Integrated Health Promotion

Good health is something we all value. It is a critical cornerstone of our quality of life, productivity and the economy. Compared to a hundred years ago, people are healthier and live longer.

On a personal level, we understand what contributes to good health. Most people know, for example, that our personal decisions about diet and exercise will affect our future health. However, there are often barriers in the community environment that make following through on healthy behaviours more challenging – more so for vulnerable or at-risk groups and individuals.

Health Promotion aims to promote and maintain good health for a population group or community and reduce health inequalities. Health Promotion activities are based on evidence of what works best and is most needed. This usually means working “upstream” in a preventative way, in partnership with other groups or organisations.

Upstream and Downstream
Downstream activities are usually discrete/small, targeted programs with a specific health purpose. An example of this would be delivering a prevention program to adults predisposed to diabetes.   Upstream activities deal with population-wide health determinants: policies, education, housing, transport, the environment and social connectedness, for example, lobbying for safer family-friendly parks and neighbourhoods.

Integrated Health Promotion involves a balance of both individual and population focused interventions.

The NCHS Integrated Health Promotion (IHP) Plan 2009-2012 provides strategic direction to the organisation, our partners and community related to our health promotion priorities. The three health promotion priorities for 2009-2012 are:

1. Physical activity & nutrition

Goal: To reduce the incidence and severity of chronic disease in the community by increasing healthy eating and participation in physical activity.

2. Mental health & well-being

Goal: To improve mental health and wellbeing in the community by increasing access, support, engagement and social connectedness.

3. Capacity building

Goal: To ensure NCHS delivers quality, evidence based health promotion programs, activities and services.

Click here to download the full IHP Plan

An accredited member of QICSA (Quality Improvement & Community Services Accreditation)