Health Promotion Officer

Health Promotion Officers work with various groups to improve the health of individuals and the community with particular emphasis on issues such as family, the environment, social change, nutrition, exercise, drugs and sexuality, with the main focus on prevention. The number and type of people, and designated area, a Health Promotion Officer works with can vary depending on the community which you are involved with. This type of work involves a lot of interaction with different communities and may require weekend and after hours work as well as some travel.

There is a possibility of specialising within this field, by amending the courses undertaken, and working with particular groups. For example becoming an Aboriginal Health Education Officer with employment in Aboriginal medical services, doctors' surgeries, public and private hospitals, community health centres, or using a second language to gain work with particular communities within the population. Generally though, a health promotion officer may perform the following tasks:

• recommend, plan and coordinate health promotion and public information programs and campaigns for various community groups
• inform and involve other health professionals in community health issues
• design and evaluate health promotion programs for school curriculum, health care staff and the community
• carry out research on health issues
• educate certain community members on continuing self-care
• act as a consultant and adviser to government and private health and welfare organisations

A Health Promotion Officer needs to be non-judgmental, be able to work well with different types of people, be able to build strong rapports quickly, have good communication skills, have a commitment to social justice, be able to negotiate, organise, work independently and as part of a team well, be adaptable, creative and passionate. Performing volunteer work while studying will help with community groups involved in social justice should help you in gaining employment in this field.