AHPA have endorsed the Healthy, Regenerative and Just: Framework for a national strategy on climate, health and wellbeing for Australia. Click here for more information about the framework.
Advocacy
The Australian Health Promotion Association seeks to influence a broad range of public policies as they impact on population health.
On behalf of members, the AHPA Board and Branch Committees regularly provide formal and informal submissions, letters and statements on a variety of national and state/territory issues of relevance to our role in promoting good health, preventing illness and redressing inequities.
Our advice is underpinned by the evidence for effective health promotion policies and strategies and the needs of our members and all those working in the field of health promotion.
Often, AHPA collaborates with our partners on joint submissions.
Archived submissions are available on request.
National Obesity Prevention Strategy
AHPA submitted a response to the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy which can be viewed here.
Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement
AHPA have developed a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement, led by AHPA (VIC/TAS Branch) Presidents David Towl and Teresa Capetola. Download the position here.
2022 AHPA Election Advocacy Working Group - closes 29 October
AHPA seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from members to join the time-limited 2022 Election Advocacy Working Group. The Federal Election will occur on or before May 21 2022, and on behalf of our members, AHPA would like to ensure we influence the policy agenda and where required upskill our members in advocacy for health promotion. EOIs should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by COB 29 October 2021.
For more information click here.
Raise the Age campaign
AHPA signed onto the Raise the Age campaign to #RaiseTheAge of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14.
Community Sector Climate Change Declaration
AHPA signed the Community Sector Climate Change Declaration to call on the Australian federal government to commit to stronger targets and fair and inclusive policies to cut climate pollution this decade.
Women’s Safety Summit
AHPA have endorsed the Joint Statement: Safety Advocates Respond to Women’s Safety Summit call for 12 actions to form the foundation of the next National Plan.
Smoking and vaping cessation
AHPA endorsed Quit and Heart Foundation’s position statement on smoking and vaping cessation.
To view the position statement click here.
Obesity Policy Coalition
AHPA collaborated with the Obesity Policy Coalition and other public health and consumer organisations to express support for the following:
1) that public health remains front and centre of reforms to the food regulatory system
2) that the responsibility for Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) is not moved to the Department of Agriculture
To view the letter of support click here.
Queensland Women’s Strategy - closes 8 October
The QLD Government is developing a new women's strategy. For more information click here.
National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy
A National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy is being developed as a part of the mental health reform agenda, opportunities to provide input will be forthcoming during 2022. For more information click here.
National Digital Health Strategy
Australian Digital Health Strategy has launched a nationwide online survey as part of a wider process to define a new national strategy around digital health. For more information click here.
Planetary Health Alliance
AHPA are currently in the process of joining the Planetary Health Alliance. For more information click here.
Australian Council of Social Services’ community sector climate change statement
AHPA recently signed on to the Australian Council of Social Services’ community sector climate change statement. For more information click here.
Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia 2021
AHPA has been actively involved in climate advocacy, including: Provided comments on the Climate and Health Alliance’s draft update of the Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia 2021. This update integrates into the document the Healthy, Regenerative and Just policy agenda which CAHA developed in 2020. The framework once again highlights the need for the health and wellbeing sector to play a greater role in addressing the health and societal impacts of climate change and calls for a greater focus on ecology and sustainability. Increased climate literacy and competencies for action are areas of particular interest for AHPA along with a greater focus on integration with other health strategies and frameworks and the prevention agenda.
Food regulatory system reforms
In June, AHPA joined a consortium of health and consumer organisations to support the Obesity Policy Coalition’s Open Statement, which calls on the Australian Government to prioritise health over profits as they consider reforms to the food regulatory system. For more information click here.
AHPA Anti-Poverty Week Scenario Snapshots
The key message for Anti-Povery Week 2020 was: Poverty exists. Poverty hurts us all. We can all do something about it. This is a message of hope and not despair. Never has it been truer that poverty can hurt us all as a society and as individuals, in the unexpected chaos of COVID-19 around the world. NSW&ACT Branch filmed a series of video interviews to explore these key messages and impact of COVID-19 on the sector.
Take some time to watch each of the insightful videos to learn from practitioners working across health promotion.
Climate and Health Alliance survey
AHPA is a member and supporter of the Climate and Health Alliance. Earlier this year they conducted a survey about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our health sector members, and the implications it may have for climate advocacy. The key findings have been released.
AHPA Submission on the National Preventive Health Strategy Consultation
AHPA made a submission to the National Preventive Health Strategy consultation identifying areas we thought were positive and issues that needed to be addressed more consistently and comprehensively. This included the need for a greater focus on the social determinants of health, the importance of the health promotion workforce and the impact of climate change and the need to embed action on the social determinants of health.
You can read our submission here.
Joint Statement on Recognising Climate Change in the National Preventive Health Strategy
22 September 2020
Climate change must be a central feature of any broad national health strategy. The World Health Organization has described climate change as the defining issue for public health in the 21st century, and it poses significant immediate, medium-term and long-term risks to the health of Australians and communities around the world.
The attached joint statement calls on the Health Minister to recognise climate change in the National Preventive Health Strategy, currently in development.
Please read more by reviewing the statement here
No Time for Games: Protecting Children's Health in a Changing Climate
The Doctors for the Environment is rolling our 'No Time for Games' Campaign outside Parliament House on the 27.11.18. The campaign enables and encourages doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to take action through pledging support for four key recommendations. These recommendations address climate change and health, and particularly the health benefits for children and future generations.
