Australian Health Promotion Association

Australia’s proposed social media ban for young people is a bold and welcome step. But it’s not enough on its own. A new Croakey Health Media article, featuring AHPA members Meg Crawford, Anikka Way, Dr Emma Heard and Associate Professor Carmel Williams, highlights the need to go beyond age restrictions to address the broader digital determinants of health. Drawing on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, the authors outline a comprehensive approach, spanning policy, education, community action and health services, to support young people’s digital wellbeing. This includes tackling harmful platform design, strengthening digital literacy, and ensuring young people are actively involved in shaping solutions. As highlighted at AHPA’s recent workshops in Hobart marking 40 years of the Ottawa Charter, achieving “Health for All” in today’s world means addressing the powerful commercial and digital forces shaping health and equity. ➡️ Read the full Croakey article here: https://lnkd.in/g-BxZ7bv #HealthPromotion #DigitalWellbeing #OttawaCharter #YouthHealth #HealthEquity #AHPA

We’re Recruiting: Join the AHPA Vic/Tas Committee Are you passionate about strengthening the health promotion profession and keen to give back? We’re seeking new members to join the AHPA Vic/Tas Branch Committee. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute meaningfully while building your skills in: - Non-profit governance - Advocacy - Communications - Event management We’re looking for a mix of: ✅ Experienced professionals who can help shape and lead our work ✅ Students and early career practitioners with the energy and capacity to drive initiatives forward What’s involved? Approx. 8 hours per month (voluntary) Up to 90 minutes of online meetings per month You must be an AHPA member Nominations close: Wednesday 20 May at 12:00pm 👉 Nominate here: https://lnkd.in/gJJhs9Qd If you don’t have two members to nominate you, we can help connect you with suitable nominees. For any questions, feel free to reach out: 📞 David Towl – 0423 689 473 Join us in shaping the future of health promotion in Victoria and Tasmania. #AHPA #HealthPromotion #Volunteering #ProfessionalDevelopment #Governance #PublicHealth #Leadership

The next edition of AHPAs Fortnightly National Job Bulletin is out now! This edition was compiled by AHPA members Dr. Amna Riaz and Rhianna Caley and contains 99 health promotion roles from across Australia. Members can log-in to the AHPA website using their Username/Email and Password to view the bulletin. Once logged in, the National Job Bulletin can be found under 'AHPA News'. A reminder that you can submit roles to be included in the National Job Bulletin. It's free to list roles and both paid and voluntary opportunities are welcome. #healthpromotion #jobopportunities #memberbenefit

🔍 Keynote Spotlight | Big Ideas. Bold Leadership. As we count down to our upcoming AHPA event, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on the keynote speakers who will anchor the program and frame the conversations shaping the future of health promotion. This year’s keynote sessions are designed to inspire, challenge and energise—inviting us to think boldly, reflect critically, and reconnect with the values that underpin our work: equity, prevention, systems change and collective action. 🎤 Professor Evelyne de Leeuw Drawing on decades of leadership in healthy public policy, Professor de Leeuw will reflect on the Ottawa Charter’s enduring call to “build healthy public policy”—and re‑imagine what this means in today’s complex systems and equity landscapes. This keynote will challenge us to consider how policy can once again become a powerful vehicle for health, wellbeing and social justice. 🎤 Professor Don Nutbeam A leading global voice in health promotion and health literacy, Professor Nutbeam will explore health literacy in the era of AI and digital health through a strong Ottawa Charter lens. His keynote will examine how health literacy enables empowerment and equity, how it intersects across multiple Ottawa Charter action areas, and how digital systems are reshaping responsibilities for health—highlighting both opportunities and risks for health equity. Professor Nutbeam will also reflect on the evolving role of the health promotion workforce in supporting system‑level, not solely individual, approaches to health literacy. 💬 We’d love to hear from you What do you think is the most critical leadership challenge, and opportunity, for health promotion as we navigate rapid digital, policy and system change? 📅 Event details 🗓 Monday 4 May 2026 📍 Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart 🧠 Interactive, values‑driven program 🎟️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/gFrREiVv #AHPA #OttawaCharter #HealthPromotion #HealthyPublicPolicy #HealthLiteracy #Prevention #HealthEquity #SystemsChange

Member Survey: Health Promotion Journal of Australia & Online Journal Club Calling all AHPA members 📣 We’d love your feedback. Please take 5 minutes to complete this short survey to help us understand how you use and engage with the Health Promotion Journal of Australia and our Online Journal Club. Your insights will help ensure our flagship journal continues to reach you and meaningfully inform health promotion practice. 👉 Complete the survey: https://lnkd.in/gBkApfG8 Thank you for supporting AHPA and strengthening our shared knowledge base.

