Australian Health Promotion Association

🔸 Join us on March 21st during Close the Gap Week for a landmark moment in AHPA's history—the launch of our inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). 🔹 Years in the making, this RAP represents our commitment to genuine change and cultural safety. 🔸 Be part of history at the Charles Perkins Centre Auditorium, University of Sydney, with keynote speaker Professor Michelle Dickson, former Board Director and RAP project coordinator. 🔹 Together, let's bridge gaps, honour commitments, and pave the way for a more equitable future. 🔸 Don't miss this pivotal event—secure your place now: https://lnkd.in/dt8tge2S cc: Reconciliation Australia

✨ Do you want to know how to write a great Health Policy Brief? Want to influence decision-makers but not sure how?  Health Policy briefs are concise summaries that outline key information and provide recommendations - essential tools in government and public health, where time is limited, and you need to make an impact quickly. Join our online, 60-minute event, “How to write a great Health Policy Brief?” hosted by the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) Student and Early Career Practitioner Committee. We will be joined by public health professionals Dr Yonatal Tefera and Dr Louise Birrell will share their expertise, covering key elements of policy briefs, common pitfalls, and practical tips. Event details:  📅 Date: Wednesday, 16th April 2025  ⏰ Time: 6:30–7:30 PM ACST | 7:00–8:00 PM AEST | 5:00–6:00 PM AWST  🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gkehf69h This event is free for both AHPA members and non-members!     Looking forward to seeing you all there!

📢 AHPA Launches its First Ever National Reconciliation Action Plan AHPA is proud to be launching our inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) this Friday. This significant milestone marks our commitment to reconciliation and a more equitable future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 🔸 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dt8tge2S For many, the absence of a previous RAP might come as a surprise, given AHPA's dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion. However, as not all organisational structures are eligible for RAPs, AHPA has undergone a staged journey with Reconciliation Australia, to develop and formalise this first-ever National RAP. This effort has been years in the making, with invaluable input from AHPA members, our Board, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee. We are especially grateful for the foundational work of former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee Chairs, Jenny Philip-Harbutt and Professor Michelle Dickson, as well as the AHPA WA Branch, who laid the groundwork for a National RAP with their initial work at a local level years ago. Their dedication and vision have been instrumental in helping AHPA take this significant step forward. Special thanks to our Board, under President Melinda Edmunds, and the leaders of the RAP Working Group—Dimitri Batras, Candace Angelo, and Katherine Cacavas. Their perseverance over the last 12-18 months brought this RAP to fruition. We also acknowledge Meg Scolyer and Alyssa Monte for their roles in coordinating the launch. A highlight of the RAP is the stunning artwork created by Rachel Radcliffe, which visually embodies AHPA’s commitment to reconciliation and the broader journey towards healing and unity. Rachel’s artwork will serve as a powerful symbol of this journey and the collective efforts of AHPA members to bring about change. 🔷 Event Details 🔷 🎉 The RAP will officially launch this Friday during Close the Gap Week. 🎤 Special Guest: Professor Michelle Dickson will deliver the keynote address. Professor Michelle Dickson. Director, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. 🗓 Date: Friday 21st March, 2025 ⏰ Time: 12-2pm (12-1pm Official Launch; 1-2pm Networking & Refreshments) 🏢 Venue: In-person at University of Sydney, Charles Perkins Centre Auditorium 🖥 Online: Online link provided for hybrid option. 12-1pm AEDT. (QLD: 11am-12, NT:10.30-11.30am, SA: 11.30-12.30pm, WA: 9-10am) ☕️ Light refreshments will be provided. 💵 Cost:  Free to attend. We invite all AHPA members and the wider #healthpromotion community and #publichealth community to join us in person or online to witness this historic occasion. Together, we can move forward with unity, respect, and determination to make real and lasting change. 🔸 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dt8tge2S

🎉 Congratulations to our final scholarship recipient, Jade Ashwell! Jade is a recipient of the 2025/26 Australian Health Promotion Association scholarship, funded by Healthway . Jade will be undertaking a 12-month scholarship with the Foodcore Nutrition Services with supervisor Megan Sauzier. Read more about Jade and her project below. ✨ About Jade My calling to health promotion began before I knew health promotion existed. From a young age I have felt a strong urge to help those in need, which flourished into a passion for nutrition around age 12, when I decided that teaching and encouraging people to eat nutritious food was how I was going to do just that. Upon starting my Bachelor of Health Science at Edith Cowan University I discovered my newfound love for health promotion and chose to complete a double major, in health promotion and nutrition. ✨ About my project I will be working on a food and nutrition project to support the wellbeing of children attending Out of School Hours Care (OSHC). My project aims to empower OSHC educators through capacity building activities and direct food and nutrition support and resources. Working collaboratively with OSHC providers, we will achieve this by ensuring OSHC services provide children in their care with healthy, nutritious food based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE); implement food and nutrition activities; prepare and serve food in a safe manner including allergy awareness; and increase children’s exposure to nutritious food.

