Since the beginning of the AAHPP in the late 80's, several NT health professionals were national members. Following the establishment of the WA Branch in March 1992 and a meeting held in July 1992 interest was expressed to form a branch in the NT. As it was considered too early, a special interest group was established in 1993, with support provided from WA. This group continued to meet over the next few years with various levels of activity.

As the numbers increased regular small meetings occurred and eventually with a push from a few of the founding members, the NT came to be host and organiser for the Ninth National Health Promotion Conference in 1997. This led to the NT Branch becoming incorporated on 24 November 1995. With the 1997 Conference imminent, some of the original organising committee flew off to other areas of Australia, for other exciting jobs, leaving a small and committed group of individuals to organise the conference.

The conference "People, Places and Programs-Exploring Better Practice in Health Promotion for Diverse Populations" gave the Territory the opportunity to promote the health promotion programs it was involved in, with an emphasis on the health of Aboriginal people. This was the first time the conference was held north of the Tropic of Capricorn. A number of articles for the Special Edition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Promotion - National Health Promotion Journal highlighted these programs.

In 2005, the NT AHPA branch once again hosted the national conference and participants were welcomed to Alice Springs to participate in the 16th National Health Promotion Conference: Health Promotion Dreaming – Shifting the Sands.

Over time, the NT branch has continued to grow with our membership coming from both the Government and NGO sectors.
‘Relax, you are in the Territory, things are a little different here.’

Territory locals are renowned for their appreciation of a laid-back lifestyle and love of sport and fishing. The local paper often sports headlines on croc catches and cane toad invasions but in amongst our joys for outdoor living, idiosyncrasies and laid-back lifestyles, the Territory has its own fair share of health issues.

For health promoters, the NT opens doors of opportunities for health promotion practitioners, policy makers and researchers. The small size of the population, the large landmass in which the population is located, and the numerous languages other than English spoken all contribute to challenging traditional health promotion approaches and methods.

Stay in touch as the NT Branch seeks to keep you up to date with what it is up to and where to find information on Health Promotion in the NT.

• Focus will be on professional development with activities and presentations being planned with an aim to increase membership.
• Focus on being able to support rural and remote members and through the development of appropriate communication and information networks.
• Encourage members to public health promotion work in the AHPA update and journal.
• Provide opportunities for local community-based individuals to present their projects that they are doing to promote health promotion activities in the community to interested health promotion professionals.
• Actively encourage Indigenous membership and support culturally appropriate health promotion activities.
• Explore the idea of staff exchanges for Health Promotion Association members to work in related health promotion fields to gain experience in other countries.