Overview
Welcome to the WA Branch of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).
The AHPA is the leading dedicated health promotion body in Australia. The WA branch is run by a team of volunteer health promotion professionals who meet on a monthly basis to progress the objectives of the Association and provide support to its members.
History of the WA Branch
WA was the first state/territory in Australia to form an AHPA Branch, and is your professional body when you work in health promotion. Become a member today and be a part of something great!
The AHPA (WA Branch) was developed as a result of the hard work and dedication of many leaders in the field of health promotion in WA. In 1985, Peter Howat became the first President of the WA Professional Health Educators Association (WAPHEA). Trevor Shilton took over this role in 1988. In 1989, a survey was conducted with 97% of members supporting the move for a name change to Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals (AAHPP) and a national focus. This was confirmed at the June 1990 AGM, and subsequently the National Association, conference, journal and policies followed.
Later the name was changed to the Australian Health Promotion Association. The AHPA has become the professional association specifically for people involved in, or with an interest in the practice, research and study of health promotion. The AHPA (WA Branch) continues to recruit and provide services for WA based members.
Our work
The AHPA (WA Branch) Committee prioritises financial stability and good governance for the Branch, whilst continuing to deliver a range of core activities to serve the interests of members.
We also work hard to raise our profile and that of health promotion in WA via advocacy and building partnerships with key groups such as the Public Health Association of Australia (WA) and the Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA.
All WA members receive regular email updates from AHPA. Topics include job opportunities, professional development activities, international, national and state information relevant to the field of health promotion, notice of new resources and websites, the Branch newsletter and lots more.
The WA Branch supports the annual Ray James Memorial Lecture. The lecture honours the late Ray James, a health promotion practitioner who worked in the USA, India, New Zealand, Latin America, WA and NSW, who was known for innovation, willingness to risk trialing new approaches, mentoring early-career professionals and helping others beyond the call of duty.
Read the 2020 Croakey blog on the lecture here. There is also a link to the video of the lecture within the article.
The Australian Health Promotion Association also offers the annual Ray James Memorial Award which honours excellence and innovation in health promotion research published in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.
Scholarships Program
Funded by Healthway, AHPA (WA Branch) offers six month paid scholarships to:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people interested in a career in health promotion
- Undergraduates or postgraduates with a health promotion qualification from a WA University to work in the field of health promotion.
Health agencies and organisations are encouraged to consider the prospect of placing a graduate and/or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person in a health promotion position that is fully funded by the scholarship.
Visit the scholarships website for more information.
Branch Committee
All branches have their own committee members responsible for their branch activities. Explore WA Branch Committee.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address:
AHPA WA Branch
c/- 38 Surrey Road
Keswick South Australia 5035
Phone: 1300 857 796
International: +61 8 8120 2022