Health promotion is “the process of enabling people to take control over and improve their health” (WHO).

The Health Promotion Branch works with a range of government departments, Regional Health Services and non-government agencies to bring about changes that will lead to better health for all.

The Branch focuses on:

• improving and protecting the health of populations and more specifically targets those who are most disadvantaged
• contributing to health promotion workforce development and building community capacity to tackle health inequalities.
• monitoring determinants of health, for example, socioeconomic, health behaviours and individual related factors such as weight.

Announcements:

• Update on consultation on television advertising and the consumption of unhealthy food and drinks by children (December 2009)
  Sixty-three submissions to the Consultation were received. They provided information on a wide range of issues including child development, the preferred roles of Government and industry, options for reform and the connection between advertising and obesity. The Minister for Health has written to those organisations indicating that he will review the situation in 12 months, allowing time to consider the impact of industry voluntary codes put in place in 2009 and the decisions made following recommendations of the National Preventative Health Taskforce. For further information see Television advertising and the consumption of unhealthy food and drinks by children.
   

• Seminar Presentations 25 November 2009
  Creating Great Places: Liveable Communities in South Australia Combining good health and urban planning to improve liveability.
   

• Measuring Our Success- 2009 Social Development Committee Report to Parliament (PDF 669KB)
  Measuring Our Success illustrates the considerable effort underway in South Australia to support healthy eating, physical activity, healthy weight and to prevent obesity. The Report sets out the achievements against the consolidated recommendations from the two Social Development Committee (SDC) Inquiries into obesity. Measuring Our Success was presented to Parliament, by the Minister for Health in March 2009. It recognises the work being undertaken across State, Local and Federal Government, by the non-Government sector, private companies and in communities. Importantly too, many individuals are adopting healthier lifestyles to benefit themselves and their families.
  *Please note when reading this report, the recommendations noted in brackets, are the reference points to the two Social Development Committee inquiries; noting the recommendation number and year of the report. The black tabs on the left hand side represent the settings and target groups from the Eat Well Be Active Healthy Weight Strategy for South Australia 2006-2010.
   

• Eat Well Be Active Healthy Weight Strategy for South Australia 2006 – 2010 Priorities Document (PDF 722KB)
  The Healthy Weight Priorities Document reflects on and enables future planning of the Eat Well Be Active Healthy Weight Strategy for South Australia 2006 – 2010 priority initiatives. It is not a static document; it is expected to evolve over time. This document sets out: the program logic that links individual initiatives to population level behavioural and health outcomes; evidence underpinning best practice; programs that regions should support as part of their funding commitment.
   

• Healthy Food and Drink Choices for Staff and Visitors in SA Health Facilities Policy
  The Minister for Health has approved the release of a new policy for healthy food in SA Health facilities on 1 April 2009.
   

• ‘Planning for Health: A study on the integration of health and planning in South Australia’
  The study was commissioned by SA Health, with support from Planning SA. Ms Stephanie Hensgen, Director, Planning Futures Pty Ltd prepared ‘Planning for Health’ to inform thinking and directions on enhancing health outcomes for communities through urban planning. The report reviews of the impact of urban planning on population health outcomes. It provides case studies and other evidence of Australian and international experience in linking urban planning, health and wellbeing. It canvasses issues and methodologies that need to be considered in planning for healthy and sustainable communities. The report provides independent advice to government and its partners, including the private sector, about the evidence-base supporting an integrated approach to health and planning. Planning for Health compliments the developing cross-agency collaboration between SA Health and the Department of Planning and Local Government, through Planning SA. We hope to stimulate joint action into the future, using the report’s findings and recommended directions as the starting point.
   

• Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveys
  The Minister for Health released two key reports to inform the eat well be active strategy on 16 December 2008.