Advocacy

The Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA®) welcomes the re-establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Preventive and Public Health and applauds the Convenors Dr Mike Freelander MP and Dr Helen Haines MP and all who attended the launch on 8 February 2023 for prioritising health and wellbeing.

AHPA together with a number of leading public health bodies has endorsed a Manifesto for an Australian Centre for Disease Control.

AHPA testified at the Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm on 10 February 2023, following AHPA's submission to the Inquiry in November 2022.

AHPA member Louise Francis and Vice-President Melinda Edmunds appeared at the Inquiry hearing.

In December 2022, the Australian Government released a Digital Platforms: Government consultation on ACCC's regulatory reform recommendations Consultation Paper and invited stakeholder views to inform Government on its response to the ACCC's fifth interim report for the Digital Platform Services inquiry. This report found the current regulatory settings in Australia inadequate at addressing specific competition and consumer issues and recommended a new regulatory framework.

The consultation process closed on 15 February 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

The submission was prepared by Rebecca Zosel, AHPA Executive Officer.

AHPA's submission focuses on the consumer protections required of digital platforms to prevent and reduce harms to health and wellbeing. AHPA strongly supports the recommendations from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE). We also note the Australian Health Promotion Association’s recent submission to the Inquiry into Online Gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers, and reiterate AHPA’s recommendations as provided to this Inquiry (see here).

In 2023, the Australian Government will release a new stand alone Measuring What Matters Statement. The statement will draw on the OECD Framework for Measuring Well-being and Progress, but will be unique to the Australian context.

The Australian Government recently invited views on how we can better measure what matters to improve the lives of all Australians, and the application of the OECD framework to Australia.

The Measuring What Matters consultation process closed on 31 January 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

AHPA is involved in the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health. Read the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health submission here.

AHPA has signed a Joint Statement to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) with 26 of Australia and New Zealand’s leading public health and consumer organisations to express strong support for the introduction of mandatory added sugar labelling.

On 5 December 2022 the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services called for submissions from individuals, businesses and community groups on their views regarding priorities for the 2023‑24 Budget. The Pre-Budget Submission process for the 2023-24 Budget closed on 27 January 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

AHPA is involved in the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health. Read the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health submission here.

AHPA made a submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Potential reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products: Consultation Paper in January 2023.

The submission was prepared by Professor Jonine Jancey, AHPA Fellow, with input from AHPA members Dr Kahlia McCausland and Mr Luke van der Beeke.

Read the submission here.

AHPA recently made an online submission to the Senate Inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare and endorsed the report Achieving equal access: abortion care in Australia.

Action to increase equitable access to information, diagnosis, treatment and services for sexual and reproductive health is critical and consistent with the National Women’s Health Strategy. 

AHPA provided a written response to Cancer Australia on the public consultation draft of the 10-year Australian Cancer Plan.

Read the submission here.

AHPA recently provided a written response to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Consultation Discussion Paper: Role and Functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control, Consultation Paper - November 2022.

Read the AHPA submission here.

The Australian Health Promotion Association appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Public Health Workforce Analysis, and has provided a written response to the ‘Defining the Public Health Workforce consultation paper’ following our consultation session on Wednesday 23 November 2022 with Ernst and Young.

In November 2022, AHPA made a submission to the Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. Read the submission here.

AHPA recently received correspondence from The Hon. Ged Kearney, MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care. We thank her for her response and look forward to continuing to collaborate to promote health and prevent illness.

AHPA recently signed a letter from the health community which called for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which aims to protect lives of current and future generations.

More info on the treaty here.

AHPA proudly endorsed the Australia Remade vision. More info here.

In collaboration with the Australian Gun Safety Alliance and Gun Control Australia, AHPA has co-signed a letter to the Federal Government on firearm data transparency.

AHPA recently congratulated the new Federal Government on the election victory and welcomed the new Albanese ministry to office with letters to the Hon. Mark Butler, Emma McBride, Ged Kearney, Linda Burney and Malarndirri McCarthy.