The next edition of AHPA’s National Job Bulletin is out now. This edition was compiled by AHPA members Leah Dempsey and Kasthury S. and contains 32 health promotion roles from across Australia. Members, log-in to AHPA's website to view: https://lnkd.in/gTEy9AUy A reminder that you can submit roles to be included in the National Job Bulletin using this form: https://lnkd.in/gz-qMMGA. It is free to list roles and both paid and voluntary opportunities are welcome. The National Job Bulletin is produced fortnightly; the next edition will go live on 19 March. #healthpromotion #jobopportunities #memberbenefit

🔸 Join us on March 21st during Close the Gap Week for a landmark moment in AHPA's history—the launch of our inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). 🔹 Years in the making, this RAP represents our commitment to genuine change and cultural safety. 🔸 Be part of history at the Charles Perkins Centre Auditorium, University of Sydney, with keynote speaker Professor Michelle Dickson, former Board Director and RAP project coordinator. 🔹 Together, let's bridge gaps, honour commitments, and pave the way for a more equitable future. 🔸 Don't miss this pivotal event—secure your place now: https://lnkd.in/dt8tge2S cc: Reconciliation Australia

🚀 Applications Now Open: AHPA Mentoring Program 2025! 🚀 Are you looking to grow your career in health promotion? The AHPA Mentoring Program connects early- and mid-career professionals with experienced mentors to support knowledge exchange, networking, and professional development. 🔹 Why join? ✅ Mentees gain guidance, support, and a space to discuss career goals. ✅ Mentors develop coaching skills and expand their professional network. ✅ Recognised as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity for registered International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) Health Promotion Practitioners. 🔹 Who can apply? 📌 Mentees: Current AHPA members at any career stage. 📌 Mentors: Experienced health promotion professionals (4+ years). 📌 Commitment: ~2 hours/month for 6 months. 📅 Apply by COB Friday 14 March 2025 🔗 Find out more and submit your application here: https://lnkd.in/gDZYemQi Spots are limited, so apply early! Successful applicants will be matched by 11 April 2025. #HealthPromotion #Mentoring #CareerGrowth #AHPA #ProfessionalDevelopment

ICYMI: Earlier this month Wiley published a Māori Research Collection on Health & Wellbeing for Waitangi Day, the national public holiday to commemorate the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa. The special collection featured the following articles from the Health Promotion Journal of Australia: 🔹 Chronic conditions in the community: Preventative principles and emerging practices among Māori health services providers https://lnkd.in/guJcSRfh 🔹 The glue that binds us: The positive relationships between whanaungatanga (belonging), the wellbeing, and identity pride for takatāpui who are trans and non-binary https://lnkd.in/g-8f7Tkg 🔹 Waka ama: An exemplar of indigenous health promotion in Aotearoa New Zealand https://lnkd.in/gTMJWheb 🔹 Combining Cognitive Mapping and indigenous knowledge to improve food environments in regional New Zealand https://lnkd.in/gbVZ-VE9 Check out the full collection here: https://lnkd.in/gdxiMdWj

📣 AHPA's Federal Treasury 2025-26 Pre-budget Submission was recently featured in this Croakey Health Media article, Putting a wellbeing economy, oral health leadership and workforce priorities on the Federal Budget agenda: https://lnkd.in/g9jv7SHR In the submission, AHPA makes the following recommendations: 1️⃣ Commit to a target of at least 5% of annual health expenditure being directed to health promotion and prevention 2️⃣ Enhance funding for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 3️⃣ Progress and advancement of an Australian Centre for Disease Control with a focus on health promotion 4️⃣ Sufficient resources to address the broader determinants of health that significantly impact outcomes for individuals and communities 5️⃣ Enhancing the Australian health promotion and prevention workforce. Thank you to our submission authors Tiffany Alling, MPH and Kate Lowsby, reviewers Natalia March (Smith), Dr Louise Baldwin and Melinda Edmunds and other members who provided feedback.  📃 Review the full submission here: https://lnkd.in/gziG8gDa #HealthPromotion #Investment #Prevention #AusPol