Image: (l-r) SVI Director Professor Tom Kay, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, Ms Stephanie Alexander OAM, Professor Rob Moodie, Mr JT Macfarlane and Ms Brenda Shanahan, Chair of SVI

Prevention or Cure? This often debated topic can be viewed from many different angles: national, social, clinical and economic.

Four high profile speakers dissected the topic from these viewpoints at the recently held 12th Annual SVI Forum attended by over 200 people on May 24th. The speakers were Professor Rob Moodie, Chair of the National Preventative Health Task Force; Melbourne food icon Ms Stephanie Alexander OAM; Dr Andrew Wilson, cardiologist at St Vincent's Hospital and Mr JT Macfarlane, head of Deutsche Bank, Australia

Kicking off the speakers, Rob Moodie discussed the work of the National Preventative Health Force and aim of reducing the burden of obesity, alcohol and tobacco on Australia's health and wellbeing. Stephanie Alexander described The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and her goal of exposing young children to pleasurable food education in a holistic way from growing and harvesting vegetables, to preparing them in new ways and enjoying them as a communal experience. Andrew Wilson talked about cardiovascular prevention strategies and how tailoring these to fit different health needs will provide the greatest benefit to Australians. Finally, JT Macfarlane focused on the economic benefits of health care, and the effect that frugal innovation in response to the global economic crisis is likely to have on our health care system.

Capped off by a lively panel discussion, the evening provided insight into the myriad of ways that the health of Australians can be improved, which is, after all, the goal of SVI research.

Click here to download the forum pdf.