AHPA wrote to the Hon. Greg Hunt MP and Hon. Mark Butler MP calling on them to make health promotion and illness prevention a priority this election. AHPA have received a response from the Department of Health (via the First Assistant Secretary, Population Health Division) on behalf of the Minister as the Australian Government is now in a caretaker role. 

AHPA signed up to the Obesity Policy Coalition’s Brands off our kids! statement to support government action to implement four actions for a childhood free from unhealthy food marketing.

AHPA was recently involved in the Raise the Rate for Good - National Day of Action on Wed 27 April which calls on all parties & candidates to commit to increasing income support and investing in social housing.

AHPA recently signed Cancer Council Victoria’s Food Fight campaign to protect our kids from unhealthy food and drink advertising. 

The Australian Health Promotion Association calls on all parties to make health promotion and illness prevention a priority this election.

Signed on to two joint letters led by ACOSS from the community sector to Federal Election candidates calling on them to commit to two game-changer policies to reduce poverty and inequality. These policies are: lift income support payments to above the poverty line so everyone can cover the basic and invest in 25,000 social housing units each year as part of a National Housing Plan.

Advertising for products that cause substantial harm should be required to follow government-led rules that protect our children, families and broader community.  

AHPA joined Obesity Policy Coalition and 20+ other health and consumer orgs to call for more work to be put into food regulatory reforms to put the health of Australians and New Zealanders first. Read more here.

AHPA signed onto the Medical Association for Prevention of War's statement on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Read the Health Professionals’ Statement on Ukraine here.

AHPA was consulted by the Australian Gun Safety Alliance regarding a proposal to the NSW Police Force Firearm Registry Consultation Council on the issue of prescribed blood alcohol levels for the possession and use of a firearm.

AHPA signed the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Call for Action: Managing the Infodemic, a global movement to promote access to health information and to mitigate harm from health misinformation among online and offline communities.

AHPA have signed Australian Feminist Foreign Policy Coalition, supporting an approach which places gender equality as the central goal of foreign policy, in recognition that gender equality is a predictor of peaceful and flourishing societies. 

AHPA recently supported the Australian Society for Pyhsical Activity's (ASPA) Three Transport Priorities. ASPA are calling for support from individuals and organisations. For further information click here.  

The Framework draws on international best practice to outline essential measures to reduce corporate influence and restore balance in our politics. For more information click here. 

AHPA joined FARE and many other health groups in signing the Open letter: Put the health, wellbeing and safety of Australians first and abandon any plans to cut the price of alcohol. 

To view the letter of support click here. 

Developing Case Studies on Multisectoral Action for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

AHPA submitted a response to the Inquiry into the planning and delivery of school infrastructure in NSW which can be viewed here. 

AHPA and PHAA Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Policy Position Statement (updated)

AHPA and PHAA are pleased to release their joint updated position statement. Useful for upcoming advocacy for health promotion!

AHPA endorsed the ACOSS-led sector statement A Guarantee to the Nation: Community Sector Call to all Parties that calls for politicians to commit to affordable essential services, better income supports and social housing, and climate action now. Read the 8 December media release and download the statement here.

AHPA joined over 35 health and medical groups including the Climate and Health Alliance in producing an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for the Federal Government to scale up international climate commitments to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and Pacific Island neighbours. This letter comes after international negotiations that took place in Glasgow at COP26. A copy of the letter dated 26 November is available here.

As part of AHPA’s support of the Raise the Age campaign, AHPA signed the open letter from health organisations on the medical evidence for raising the age to at least 14. Read the letter dated 6 December here.

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.

AHPA submitted a response to the draft National Obesity Prevention Strategy which can be viewed here.

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.

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.

AHPA signed onto the Raise the Age campaign to #RaiseTheAge of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14.

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.

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. 

AHPA endorsed Quit and Heart Foundation’s position statement on smoking and vaping cessation. 

To view the position statement click here. 

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.

The QLD Government is developing a new women's strategy. For more information click here.

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.