What does a Health Promotion Practitioner do?
Health promotion is focused on developing policy, programs and strategies that will foster and encourage healthy, equitable and sustainable environments and communities. To achieve this, a health promotion practitioner is required to work with a diverse range of individuals, community groups and representatives. In addition to developing population and community programs, interventions can also be implemented in specific settings such as schools, workplaces, and hospitals. Currently, a key focus is the development of effective programs that address a number of national and state health priority areas including physical activity, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, mental health promotion, injury prevention and skin cancer prevention. An integral component to being an effective health promotion practitioner is to be involved in the facilitation and development of effective partnerships with government and non government agencies to collaboratively address health issues and work towards positive health outcomes.
Some of the tasks a health promotion practitioner may perform include:
- planning, implementing and evaluating health promotion programs
- informing and working collaboratively with other health professionals on population health issues (i.e., forming and maintaining effective partnerships)
- designing, developing and implementing public information campaigns using radio, television, newspapers, pamphlets, posters and websites
With experience, health promotion practitioners can progress into supervisory and managerial positions.
Pathways
There are multiple options for health promotion within QUT’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs including the Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health), Graduate Certificate in Public Health, Graduate Diploma Health Science, Master of Health Science, Graduate Diploma Public Health and Master Public Health. Each of these offer the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge and skills for developing and evaluating health promotion programs.
Employment Opportunities
Many Graduates find employment in the public sector in local, state and federal government health departments (e.g., Queensland Health 
) and local community agencies in such areas as community health, and primary health care. Organisations like Family Planning (Qld) the National Heart Foundation , Diabetes Australia , and The Cancer Council provide employment opportunities.
Health promotion and public health positions are also available in a variety of professional workplaces, like the police force, local councils and in private industry (e.g., medical insurance companies, corporate health companies, and health promotion consultants).
For those interested in social welfare, graduates have worked for organisations such as government departments and international health aid organisations such as World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Community Aid Abroad. Universities, peak bodies, professional associations and international agencies (e.g. World Vision, Greenpeace, United Nations) also require the skills of health promotion graduands.
Professional Recognition
Graduates maybe eligible for membership of the Australian Health Promotion Association and the Public Health Association of Australia .