As a member of the Climate and Health Alliance we encourage you to support this campaign. To find out how you can be involved visit: https://notimeforgames.dea.org.au/ or No Time For Games Flyer.
AHPA Queensland submission on sport and recreation
The Australian Health Promotion Association – Queensland Branch has prepared a submission in response to the Queensland Sport and Active Recreation 2019 - 2029 discussion paper - see the paper here.
Read AHPA Queensland's submission here
Ten ideas on careful stewardship for the public’s health: suggestions for making submissions
Gemma Crawford, AHPA President has led a blog piece for Croakey on called "Ten ideas on careful stewardship for the public’s health: suggestions for making submissions".
The WA Legislative Council has launched an inquiry into “Personal Choice and Community Safety”, with a focus on public health initiatives involving government regulation. Submissions are due by October 5.
The authors of the article below have plenty of ideas on how to make an effective submission to this and other such inquiries, while also reminding us of why careful, evidence-informed stewardship is good for the public’s health. In addition to their article below, the authors have provided a #LongRead version, which will no doubt be of interest to many attending the Public Health Association of Australia’s conference in Cairns this week (See #AustPH2018 for more conference news).
AHPA and PHAA Prevention Policy Position Statement
AHPA and PHAA Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Policy Position Statement
AHPA and PHAA are proud to release their joint position statement.
End Alcohol Advertising in Sport Petition
AHPA is a supporter of the End Alcohol Advertising in Sport Campaign run by FARE. You can get involved in this campaign by sending a petition postcard to Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield,
Minister for Communications calling for removal of alcohol ads from TV screens, uniforms, change rooms and venues and alignment professional sports with healthy brands. Download the petition postcard today.
Congrats to AHPA SA on their pre-election advocacy
AHPA SA in collaboration with other health and community services agencies organised extensive activities in relation to the SA March election. Here’s a wrap up!
AHPA advocacy on climate change
AHPA recently sent a letter to the HESTA superannuation fund congratulating them on their Climate Change Policy.
AHPA SA pre-election advocacy and election forum information
AHPA SA in collaboration with other health and community services agencies has prepared a vision statement for a healthy, flourishing South Australian Community.
Protecting health by reducing pollution
AHPA members are encouraged to sign an open letter to the Victorian EPA to reduce pollution
Promoting better health by reducing pollution
AHPA members are encouraged to sign an open letter to the Victorian EPA to reduce pollution.
AHPA SA advocates for action on inequity and poor health
AHPA SA in collaboration with other health and community services agencies has written to the Hon Peter Malinauskas, recently appointed Minister for Health and Mental Health and Substance Abuse, calling for leadership to promote health.
Australian Food Policy Index 2016 released
AHPA contributed to the development of the Food-Environment Policy Index (EPI) which makes food policy recommendations for each state and nationally.
Australian Health Tracker report card released by the Australian Health Policy Collaboration
AHPA® is pleased to be a signatory to the AHPC who released the Tracker report on August 1. This is a comprehensive health report card and companion reports on the health of children and young people and adults.
Why invest in prevention? Because Treatment Costs Prevention Saves
AHPA calls on the major political parties to get serious about promoting health and support the health of all Australians. Our revised Infographic explains why Australia should commit to investing at least six per-cent of the health budget in to health promotion and prevention, in line with other OECD countries.
AHPA’s submission on chronic disease recognised!
The House of Representatives Chronic Disease final report cites AHPA’s contribution.
We made a submission in July 2015 (click here to view the submission) and then two Board members appeared before the Standing Committee in Adelaide in March 2016.
Submission to the Gaming Machine Arrangements Review
Public Health Association of Australia (Victorian Branch) and Australian Health Promotion Association (Victorian Branch) joint submission to the Gaming Machine Arrangements Review.
Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in Primary Health Care
In July 2015 AHPA made a submission to the Australian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health. The AHPA Vice President appeared before the Standing Committee on March 4th 2016.
Personal Choice Inquiry
AHPA made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics’ Inquiry into Personal Choice and Community Impact. In November 2015 Paul Klarenaar, AHPA Director, appeared before the Inquiry saying ‘…To have personal freedom, we need to feel safe, secure, healthy, supported and in-touch with our community’.
Queensland Health Promotion Commission
In 2015 the Queensland government sought submissions on the establishment of a Queensland Health Promotion Commission. The Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) submission welcomed this opportunity and commented on the role, scope and strategic direction of the Commission.
Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-19 Consultation
The VPHWP is the guiding document for health promotion and disease prevention in Victoria for the next four years.
AHPA asks Victorian Government to reconsider withdrawing funding from Centre for Alcohol Policy Research
AHPA calls on the Victorian Government to acknowledge that alcohol misuse causes harm on a massive scale that dwarfs the harm caused by all illicit drugs combined, and restore essential funding to the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research.
2015-2016 WA State Budget Reply - AHPA WA
Preventative Health Funding in Victoria
Attached are two letters sent that have been sent to the Federal and State Ministers of Health regarding Preventative Health Funding in Victoria.
Submission to the Competition Policy Review
Competition Policy Review – submission by the Australian Health Promotion Association
On 12 November 2014 AHPA submitted comments to the Competition Policy Review Secretariat.
Submission to the Senate Committe on Health
AHPA's Submission to the Senate Committee on Health
Submission on the ANPHA Abolition Bill 2014
Public Health Association of Australia & Australian Health Promotion Association
Submission on the Australian National Preventative Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014