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Australian Health Promotion Association

News From the West June 2018

The Australian Health Promotion Association is the only professional association specifically for people interested or involved in the practice, policy, research and study of health promotion.

Editors Catrina Wold

Kirsty de Blanken

Carl Heslop

Laima Ziedars

Australian Health Promotion

Association (WA Branch)

Committee 2018 Leadership Group

Co-Presidents: Lorena Chapman & Courtney Mickan

Vice President: Karen White

Secretary: Kirsty de Blanken

Treasurer: Liz Bradshaw

General committee members:

Rudie Marshall-Lang

Carl Heslop

Kirsten Beckingham

Laima Ziedars

Bethany Martin

Alicia King

Daniella Brown

Click here to find out more about your 2018 committee members.

From the Committee

Welcome to the June edition of the News from the West, your member newsletter with updates from

the WA Branch.

After appointing the new committee at the 2018 General Meeting of Members (see page 3 for a wrap up of this event),

we were excited to see the regional representation of the committee grow to nearly 50%. This is the highest we’ve

known it to be and consider it to be crucial part of our endeavours to continue moving forward with the Branch’s

regional and remote engagement strategy. With AHPA members (and committee representatives) working from the

Kimberley region to the far South West, and everywhere in between we want to ensure that our membership services

are inclusive and equitable for all.

The 2018 AHPA year has had a busy start with the committee reviewing the Branch Operational Plan to ensure our

activities align with national priorities and capture the incredible work of the WA Branch. This will help to ensure we

are continuing to bring value to our WA members. The new Operational Plan will be ready to implement from 1 July

2018, for 12 months, to bring us in line with strategic activity happening at a national level.

You will have seen that the applications for Health Promotion Practitioner Registration opened on 1 May. This is an

exciting initiative for the health promotion sector as it will help to ensure the quality and credibility of the Australian

health promotion workforce. If you haven’t already done so, we strongly encourage you to submit your applications to

earn the title of IUHPE Registered Health Promotion Practitioner. Additionally, we encourage employers of health

promotion practitioners to start using the Health Promotion Practitioner Registration in the recruitment process for

health promotion positions. For more information visit the AHPA website.

We hope you enjoy this update from the AHPA (WA Branch).

Happy reading!

Scholarship Update AHPA (WA Branch) Health Promotion Scholarships funded by Healthway

Keira Bury

The 2018 Health Promotion Scholarship recipients are now well underway with their projects addressing a diverse range of populations

and health promotion issues. Regional scholarship recipient, Tori Jamieson, is working with the Kimberley Population Health Unit on a

community development project to improve social inclusion and mental health outcomes in a neighbourhood in Broome. Tori is

designing, implementing and evaluating a series of pay-as-you-feel suppers where people can come together to eat, drink, make art,

listen to music and meet new people. The project offers a mentoring program for young people which leads to involvement in the

‘Supper Club’ events. The first events held in April involved students from Clontarf Academy who assisted in preparing food for over 50

attendees. Tori is further developing partnerships with community members and stakeholders to ensure cultural competency,

continuous improvement and sustainability.

Aboriginal scholarship recipient, Suzanne Clews, is working with the Child and Adolescent Community Health (CACH) to establish health

promoting playgroups for Aboriginal children aged 0-4 years in the Perth metropolitan area. So far, two playgroups have been

established in the Cockburn and Maddington area in partnership with Arche Health achieving a great turnout from the local Aboriginal

community during term 1. Working with the CACH Aboriginal health team, Suzanne has assisted in linking families with another

Aboriginal playgroup in Redcliffe and is liaising with a local primary school to commence a Bentley playgroup for term 2 which will focus

on increasing enrolment of Aboriginal families into the KindiLink Program. The next stage of Suzanne’s project will be working with the

CACH Research and Evaluation team to evaluate the playgroup program.

Graduate scholarship recipient, Melissa Evans, is working with Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH)

at Curtin University. Melissa is exploring the different influences on alcohol consumption, healthy eating and social connectedness

amongst young people involved in sports clubs through a quantitative survey and case studies. So far, Melissa has developed the survey

which will be open to young people aged 18 – 30 years old who play sport and live in WA. The survey includes questions on alcohol

consumption, alcohol-related harm, healthy eating options and social connectedness (including volunteering) and is being distributed

online via social media. It is hoped that the survey data will inform health promotion strategies for sports clubs in WA. During the next

phase of the project, a case study approach will be used to support two sports clubs develop strategies to address issues that affect

young people in their clubs. To help develop these strategies, focus groups with young people (aged 18-24) and interviews with key club

contacts will be conducted.

