RFT for a National Health Literacy Strategy

The Australian Government Department of Health invites suitably experienced organisations to submit a proposal to develop a National Health Literacy Strategy to support the National Preventive Health Strategy (the Strategy). A draft version of the Strategy, released for public consultation in March-April 2021, is available online at https://consultations.health.gov.au/national-preventive-health-taskforce/draft-national-preventive-health-strategy/.

The Australian Government is in the final stages of developing the Strategy, which will outline the overarching, long-term approach to prevention in Australia over the next 10 years. The Strategy is anticipated to be finalised in the second half of 2021.

As part of the 2021-22 Budget, the Australian Government has committed to the development of governance and system integration activities in support of the Strategy and to strengthen the Government’s focus on prevention.

Implementation activities under the Strategy include the development of a National Health Literacy Strategy to improve the health literacy environment in Australia as well as individuals’ self-care capabilities.

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of improving the delivery and content of health information, and the need to upskill consumers to understand and trust health information from reliable sources.