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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 887 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Healthpact approaches health promotion using the principles outlined in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, developed in 1985. These principles include ensuring that: Individuals have the skills they need to maintain their own health; the environment is conducive to a healthy lifestyle; public policy supports healthy living; communities are taking action to improve their own health; and health services are aware of their role in health promotion and illness prevention as well as treatment and care. This approach means that Healthpact is contributing significantly to the achievements of the health goals and targets we have developed for the ACT. Its current work in the areas of skin protection, smoking reduction and improvements in nutrition and exercise levels is an important part of moves towards reducing preventable cancers and the incidence of heart disease in the ACT.

Healthpact works with a great many sports, arts and community organisations and with other ACT government agencies to pursue these goals. Schools are particularly important in developing skills, knowledge and attitudes relevant to the program principles and in supporting the work of these non-government agencies. There is a benefit to the sports and arts agencies in supporting their projects. There is a benefit to the schools in extending their programs. Most of all, there is a benefit to students in exposing them to these very important health messages.

But Healthpact does much more than this. There is considerable effort invested in community development activities which provide health promotion benefits to specific target groups within the ACT. For example, Healthpact has funded a range of self-help and support groups over a period of years, enabling the members of these groups to gain and maintain access to community services, participate in the life of their own communities and offer resources back to our society.

It is pleasing to see Healthpact achieving so much so quickly. Since its establishment in 1995 the organisation has provided over $2.3m to community groups for health promotion. Success stories like the International Women's Day fair run by Community Radio 2XX speak volumes for the level of health promotion which can be achieved with only fairly small amounts of public funding. Bigger projects, such as the Cannons hoopster program, the Street Theatre season, and the Child Accident Prevention Foundation's "Hot Water Burns Like Fire" campaign, demonstrate the new range of promotions in which Healthpact is involved. Greater community awareness of important health messages like Quit and SunSmart has been achieved with promotions at major events like the Royal Canberra Show and the Canberra Festival.

The strategic plan outlines the four areas of activity on which Healthpact will focus over the next three years. Firstly, the organisation will fund programs addressing healthy lifestyle and risk factors such as smoking, sun protection, nutrition, exercise, mental health, safe behaviours, and community access and participation. Secondly, Healthpact will conduct three healthy lifestyle programs in each of the upcoming years. Thirdly, the organisation will provide community education about health promotion and will undertake policy development on high-priority health promotion issues. I am looking forward to receiving high-quality advice regarding these issues from the organisation. Finally, Healthpact will continue to promote its own development and growth as a leading light in health promotion in the ACT.

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