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Core 1: Health priorities in Australia

What role does health promotion play in achieving better health for all Australians?

Health promotion is an essential process in improving the health of all Australians. To explore this core area, it is important to understand the nature of health promotion, reasons for and characteristics of the new public health approach, its characteristics and examples of major health promotion initiatives that reflect this approach to health promotion.

Approaches to health promotion

Australia has moved toward the new public health approach to health promotion in Australia. It is important to understand the reasons for the emergence of this approach. This includes understanding the limitations of the individual lifestyle approach.

Characteristics of the new public health

The new public health is about empowering individuals, encouraging community participation and recognising social determinants of health in health promotion programs and initiatives.

Major health promotion initiatives

Major health promotion initiatives in Australia are practical examples of the new public health approach. This means that they reflect the priorities of the Jakarta Declaration and the principles of the Ottawa Charter to plan their strategies. Responses to health promotion occur at a national, state and local level.