🔍 Workshop Spotlight | Re‑orienting Health Services As part of our upcoming AHPA event, we’re shining a light on one of our Ottawa Charter–themed workshops. This week’s focus: Workshop 5 – Re‑orienting Health Services This interactive session engages with the “Re‑orienting Health Services” action area of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, Hosted by Abe Ropitini, Executive Director, Population Health, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), this workshop turns to the Action Area of 'Re‑orienting Health Services', discussing what it really means to centre wellbeing, cultural safety, and community connection within health systems. Participants will explore how health services can shift from treatment‑focused models to approaches grounded in prevention, community leadership, and holistic, place‑based care. 💬 We’d love to hear from you!! What do you see as the key barrier to health services in Australia shifting from a treatment-focused model to one that prioritises prevention and health promotion? 📅 Event details 🗓 Monday 4 May 2026 📍 Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart 🧠 Interactive, workshop‑based program 🎟️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/gFrREiVv #AHPA #OttawaCharter #HealthyPublicPolicy #HealthInAllPolicies #HealthPromotion #Prevention #HealthEquity

🔍 Workshop Spotlight | Building Healthy Public Policy As part of our upcoming AHPA event, we’re shining a light on one of our Ottawa Charter–themed workshops. This week’s focus: Workshop 4 – Building Healthy Public Policy This interactive session engages with the “Building Healthy Public Policy” action area of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, examining why Health in All Policies (HiAP) has been difficult to sustain in the Australian context, and what it will take to re‑energise it. Participants will explore: • System constraints and political realities shaping public policy • Barriers that have stalled HiAP in practice • Practical strategies to advance equity, prevention and long‑term population wellbeing 🌟 Meet the facilitators Led by Associate Professor Carmel Williams and Dr Emma Heard, this workshop brings deep experience at the intersection of research, policy and practice, from WHO‑level HiAP leadership to community‑centred, participatory health promotion. 💬 We’d love to hear from you!! What do you see as the biggest barrier to building healthy public policy in Australia right now? 📅 Event details 🗓 Monday 4 May 2026 📍 Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart 🧠 Interactive, workshop‑based program 🎟️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/gFrREiVv #AHPA #OttawaCharter #HealthyPublicPolicy #HealthInAllPolicies #HealthPromotion #Prevention #HealthEquity

📣 AHPA Event | 4 May *🎟️ Tickets still available* On 4 May, AHPA is bringing our community together around the principles of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. And there’s still time to join us!!! ✨ Workshops are themed across the Ottawa Charter action areas, giving participants the chance to dive deep into what prevention, equity and participation look like in practice today. 👇 Who’s coming? We’d love to hear from you! Which Ottawa Charter workshop are you most looking forward to? Or… tag someone you think should be in the room for this conversation 👇 Whether you’re working in policy, practice, research or advocacy, this is a chance to connect, reflect, and strengthen the health promotion voice together. #HealthPromotion #OttawaCharter #Prevention #PublicHealth #AHPA #HealthEquity

📣 AHPA Member voice in the national health conversation We’re proud to see Australian Health Promotion Association SA/NT Branch Co‑President, Talia Blythman, quoted in Croakey Health Media on the importance of health equity and primary prevention in current public policy debates. The article highlights growing concern that prevention risks being overlooked at a time when pressures on our health system continue to mount. As Talia notes, investing in prevention isn't optional. It's evidence‑informed, cost‑effective, and essential for improving both health and economic outcomes. “This is not just about hospitals and GPs. Primary prevention is vital to reduce pressures on our health system.” AHPA strongly supports informed public discussion that keeps equity, prevention, and long‑term wellbeing at the centre of health decision‑making. 🔗 One Nation’s surge in South Australia raises concerns for health equity and prevention: https://lnkd.in/gxDPRdPt #HealthPromotion #Prevention #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #PrimaryPrevention #AHPA

The next edition of AHPAs Fortnightly National Job Bulletin is out now! This edition was compiled by AHPA members Isabelle Walker and Kriti Vaidhya and contains 77 health promotion roles from across Australia. Members can log-in to the AHPA website using their Username/Email and Password to view the bulletin. Once logged in, the National Job Bulletin can be found under 'AHPA News'. A reminder that you can submit roles to be included in the National Job Bulletin using this form: https://lnkd.in/gz-qMMGA. It's free to list roles and both paid and voluntary opportunities are welcome. #healthpromotion #jobopportunities #memberbenefit