Health promoters plan, implement and evaluate activities that promote health and wellbeing in communities.
Health promotion is about supporting people to increase control over the factors that influence their health and wellbeing. Health promotion is directed at the underlying, as well as the immediate causes of ill health.
Most health promoters work on one or two key issues (such as nutrition, tobacco control, violence prevention). They may work in settings such as schools or marae, and may focus on a particular group such as children – using strategies that are evidence-based in order to achieve change.
Activities
- Build an alliance of people to work on child obesity
- Develop a mental health programme for youth
- Prepare advice to a territorial local authority on the blood alcohol limit for drivers
- Run a campaign on sun safety
- Work with a primary healthcare organisation to plan and deliver health promotion / public health programmes
Who employs health promoters?
Health promoters work in a wide range of organisations:
- Iwi and other Māori providers.
- Non-governmental organisations like the Cancer Society, Heart Foundation and Mental Health Foundation
- Public health units of district health boards and primary health organisations