3. International, Australian & Victorian context

Page content: 3.1 International | 3.2 Australia | 3.3 Victoria

This section gives a brief overview of the key policy directions and activities for integrated health promotion in international, Australian and Victorian contexts.

3.1 International

Declaration of Alma-Ata
The Declaration of Alma-Ata is regarded as an important milestone in the promotion of world health. The principles documented in the declaration are the blueprint for primary health care and later became known as ‘Health for All by the year 2000’. The key to understanding primary health care is to realise that it is a philosophy of practice rather that just a particular type or level of health service. Several concepts stand out in the Declaration of Alma Ata:

This declaration is reiterated in the Health for All in the 21st Century (1998) global health policy framework. See the World Health Organisation web site for further information about the process and the contents of this policy.

The Declaration of Alma-Ata (1978) (11kb, pdf)

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
The first World Health Organisation (WHO) International Conference on Health Promotion was held in Ottawa, Canada, in 1986. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion was developed as a clear statement of action for health promotion, aiming to increase the relevance of the primary health care philosophy for industrialised countries.

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) (18kb, pdf)

Jakarta Declaration on Leading Health Promotion into the Twenty-First Century
This declaration identifies the importance of health promotion as an investment and reiterates the need to address the significant social determinants of health. While emphasising the five action areas listed in the Ottawa Charter, the declaration goes further to set five priorities for health promotion in the twenty-first century.

Jakarta Declaration on Leading Health Promotion into the Twenty-First Century (1997) (18kb, pdf)¹

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3.2 Australia

As a signatory to the Declaration of Alma-Ata, Australia formally committed in 1981 to achieve the ‘Health for All’ goals by 2000.² Significant policy directions have followed, including the Goals and Targets for Australia’s Health in the Year 2000 and Beyond (external link), the Better Health Outcomes for Australians³ and the National Health Priority Areas. These policies have highlighted the need for a consolidated approach to meet goals in the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, injury, mental health, diabetes and asthma. In July 2002, Australian health ministers announced arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders as a new national health priority area in recognition of the major health and economic burden these diseases place on the community.

In 1995 the Commonwealth Government commissioned the Health Advancement Standing Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council to conduct a review of health promotion activity and infrastructure needed to support health promotion in Australia. The review⁴ recommended improvements to a range of areas, including improvements in health promotion capacity and in funding, implementing and evaluating health promotion programs. Subsequent national and State health promotion work has reflected these recommendations.

The National Public Health Partnership is an Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council subcommittee which aims to: better coordinate the public health effort nationally; promote consistency and improve effectiveness of programs; and ensure adequate capacity and infrastructure to address public health issues. Its work program encompasses key public health areas including, nutrition, physical activity and communicable diseases, and also looks at public health capacity building issues such as public health workforce development.

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3.3 Victoria

Integrated health promotion (including early intervention and prevention) were clearly identified in the 2002 Victorian Government’s election policy―namely, Healthy Communities: Labor’s plan for seniors and community health and the Government’s signpost document Growing Victoria Together as an important component of the human services sector. The policy adopts a social model of health to guide work in the human services sector, clearly recognising the effect of broader social determinants of health on the wellbeing of the Victorian population.

The Department of Human Services has a leadership role for integrated health promotion, disease management and injury prevention strategies. The international and Australian policy contexts discussed above are strengthened by Victorian policy initiatives such as the PCP strategy, municipal public health planning, neighbourhood renewal and secondary school nursing. They reflect an emphasis on people, community-centred participation and service delivery.

Footnotes:

1. World Health Organisation (1997), The Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion in the Twenty-First Century, Geneva. The declaration was adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Health Promotion, Jakarta, Indonesia, July 1997.
2. Wass, A. (2000), Promoting health: the primary health care approach, Second edition, Harcourt Saunders, Sydney.
3. Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health (1994), Better health outcomes for Australians: national goals, targets and strategies for better health outcomes in the next century, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
4. National Health and Medical Research Council (1996), Promoting the health of Australians: a review of infrastructure support for national health advancement. summary report and recommendations, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
   

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