Between 2005 and June 2007, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing commissioned the Divisions network to roll out the implementation of Lifescripts (including these resources).  AGPN received funding for a National Lifestyle Prescriptions Coordinator, and the Networks SBOs also received capacity to provide support to participating Divisions. 

Lifescripts can be implemented as a stand alone program, be linked in with other Divsion programs or just one or two of the risk factors could be the focus of a Division or Practices implementation.  Lifescripts can link into Division programs such as practice nursing, chronic disease management, practice support, IM/IT, existing prevention programs and support offered to practices in establishing recall and reminder systems and referral protocols.  The education and materials available through Lifescripts add value to existing programs and priorities by adding a preventative and early intervention component.

For an outline of national Lifescripts implementation see the National Profiles of Implementation in the division support resources section of the Resource Library.

Participation in Lifescripts is voluntary (for both Divisions and Practices) and there are a range of options to ensure that implementation suits different Divisions and a range of Practice settings.  Lifestyle risk factor discussions might be implemented opportunistically when relevant to the patient consultation or practices might take a systematic, 'whole of practice' approach and integrate Lifescripts into clinical processes. 

The Centre for General Practice Integration Studies (an organisation involved in the Lifescripts Consortium) has developed a suggested dissemination framework for Lifescripts.  This framework incorporates some of the activities occurring and makes some suggestions for the future.  The dissemination framework is a suggestion only not a mandatory requirement. 

In the 2007-08 financial year, the Department of Health and Ageing will find between 8 and 12 Divisions to participate in the Lifescripts Demonstration Division project. Divisions are invited to submit and expression of interest to be a part of the Dissemination Divisions project, and successful Divisions will be funded to implement strategies with selected practices which assist them to incorporate Lifescripts and related lifestyle risk factor managment into their activities.  Dissemination Divisions will be required to collate, disseminate and share learnings/experiences through participation and ongoing national review of project activities.  For further information see the Lifescripts Demonstration Divisions page.