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Health promotion
Health promotion is one approach by which the Department of Health supports healthy lifestyle choices and contributes not only to the reduction of illness, but also to improved physical and mental wellbeing of all Victorians.
This site provides a gateway to health promotion activities within the Department of Health and aims to facilitate and improve communication about health promotion practice in Victoria.
Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015
To improve the health and wellbeing of all Victorians, the Department of Health has committed to strengthening prevention and health promotion. Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, the State has a significant role to play in promoting and protecting the public health and wellbeing of all Victorians.
The first Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015 was developed to meet this obligation. The plan is a companion document to the Victorian Health Priorities Framework 2012–2022, which articulates the long-term planning and development priorities for Victoria's health system. The Plan and the Framework provide a blueprint for strengthening the Victorian Prevention System. Effective health promotion will be a critical mechanism to building this Prevention System as we seek to engage communities and work across all sectors and levels of government.
The Plan states that Health can be promoted by both increasing the factors that build our wellbeing and protect our health, and reducing the factors that put us at risk of illness and expose us to threats to our wellbeing. Both health and non-health sector organisations play an important preventive and restorative role in the health and wellbeing of the community. For instance, programs that maintain social networks, reconnect isolated people into their community, facilitate maintenance or re-entry into paid or unpaid work, and encourage councils and organisations to consider accessibility and age-friendly environments, all contribute to individual health and wellbeing.
