The Australian Health Promotion Association's (AHPA) Strategic Plan 2025-2029 sets the following directions for the Association:
Vision
A healthy, equitable Australia
Purpose
To provide leadership, advocacy and workforce development for health promotion practice and research
Strategic Focus Areas
Promote and grow the health promotion profession
Strengthen and advocate for health promotion practice and research
Build workforce capacity and career pathways in health promotion
Promote equity, diversion and inclusion
Major Activities
AHPA is the National Accreditation Organisation (NAO) for the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) in Australia. Health Promotion professionals across Australia can apply to earn the title of IUHPE Registered Health Promotion Practitioner.
AHPA holds regular national symposiums providing an opportunity to share the latest research and practice and bring health promotion practitioners together. The national Population Health Congress is held every 3-4 years in collaboration with the Public Health Association of Australia, the Australian Epidemiological Association of Australia and the Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
The Health Promotion Journal of Australia (HPJA) publishes high quality articles on a wide range of health promotion topics - Read more about the Journal.
Regular AHPA E-news provide members with up-to-date knowledge and activities critical to the sector, as well as employment opportunities and events information.
Advocacy on a broad range of issues including federal budgets and strategies, support for national health promotion initiatives and specific issues including determinants of health. AHPA developed the Why invest in health promotion infographic to support our advocacy.
An integrated website providing up-to-date professional, industry and membership information.
History
The Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) was nationally established in 1990, evolving from the Western Australia Professional Health Educators' Association (WAPHEA), which formed in 1985 following the ANZAAS Congress in Perth in 1983. WAPHEA aimed to unify health promotion and education professionals across Western Australia. Due to growing national interest, WAPHEA became AHPA in 1990, Wester Australia as the first branch in 1992. Today, AHPA has branches in every State and Territory.
In 1999, the Association adopted the name Australian Health promotion Association to reflect a broader, more inclusive mission. A new mission statement, objectives, and membership structure were introduced to support this direction.
AHPA continues to grow as a contemporary professional body, upholding strong governance and providing strategic leadership in health promotion across Australia.
In 2022, AHPA was recognised as the national peal body for health promotion, receiving Commonwealth Government funding under the Health Peak Advisory Body Program.