COD504: Community, Policy, and Change: Obesity Policy Brief Report

This report examines the Australian federal government's policy on reducing obesity and promoting healthy living. It critiques the current approach, which relies on a basic framework communicated to states and local authorities, lacking demographic and geographic considerations. The report ident...Read More

COD504 Community, Policy
and Change: Study guide
1

Table of Contents
Purpose of policy brief.................................................................................................................3
Summary of concise policy challenge.........................................................................................3
Identification of some policy options..........................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
2

Purpose of policy brief
A policy brief is written to advise government or an organisation to make changes in
policy and focus on specific issue. Also, it provides some suggestions as well to change policy
approach. Besides that, it gives insight on particular issue that occurs. With help of policy brief it
is easy for government to take effective decision (Keohane, 2018). Thus, a new policy is formed
by it. Similarly, this policy brief is written to federal government of Australia relate to the issue
of policy on reducing obesity and promoting healthy life. So, it will focus on things related to
how
The current approach is that federal government only set basic framework of entire
policy. In this initiatives taken by them are informed to state who further communicate to local
one. These initiatives are not different on basis of demographic and geographic elements. Thus, a
common approach is followed through entire Australia. The roles are mentioned in brief with no
specific time frame or goals. The state and local authority follow guidelines as issued in policy.
They provide monthly report by collecting and analysis data and info. Also, resources are used in
order to execute policy (Green and Rissel, 2020). The policies followed in Australia is National
obesity strategy. It focuses on finding out factors leading to obesity and preventing it. Another
policy is Obesity policy coalition. It was formed with aim of influencing change in policy and
regulation to support obesity prevention. Also, to identify and analyze evidence-based policy and
regulatory initiatives to reduce obesity at state national and local level. Thus, the paper will show
give insight to authority on what changes are needed and how it will be effective in attaining
goals and objectives.
Summary of concise policy challenge
It has been analysed that there are many social issues been faced by people of Australia.
This has highly impacted on people lifestyle. Among various issues obesity is major challenge
for government to tackle it. Thus, the federal government has formed a policy to reduce obesity
and promote good health. The policy is applied by state and local authorities. However, there are
certain social challenge within policy which makes it difficult for government to implement it.
The major challenge is approach included in it ineffective and complex. So, it leads to non
proper execution. Moreover, the resources and guidelines are briefly defined. Hence, it does not
give proper insight or in depth info about what actions or measures are to be taken. It has been
identified that there is lack of awareness among people. They are not aware about symptoms of
3

obesity and benefit of fating healthy food (Keramat and Biddle, 2020). Therefore , policy is not
executed at individual level.
In addition to it, the roles and responsibilities of local and state government officers who
are involved in implementing this policy is not properly defined. Due to it they are not able to do
task effectively. Alongside, decisions taken by them has to be discussed with central.
Another social challenge of policy is that the policy is not developed by taking into
consideration of demographic and geographic context of people in different states. It becomes
difficult to execute it those areas where there are large number of people suffering from obesity.
Then, the authority has to develop their own policy and inform to federal. Furthermore, they
have to use their own resources. Thus, this leads to rise in burden on them as central does not
provide any support. Often times as well it leads to conflict between them. Therefore, federal
monitor closely on it and if possible, policy is discarded. Moreover, state and local is not able to
work freely with them. The roles of NGO’s are not specified clearly so it does not clarify what
they have to do and how. Alongside, no time frame is mentioned in it in which monitoring and
reporting is to be done (James, Mendolia and Paloyo, 2020)
Thus, these are some social policy challenge been faced in obesity policy. It has highly
impacted on working of local authority to follow rules and guidelines in it. So, it is difficult to set
strategies and plans for it. Apart from it, the challenge has to be solved so that policy can be
implemented in proper way. it will led to generating desired outcome by working in
collaboration with federal and other authorities.
Identification of some policy options
It has been identified that there are some alternative policy options as well which can be
applied by Australian government. Here, first is they can develop policy at local level by
identifying demographics of people suffering from obesity. Moreover, the approach in current
federal policy can be modified. They can divide policy into several stages and design a proper
framework to monitor its implementation. Apart from that, goals and objectives can be set on
basis of certain levels like for state and local it must be different. In addition, emphasis can be on
promoting good health rather than reducing obesity. It will automatically lead to solving social
problem of obesity among society.
Another option that can be followed is integration of policy with some health related
campaign. In this government can implement this policy with help of campaign. This will be
4

easy to initiate other tasks. Moreover, federal government can work in coordination with NGO’s
as well. So, for that they can redesign this policy and make some changes in it. Thus, it will
allow in assigning roles of NGO and providing them essential resources to achieve goals of
policy (Sabo, Flores and Ingram, 2017). Through that it will be easy for both state and federal
government to solve social issue.
Hence, these alternative options can be followed in order to implement policy and solve
challenges. This will enable in making significant changes in policy and enforcing it in more
effective way. It will result in obtaining desired outcome by working in collaboration at central
and state level.
5

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Keohane, R.O., 2018. The new European Community: Decisionmaking and institutional change.
Routledge.
Sabo, S., Flores, M. and Ingram, M., 2017. Community health workers promote civic
engagement and organizational capacity to impact policy. Journal of community
health, 42(6), pp.1197-1203.
Green, A.M. and Rissel, C., 2020. Implementation of an Early Childhood Healthy Eating and
Physical Activity Program in New South Wales, Australia: Munch & Move. Frontiers in
Public Health, 8, p.34.
Keramat, S.A. and Biddle, S.J., 2020. Job-Related Characteristics and Obesity in Australian
Employees: Evidence From a Longitudinal Nationally Representative Sample. American
Journal of Health Promotion, p.0890117119901093.
James, A., Mendolia, S. and Paloyo, A.R., 2020. Intergenerational Transmission of Body Mass
and Obesity Status in Australia. Economic Record.
6