Advocacy

In December 2023, AHPA signed onto a shared statement calling for Government action on alcohol product marketing in Australia.

In March 2024, the AHPA NSW/ACT Branch collaborated with The Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to present a joint submission on the NSW Government ClubGRANTS Scheme Review and provide recommendations to address serious issues with the current Scheme design.

On 26 March 2024, health professionals delivered a Save Lives with Solar letter to Parliament House. The letter called on the Federal government to commit to funding for rooftop solar on social housing to protect vulnerable people from the health impacts of extreme heat and climate change.

On 26 March 2024, the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health launched a Policy Brief titled School-based mental health and wellbeing programs. What's working, what's not?

On the 16th February 2024, AHPA Directors Dr. Dimitri Batras and Associate Professor Freya MacMillan presented evidence at the Public Hearing for the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes in Australia.

On the 25^th January 2024, AHPA provided a written submission to the Federal Treasury suggesting areas of focus for the forthcoming budget to support a healthy, equitable Australia. These are consistent with our asks as part of pre-budget submission in 2023 and areas outlined as part of our Health Promotion and Illness Prevention Policy.

During the 6^th November and 15^th December 2023, the Commonwealth Government welcomed submissions on the COVID-19 response in aim of improving Australia’s preparedness for future pandemics.

In 2023 following extensive consultation and collaboration across the sector in 2022, SA Health developed the draft SA Cancer Plan 2023-2028 and released it for public consultation. Feedback was invited by 1 October 2023.

In October 2023, the WA Government welcomed public feedback on proposed changes relating to the WA Firearms Act Reform.

The Department of Social Services recently welcomed consultation submissions on the development of the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, a 10-year strategic plan to inform housing and homelessness policy in Australia.

In July 2023, the Australian Government welcomed consultation submissions on the draft National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing.

In September 2023, the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health launched a Policy Brief titled Exploring the role of community coalitions in the prevention of mental health conditions.

AHPA joins more than 125 leading health and medical organisations as signatories of an Open Letter to the Australian Public: A Voice to Parliament will improve health outcomes. 

On 24 September 2023, the AHPA Victoria/Tasmania Branch joined over 50 leading health organisations in Victoria to declare their support for a Yes vote in the Voice Referendum.

AHPA joined 26 organisations and 100+ health professionals in delivering a gas free homes letter to the NSW Government on 12 September 2023.

In July 2023, the Australian Government released Measuring What Matters - Australia’s First Wellbeing Framework. AHPA has undertaken a spotlight review of the framework, in line with our recommendations.

On 22 June 2023 the Senate referred an inquiry into the worsening rental crisis in Australia to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report, with an interim report to be presented by 23 September 2023 to aid in the deliberations of the National Cabinet on renters' rights, and a final report to be presented by 28 November 2023. 

In May 2023, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport adopted an inquiry into Diabetes, following a referral from the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP.

As part of the Association's efforts to build advocacy capacity nationally, AHPA Executive Officer Rebecca Zosel ran a workshop for AHPA's leadership team on 17 August 2023 titled Undertaking Advocacy on behalf of the Association.

In May 2023, the ACT Government invited community feedback on the ACT Preventive Health Action Plan 2023-2025. Community consultation was open from 8 May to 28 July 2023; see the consultation website here.

In June 2023, a coalition of leading public health organisations, including AHPA, wrote to the Hon. Roger Cook MLA as the recently appointed Premier of Western Australia regarding investment in preventive health.

In January 2023, the Minister for Communications announced that the Australian Government would introduce new laws to provide the independent regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), with new powers to combat online misinformation and disinformation.

Congratulations to AHPA NSW/ACT Branch Committee member Gabi Martinez, Health Promotion Officer at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) Alcohol and Other Drugs Service, who has been awarded a fully-funded place in the University of Canberra's Public Health Advocacy Course, as part of AHPA's efforts to build advocacy capacity nationally and invest in Branch Committee members.

The Australian Government's National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit is developing Australia's first National Health and Climate Strategy to ensure the nation's health system can meet the needs of Australians in the face of a changing climate.

On 26 July, AHPA President Dr Gemma Crawford joined a roundtable discussion in Sydney hosted by the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and Saltire Capital Partners on Advancing prevention in Australia. The roundtable explored actions needed to deliver a prevention system, as outlined in the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030.

On Tuesday 18th July, AHPA Board Director Melinda Edmunds and AHPA Executive Officer Rebecca Zosel met with the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Clare Firth.

In September 2022, the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs commenced the inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. On 28 June 2023, the Committee released its report “You win some, you lose more”  proposing 31 recommendations to reduce gambling-related harm across the Australian population.

The Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA®) acknowledges the ongoing strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sustaining the world’s oldest living cultures.

On Monday 22 May, AHPA Vice-President Melinda Edmunds and AHPA Executive Officer Rebecca Zosel met with Brian Mitchell MP, Labor's Member for Lyons in Tasmania and a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Preventive and Public Health.

On 16 May 2023, AHPA participated in a roundtable hosted by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) as part of the second consultation period for Treasury’s proposed Measuring What Matters – national framework on wellbeing.

In April 2023, AHPA provided a written response, as part of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA), to the National Firearms Register consultation.

In April 2023, AHPA signed an open letter with 126 health and medical organisations calling all Australian governments to urgently raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14 years of age.

Investing in health promotion is a smart strategy. It keeps people out of hospital, reduces the burden on overstretched health services and allows people to live healthier, more productive lives. Health promotion and illness prevention saves lives, money and deliver the best public return on investment in health. Every dollar invested in health promotion and prevention goes on to save $14.

The Australian Government is developing an Early Years Strategy to shape its vision for the future of Australia’s children and their families. There is currently no overarching Commonwealth strategy to support the early years in Australia.

In April 2023, AHPA provided a written response to the Inquiry into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum. AHPA supports the proposed wording of the question which will be asked of Australians at the referendum as well as the proposed words which will be included in the Constitution if the referendum is successful. Submissions closed 21 April 2023. Our response is provided in full below.

For more than two decades, alcohol companies have largely set their own advertising rules through the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) Scheme.

Unsurprisingly, these rules are weak and littered with loopholes. Because they are voluntary, they are consequence-free when breaches occur.

The AHPA WA Branch, in collaboration with AHPA National, submitted feedback to the Mental Health Commission on their draft 'Mental Wellbeing Guide', which expands on the mental health promotion components from the Prevention Plan (2018-2025). 

Victorian Government Announces Cuts to Community Health Promotion Funding

On Friday 14th April, Community Health Services in Victoria received calls from the Department of Health to advise of a ten per cent cut to Community Health Health Promotion funding. This cut was not foreshadowed by the department or government and will take effect from the next financial year.

In April 2023, AHPA joined the Allies for Uluru Coalition. 

On 20 March 2023, AHPA was invited by the Senate Community Affairs Committee to provide a written submission to the Inquiry into Concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.