AIA Australia CEO, Mr Damien Mu, launched Australia’s inaugural Vitality Summit last Tuesday setting a challenge to the financial services sector to use its collective resources and relationship with Australians to help make the nation healthier.
With non-communicable diseases now responsible for approximately nine out of every 10 deaths in Australia (see note 1), Mr Mu said that actually understanding what is driving this statistic means that there are things directly within our control to address this that could be transformative for the the nation’s health and the flow on effect to the economy.
“That is why AIA Australia convened The Vitality Summit – to raise awareness and shine a spotlight on the growing concern and trends on the nation’s health and a conversation about the role the Financial Services Sector can play in improving our nation’s health,” Mr Mu said.
“By extending the important relationship we have with Australians, to assist them with their financial wellbeing to ensuring we are also partnering with them with programs such as Vitality to help them with their health and wellbeing,” he said.
At The Vitality Summit, leaders from across the financials services, health, wellbeing, government and corporate sector explored:
What the future holds for wellbeing in the financial services sector.
The role the private sector, vs the public sector, has to play when it comes to our health.
How the financial services sector can work better with governments, health providers and communities to tackle the shared challenge.
According to Mr Mu, one of the key themes at the Summit was the practical steps that truly can make a difference.
“Steps like starting a simple exercise routine of a daily 20-minute walk, or choosing to introduce a little more fruit into your diet over fast food,” Mr Mu said. “Small steps make a big difference.”
“Just like saving for a retirement lifestyle by the power of compounding interest, better health can be about small changes in behaviours that have a compounding effect later in life. The little things we do each day to improve our health in exercise, eating habits and reducing risk factors like smoking, is like money in the bank. It adds up. “
The Vitality Summit, with 130 leaders from across the financial services sector in the audience, was a timely reminder that a healthier, more active population will deliver exponential benefits to society and our community.
“Financial Services as an industry has a broader role to play in this national challenge of improving wellbeing,” Mr Mu said. “Providing financial protection to people is critical and we partner with financial advisers and superannuation funds to do this but once this is in place, with our reach into the population and our shared expertise we can make a meaningful, long term impact in our communities. And that will be good for all of us.”
The full video of The Vitality Summit, featuring Mark Tucker (AIA Group), Richard Peil (Anytime Fitness), Sarah Wilson (IQuitSugar.com), Adrian Gore (Discovery Health), Teifi Whatley (Sunsuper), Dr Lisa Studdert (Federal Department of Health), and facilitated by The Today Show’s Sylvia Jeffreys can be viewed online at www.vitalitysummit.com.au
