A New 10-Year Plan for Chronic Conditions: What It Means for Kids

In March 2026 the Australian Government launched a new National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions 2026–2035, backed by a $109.9 million Chronic Conditions Prevention and Integrated Care Program over three years (with ongoing funding of $38.3 million a year from 2029–30). Rather than treating diseases in isolation, the framework focuses on shared risk factors across related chronic conditions, relevant to the many children and young people who live with more than one condition at once. Grant applications are expected to open in mid-2026, with funded projects starting from December 2026. It's a decade-long opportunity to build the evidence base for better, more integrated care for kids with chronic illness.