Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)
Background
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) is the peak body
for health promotion in Victoria. It is an independent, statutory
authority that was established by the Victorian Parliament as part of
the Tobacco Act 1987 with a mandate to promote good health for all
Victorians.
With a focus on promoting good health and wellbeing and preventing
ill health, VicHealth leads and advocates for excellence in
health-promoting policies and programs. VicHealth has an
acknowledged track record in drawing diverse groups together to
establish the social, cultural and environmental conditions to support
health and individuals’ health-related lifestyles. Opportunities
for people to be informed, learn new skills, have greater access to
activities that promote good health, and share healthier environments
are also created.
With support across the political spectrum VicHealth works in
partnership with governments, organisations, communities and
individuals in a broad range of sectors including sport, community,
urban planning, transport, local government, education and the
arts.
VicHealth takes a flexible, responsive, imaginative and evidence
informed approach to national and state public health priorities.
Activities range from small grants funding for community-based projects
to long-term multi-million dollar funding for programs such as Quit.
VicHealth also invests heavily in public health research.
Additional information about VicHealth can be found in The Story of
VicHealth: A World First in Health Promotion available on VicHealth’s
website (www.vichealth.gov.au/history). Published in November 2005, it is a fascinating overview of VicHealth from its inception in 1987 to the present day.
Vision
VicHealth envisages a community where:
- Health is a fundamental human right
- Everyone shares in the responsibility for promoting health
- Everyone benefits from improved health outcomes.
Mission
VicHealth's mission is to build the capabilities of organisations, communities and individuals in ways that:
- Change social, economic, cultural and physical environments to improve health for all Victorians
- Strengthen the understanding and skills of individuals in ways that support their efforts to achieve` and maintain health.
Legal mandate and funding
VicHealth is an
independent statutory authority with tri-partisan support from each of
the parliamentary parties – The Australian Labor Party, the Liberal
Party and the National Party. This has been and continues to be
one of the organisation’s strengths.
From its inception in 1987 until June 1992, VicHealth was funded by
a hypothecated percentage of Victorian tobacco franchise fees.
From July 1992 to August 1997, the annual amount allocated to VicHealth
from tobacco franchise fees was determined by the Victorian Treasurer.
On 5 August 1997 the High Court of Australia invalidated State and
Territory business franchise and license fees, including tobacco
fees. In order to maintain VicHealth's funding the Victorian
Treasurer arranged for funds to be transferred from the Consolidated
Fund, for the remainder of the 1997 - 1998 year. Since 1 July
1998, annual funding for VicHealth has been decided by the Treasurer,
appropriated as part of Victoria's annual budget within the
appropriation for the Department of Human Services. A three year
performance and budget is signed with the Minister of Health which sets
out priorities and desired outcomes.
The total allocation for the year 2005 - 2006 was approximately $AUS 31,000,000.
The Tobacco Act 1987 prescribes that VicHealth must allocate 30% of it funding annually on sporting associations.
Organisational governance and structure
VicHealth is governed by an elected Board of Governance. The chair and
14 member board has a breadth of experience in health, sport, the arts,
research and communication. There are also a number of
Board-appointed advisory panels for various health action areas.
VicHealth's organisational structure comprises a Chief Executive
Officer, three Core Units and three Service and Support Units. The Core
Units are: Tobacco and Alcohol Control; Active Communities and Healthy
Eating; and Mental Health and Wellbeing. The Service and Support Units
are: Corporate Services; Communications and Marketing; and Research,
Strategy and Policy.
Activities
In 2005 - 2006, VicHealth made over 900 separate health promotion
investments, with 76.8% of funds addressing preventable risk factors
and determinants for ill health: smoking; lack of physical activity;
discrimination, violence and social and economic exclusion leading to
mental distress; and poor nutrition. While working to improve the
health of all Victorians, VicHealth also works to address the needs of
those with the poorest health by targeting activities and supporting
research initiatives on health inequalities.
VicHealth is in a unique position to highlight what can be achieved
and influence policy change through integrating funded activities,
research and rigorous evaluation. This innovative role allows
VicHealth to lead and advocate for excellence in the development of
appropriate health promoting policies and programs, as well as maintain
strategic alliances with national and global public health interests
that aim to strengthen health promotion action and advocacy.
Additional information about VicHealth activities can be found in
Pushing Boundaries: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Annual Report
2005 – 2006 on VicHealth’s website: www.vichealth.gov.au.
VicHealth 2006 – 2009 Strategic Priorities
The recently released VicHealth’s 2006–2009 Strategic Priorities builds
on previous work and focuses on the major health challenges that
confront us including tobacco use, overweight and obesity, physical
inactivity, poor nutrition, alcohol misuse, mental health and the links
between social and economic disadvantage and poorer health, including
social exclusion, discrimination and violence.
These priorities are consistent with VicHealth’s obligations under
the Tobacco Act 1987. They also align with State Government policy and
program directions, and national and international health promotion
priorities and policies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO)
charters and declarations for Health Promotion.
VicHealth’s priorities for 2006–2009 have been guided by the vision,
mission, values and a statewide consultation conducted in partnership
with the Victorian Department of Human Services to establish statewide
health promotion priorities for 2007–2012.
VicHealth seeks a rigorous approach to finding new and improved ways
of doing what we do. To do this two Integrated Themes have been
identified:
- Innovation and building evidence
- Tackling health inequality.
The Integrated Themes are both horizontal and vertical
programs. This means that strategies will be undertaken
across the whole organisation and other strategies incorporated into
each of the organisational units.
Building on previous work undertaken VicHealth will focus on the
following priority areas over the next three years:
- Reducing Harm from Tobacco and Alcohol
- Creating Active Communities
- Promoting Healthy Eating
- Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing.
The VicHealth 2006 – 2009 Strategic Framework below diagrammatically
shows VicHealth’s approaches (based on the Ottawa Charter) and the
inter relationship between them and what will be undertaken in the
Integrated Themes and the 2006 – 2009 Priorities to achieve VicHealth’s
Vision and Mission.
VicHealth have developed strategic and operational desired outcomes
and will collect performance information to demonstrate that the goals
and objectives are being achieved.
For detailed information regarding VicHealth’s strategic priorities
for 2006 – 2009 please go to VicHealth’s website: www.vichealth.gov.au.
Contact Address
Ground Floor, 15 - 31 Pelham St
Carlton, Victoria 3053
Australia
Postal address:
P.O. Box 154
Carlton South 3053 Victoria
Australia
Email: vichealth@vichealth.vic.gov.au
Internet: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au