Graduate scholarship recipient, Shea Hatch, is working with the Heart Foundation (WA) to develop a framework for translation of

evidence for the Healthy Active by Design (HAbD) tool. The project involves a robust evaluation of the HAbD tool and will investigate

opportunities in which it could be utilised and recognised by relevant stakeholders as part of their core business. To date, an evaluation

survey has been prepared to measure stakeholder engagement with HAbD, specifically reviewing barriers to implementation of the

tool. A review of relevant policy and publications is also being undertaken to provide a strong framework for the research moving

forward. The next phase will include key stakeholder engagement and an in-depth review of relevant case studies and partnerships from

around Australia. Shea aims to establish systems for continual quality improvements in program implementation, increased uptake of

the HAbD tool, and dissemination of the outcomes to relevant stakeholders.

Reflection on Ray James Memorial Lecture: Isabel Ross

Luke Ringin

At the WA Branch 2018 General Meeting the annual Ray James Memorial Lecture was presented by Isabel Ross and Chantelle Jeffery. Isabel gave

an interesting look into the opportunities and challenges associated working in a regional setting. Isabel conducted the lecture remotely via a

video link from Geraldton to help represent the day-to-day responsibilities of working regionally and to advocate for an increased regional

presence across the health promotion sector.

Isabel discussed the elements of health promotion program planning, implementation and evaluation, partnerships, communications and report

writing, technology and knowledge. Informing us of the opportunities associated with working in a regional setting, Isabel taught us how she is

given the opportunity to fill many health promotion roles in projects including planning and decision making on funding and future strategies. The

flip side is that you are often seen as the content expert among the community, whereas other health professionals may be a better choice for

queries.

Unfortunately, over the years Isabel has seen a reduction in health promotion jobs in regional settings and many jobs are now short-term

contracts, leading to a decrease in the quality of work you're able to implement as a professional. Isabel went on to mention how the decrease in

jobs has been caused by a decrease in funding, knowledge and support for health promotion.

The fantastic presentation was concluded with some strong recommendations on how to improve health promotion in regional Australia, including

greater mentoring programs, and increasing skills and knowledge of health promotion among managers and leaders to support prevention

activities.

WA Branch 2018 General Meeting Wrap Up

Reflection on Ray James Memorial Lecture: Chantelle Jeffery Melissa Evans

Chantelle’s presentation on working regionally was both inspiring and motivating. Chantelle began her presentation with a brief introduction of herself. Chantelle was born and raised in regional WA, and then

moved to Perth to study and begin her career in health promotion. Chantelle has since returned to the country and is currently the manager of the Wheatbelt Public Health Unit. A day in Chantelle’s life starts and

ends with long drives in the countryside (something of which I am envious of) and involves regular meetings with her team.

Throughout her presentation, Chantelle discussed how she still uses a health promotion approach to guide her work, and how working regionally allows you to incorporate all of the health promotion principles into

your work. I found this to be incredibly appealing as you have more opportunities to be directly involved, and you can see first-hand how your work is helping the local community to be healthier.

Like Chantelle, I was born and raised in the country and moved to Perth to attend university. I have just begun my career in health promotion, and I have always thought that I would move back to the country after I

had retired. However, Chantelle’s presentation has given me the realisation that returning to the country lifestyle and having a rewarding career in health promotion is much more achievable than what I previously

thought.

So in response to Chantelle’s concluding question: are you up for the challenge? I’d say yes, I am up for the challenge of working regionally in the future.

Reconciliation Action Plan WA Branch

The WA Branch launched the initial phase of our Reconciliation Action

Plan (RAP) journey, Reflect March 2018-2019. Lisa Rooke discussed

the journey the WA Branch has taken thus far and reflected on

activities to further the WA Branch’s reconciliation path. The occasion

was highlighted by the release of artwork completed for the WA

Branch by Dr Mick Adams, a descendent of the Yadhiagana/Wuthathi

peoples of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland (on his father’s side)

and having traditional family ties with the Gurindji people of Central

Western Northern Territory (on his mother’s side).

2017 Co-Presidents Award

The WA Branch would like to congratulate Kirsty de Blanken in recognition of being awarded the 2017 Co-Presidents

Award. Kirsty has given her time and expertise to the WA Branch for three years, serving on the Member Services

subcommittee, chair of the Advocacy and Partnerships subcommittee, and currently on the Leadership Group as Branch

Secretary. In addition, she gives her time on the national NAO Communication Committee, and the Membership and

Communications Committee. Kirsty’s skills have helped support the WA Branch through the development of the What is

Health Promotion Poster, multiple advocacy submissions, the development of the 2017 State Election Guide, and valuable

contributions to the Member Services promotional plan.

WA based health promotion reports & resources

Health Promotion in the Pilbara WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Health Promotion Team

The WACHS Health Promotion team in the Pilbara recently refined the What is Health Promotion poster to specifically represent

their work regionally within the Pilbara.

