Health Promotion
Health Promotion is the process of enabling
people to increase control over, and to improve their health. To
reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being,
an individual or group must be able to identify and realise aspirations,
to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health
is, therefore, seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective
of living. Health is a positive concept emphasising social and personal
resources, as well as physical capacities. So health promotion is
not just the responsibility of the health sector, but goes beyond
health life-styles to well-being.
Source: Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion:
International Conference on Health Promotion: the Move Towards a
New Public Health. World Health Organization, Health and Welfare
Canada, and Canadian Public Health Association, Ottawa, 1986, pp.
357-8.
Social Determinants of Health
Individual health is not only determined by personal lifestyle choices
and circumstance. It is also influenced by existing policies, legislations,
cultural climates and infrastructures that may increase or decrease
inequities. Key aspects of people’s living and working conditions
and their lifestyles are influenced by broader social, political
and economic policies that can be helpful or harmful to a person’s
health. These macro policies and structures are known as the social
determinants of health.
The fundamental conditions and resources
for good health are peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable
ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. Good
health is a major resource for social, economic and personal development
and an important dimension of quality of life.
Source: Wilkinson, R. & Marmot,
M. (Eds.) (2003). Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts
(2nd Edition). World Health Organization, Copenhagen.
Also available at http://www.who.dk/document/E81384.pdf
Workforce Development
With Swinburne’s Regional Learning Networks, the Centre for
Health and Wellbeing, won a Department of Human Services tender
for the redevelopment of the Department of Human Services’
Core Health Promotion Short Course.
The project required alignment of the course to Training Package
units of competency to allow national accreditation. The course
was then adapted for delivery to Aboriginal communities in the Loddon
Mallee Region in the first instance, and resources were customised
for those groups. The course, resources and delivery were piloted
and evaluated successfully in the first part of 2005.
Delivered customised Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace
Training for Department of Human Services Health Promotion staff.
Similarly, customised training was delivered to VicHealth Mental
Health Promotion staff.
Delivery of customised Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace
Training for Alpha Autism to provide formal training to their clients
and staff. Alpha Autism offers a range of support services, including
an employment service and prevocational training, for adults with
Autism Spectrum Disorder.
For further information on Health Promotion go to our Resources
page.
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