Our history Tabs How we started The impact Across the world Body VicHealth is the world’s first health promotion foundation. We were established by the Victorian Parliament as part of the Tobacco Act of 1987. This Act set the standard for international best practice by banning outdoor tobacco advertising and using cigarette taxes to fund anti-smoking campaigns and buy out the tobacco sponsorship of sport and the arts. For more information on how VicHealth was funded visit our What we do page. Body The impact on smoking has been dramatic. Sponsorship has gone from sports and arts events; tobacco advertising cannot be found in media or sporting fields, most workplaces and public spaces are smokefree, the legal age to purchase tobacco has increased to 18 years, the number of adult smokers has almost halved, and branding has been removed from tobacco product. Read more about tobacco prevention here. Body The impacts go beyond just Victoria. The fact that it was such a good idea is emphasised by the continuing work of VicHealth and by the establishment of health promotion foundations in other Australian states, as well as countries such as Thailand, Switzerland, Austria, the Philippines and Malaysia. But we could go further. Head to our page How to create a wellbeing economy for more about the potential that health promotion has to better our future. Body VicHealth celebrates 30 years Our inaugural leaders at VicHealth’s inception take us on a journey back to 1987 and inspire us on our and our partners’ continuing role to promote health. Check out our 30 years of VicHealth publication for an overview of VicHealth from its inception in 1987 to the present day: Read more
