Australian National Preventive Health Agency
ANPHA
1 January 2011 – 1 January 2026
Statutory agency that advised Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers on preventive health, ran national social marketing campaigns on obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol use, and funded preventive health research; it ceased operating in mid-2014 but remained in existence in law until 2026.
How it came into existence
Commenced on 1 January 2011 under the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010, as part of the COAG National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health. It took over preventive health social marketing campaigns and related programs from the Department of Health and Ageing.
- Preventive health social marketing campaigns
- Preventive health programs and grants
Legislation: Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved to the Health portfolio when the Department of Health and Ageing became the Department of Health.
- 1 July 2014Ceased operations after a 2014–15 Budget decision; its functions, programmes and current grants were transferred to the Department of Health.
- 25 November 2014The Senate defeated the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014, so the agency continued to exist in law without operations.
- 1 July 2022Moved to the Health and Aged Care portfolio when the Department of Health became the Department of Health and Aged Care.
- 13 May 2025Moved to the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio when the Department of Health and Aged Care became the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
- Preventive health campaigns and research
How it ended
Ceased operations on 30 June 2014 following a 2014–15 Budget decision, its functions, programmes and grants passing to the Department of Health from 1 July 2014; after the Senate defeated the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014 it remained a Commonwealth entity without operations. It was formally abolished on 1 January 2026, when the Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2025 repealed the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010.
Main functions
- Evidence-based advice to health ministers on preventive health
- National social marketing campaigns on obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol use
- Preventive health research funding
- Monitoring and reporting on obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol use
- National preventive health guidelines and standards
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to 31 December 2025)
- Federal Register of Legislation: Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010
Government records and websites
- Bills Digest: Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014
- Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee: Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014 report
- Department of Finance: Table of Changes to the Flipchart 2025–26
- Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.