The physical, mental and social wellbeing of the population is central to state and national policy. Health challenges affect families from early child care through to cognitive decline in old age. For example, non-communicable and long-term (or chronic) illnesses including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancers are now dominant causes of morbidity and premature mortality. Managing such challenges necessitates individual changes in knowledge, motivation and skills, social and community changes and organisational change, including changes in health care delivery systems.