Will we be seeing you in Canberra?

The AHPA Health Promotion Symposium Better Practice Better Placed is

heading to Canberra on 23 and 24 August 2018.

The Symposium aims to encourage analysis, debate and provide opportunities

to network, discuss, and share practices, research and policies that have led,

or will lead, to better and more equitable population health outcomes. It is an

opportunity to share and assess where we are in health promotion and what

we need to do, to be better placed to ensure a healthier population within

supportive social, built and natural environments.

In Australia, a rapidly growing, ageing, and diverse population along with

substantial ecological, political, economic and social change has led to broad

and complex health needs and inequities. At the same time we face a range

of planetary level challenges that will have or are already having an impact on

population health and wellbeing.

At the Symposium we will explore challenges and identify opportunities and

actions in policy and politics, places, partnerships and programs that

contribute to building sustainable and liveable places with equitable

opportunities and a healthy planet for all, now, and for future generations.

The Symposium’s main focus areas are: Policy, Power and Politics;

Populations, Partnership and Programs; and Planet and Place.

For more information and to register visit: http://ahpa2018.com.au/

Quick links to resources

HPJA virtual issue: Looking Back, Looking Forward - 30 years of the Ottawa Charter

HPJA virtual issue: Health Promotion Workforce

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and youth justice: a prevalence study among young people sentenced to detention in Western Australia

What is known about pathways to mental health care for Australian Aboriginal young people?: A narrative review (with links to work completed in WA)

Healthier Workplace WA, Decoding food labels: Food marketers commonly use words like natural, lite, superfood or gluten-free to convince us that what we are buying is a food that is more wholesome and

healthy. Unfortunately, this is just silly marketing tactics. Read more here.

New Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ) Consumer Engagement Group: SHQ is trialling a new Facebook group to allow interested consumers to have a say in the design, delivery, evaluation and improvement of their

services and resources in WA. You are welcome to respectfully share your thoughts, access the group here.

Be Safe, Stay Well Campaign: The Department of Health is rebooting its ‘Be Safe. Stay Well’ sexual health campaign for international students in 2018. The four short videos were developed in consultation with

international students and aim to give students from across the world a good understanding of sexual health topics and the health care system in WA. ‘Be Safe. Stay Well’ posters can be printed and free fold-out

wallet cards can be ordered via Joanna.Collins@health.wa.gov.au.

Base Camp aGender: Base Camp aGender is a monthly drop-in space for trans and gender diverse young people who are experiencing homelessness and disconnect from family in WA. It’s a place to be with peers

and be themselves in a safe and supportive space. Open Saturdays once a month – contact info@picys.org.au or 9388 2791 for details.

Vaping: Electronic cigarette use and their online promotion: Do you, or someone you know currently use e-cigarettes, or have done so within the last 12 months? Researchers from Curtin University are seeking

current and past users who are 18-39 years old and live in within the Perth metro or Peel region of WA. This research aims to better understand the reasons why people initiate, continue and cease electronic

cigarette use, and how they are promoted and discussed online and on social media. For more information please email kahlia.mccausland@curtin.edu.au.

The Find Cancer Early ‘Rural doctors bathroom’ TV ad campaign: Launched 8 April and aims to increase community awareness of the early symptoms of the five most common cancers (bowel, breast, lung,

prostate and skin) and encourage people to visit their doctor, Aboriginal health worker or clinic nurse if they notice any unusual changes in their body. Find Cancer Early is funded by the WA Department of Health

and targets people aged over 40 living in regional WA, with a particular focus on people in remote and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The TV commercial will be on regional WA channels

until early July 2018. This campaign will be complimented by radio, newspaper, Facebook, YouTube and Gmail advertising. Click here for more information.

FREE Aboriginal Health Promotion Short Course 23-27 July 2018 Submit your EOI now for this 5 day short course at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University, Bentley. The course is suitable for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples already working in the health sector, those wanting to move into the area and those wanting to incorporate health promotion principles into their role. Please share with your colleagues and community and be quick as we are limited to 25 places! Download the EOI and submit to scholarshipswa@healthpromotion.org.au by 6 July 2018. View the short course flyer for more info. This course is supported by the AHPA (WA Branch), Healthway and Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

Did you know we are on Twitter & Instagram?

We now have 3,577 followers on Twitter. The Branches take turns hosting the twitter account each month to ensure we keep you up to date on relevant health

promotion information from the twittersphere.

@AHPA_AU

@AHPA_AU

Australian Health Promotion Association (WA Branch)

Address: 38 Surrey Road, Keswick SA 5035

Tel: 1300 857 796

International: +61 8 8120 2022

E-mail: adminwa@healthpromotion.org.au

www.healthpromotion.org.au