issues related to tobacco and alcohol consumption.

“The excellent training opportunities in the Northern Territory in both clinical and public health medicine has provided me with the relevant knowledge and experience to participate on this national taskforce.

“This is a serious opportunity for Australia to change direction with the obesity epidemic and prevent unnecessary disease and premature deaths,” said Dr Connors.

Media contact: Lorraine Hook 0401 116 203