Home About us Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email Health promotion So much more than just telling people how to be healthy. It’s about encouraging people, communities, organisations and governments to take actions. Scroll down What is health promotion? Health promotion: a definition What affects our health? Our approach Our strategy Health promotion in action Why is health promotion so important? Making good health central to our daily lives Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email What is health promotion? Health promotion: a definition What affects our health? Our approach Our strategy Health promotion in action Why is health promotion so important? Making good health central to our daily lives Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email Title What is health promotion? Body Good health is a basic human right, something we all want. Health promotion is all about helping us get it. Good health is key to a long and happy life, after all. But it requires so much more than just telling people how to be healthy! The main goal of health promotion is to improve the quality of our physical, mental and social wellbeing. Health promotion approaches aren't the same for everyone Health promotion recognises that health outcomes are not equitable and that they are significantly informed by the social determinants of health and the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, play and age. Body Watch our bite-sized video for a quick intro to health promotion. Understanding Health Promotion: A Short Introduction Body Health promotion: a definition Body The most well-known definition of health promotion comes from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Ottawa Charter (1986). “Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health.” Ottawa Charter (1986) World Health Organisation Body You can read the full definition here. But put simply, health promotion is a set of actions to build good health and wellbeing. Give me more details Research and case studies teach us that health promotion strategies can help people build healthier lifestyles and have a real impact on the factors that determine health. For example, by developing healthy environments, we can encourage people to be more active - even a 5% cut in physical inactivity across Victoria can save 1000 lives. But as the world around us changes, so must the way we engage with people in this space. Which is why over the past 50 years, health promotion has evolved from the biomedical model of health (pre-1970s) to the social model of health (1970s onwards), and to the ecological model of health (late 1990s onwards). At VicHealth, our approach to health promotion follows the Ottawa Charter, as well as other international frameworks, such as the Jakarta Declaration (WHO 1997) and the Rio Declaration (WHO 2012). Title What affects our health? Body While exercise and healthy eating is important, those are just two aspects of health and wellbeing Health promotion is also about understanding the complex social and economic factors that can affect a person’s health. Body These include: Behaviours and beliefs Family environments Community and work cultures Legislation Living situation Cultural background Gender Income Work status Level of education Strength of social support Title So, good health is about you - but it's about more than just you. Body At VicHealth, we want to reshape the systems that affect our health. These are: Neighbourhood and built systems Commercial and economic systems Food systems Learn more about how systems shape your health and wellbeing How your postcode predicts your health and life expectancy Research and publications 11 min read 9 Mar 2023 Neighbourhood & built systems Title Our approach Body By understanding the factors that can impact a person's wellbeing, health promotion can meaningfully tackle issues impacting people from living their best lives. Body We’re proud to do this by: Supporting strong social networks Advocating for respectful relationships Creating healthy, safe and supportive environments Strengthening community action Developing personal skills Encouraging attitude change Building healthy public policy Working to reduce health inequalities Title It’s these actions that can make a real and lasting difference. Body At VicHealth, we're looking to the future to identify emerging health challenges, so we can innovate and invest in solutions. It's our mission to create the places, spaces, neighbourhoods and communities that lead to good health, helping people discover ways to enjoy a happy, healthy life. More about how we're working towards a healthier Victoria VicHealth Strategy 2023-2033 Landing page 7 min read 18 Jul 2023 Title Health promotion in action Body Health promotion works in many different ways. It involves: Educating people on how to stay healthy Addressing community factors that influence health and wellbeing Eliminating barriers and shifting the environments and social systems that are holding these barriers in place – ultimately impacting, and influencing people's health and wellbeing Promoting activities that support good health and prevent ill-health (rather than only focusing on people at risk of specific diseases). Encouraging people, communities, organisations and governments to take action to improve health and wellbeing. Title Why is health promotion so important? Body Chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, as well as anxiety and depression, all present significant challenges to our health system – and unfortunately – put our families and communities through a lot of anguish. The good news is, health promotion can help address underlying conditions that lead to chronic disease and make positive changes to the world around us. Title Making good health central to our daily lives Body By now, you’ll see health promotion is a rich area of ideas, actions and research. But if we break it down, it’s really about improving the quality of people’s lives – and making sure that looking after our health isn’t just a priority, but that it’s accessible and easy to action. Let's dig deeper. Health promotion has the potential to transform economic and political systems, creating a holistic approach to community wellbeing. Head to our page to learn more about the concept of a wellbeing economy and how it can benefit both people and planet. How to create a wellbeing economy Jump to Share Share Share What is health promotion? Health promotion: a definition What affects our health? Our approach Our strategy Health promotion in action Why is health promotion so important? Making good health central to our daily lives Discover more Everything Topics All topics Commercial & economic systems Food systems Neighbourhood & built systems Partner release Tips and ideas Update Public health leaders praise moves to curb food industry’s misleading ‘no added sugar’ claims Media release 3 min read 4 Dec 2023 Healthy eating , Policy Partner release Future Healthy Countdown Research and publications 5 min read 28 Nov 2023 VicHealth welcomes landmark import ban on vaping Media release 2 min read 27 Nov 2023 Our children's wellbeing is under threat Media release 3 min read 27 Nov 2023 New Quit campaign just launched Media release 3 min read 15 Nov 2023 Campaigns , Tobacco prevention Partner release This Girl Can Week returns to support mums to make time for movement Media release 4 min read 9 Oct 2023 Bad Vapefluence: Teaching kids to hide vapes from parents & making vaping glamourous Media release 4 min read 25 Sep 2023 A note from our CEO on the upcoming referendum Media release 2 min read 19 Sep 2023 How vaping advertisers target young people Research and publications 7 min read 15 Sep 2023 Research VicHealth welcomes groundbreaking laws in the fight against big tobacco Media release 2 min read 13 Sep 2023 Everything we know so far about vaping Article 6 min read 11 Sep 2023 Tobacco prevention Commercial & economic systems The impact of vaping on our health Article 3 min read 8 Sep 2023 The impact of vaping on our environment Article 2 min read 8 Sep 2023 The impact of vaping on young people Article 5 min read 8 Sep 2023 Five ideas for reducing your food bill, while supporting your community Article 4 min read 10 Aug 2023 Game on: New Minecraft mission builds healthy communities one block at a time Media release 3 min read 20 Jun 2023 Discover Alcohol harm prevention Mental wellbeing
