Health promotion

The Health Promotion team aims to assist all people affected by diabetes, those at risk, the general community and health professionals by offering a range of programs and resources. The team covers the areas of:

• Peer support groups
• People living with type 1 diabetes
• Children and adolescents
• Community support, awareness and information
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program
• The Cultural Diversity Program
• The National Diabetes Action Program.

The aim of health promotion programs is to assist people to maintain and improve health, reduce the risk of disease and manage chronic illness. In doing so, they contribute to the well-being and self-sufficiency of individuals, families and communities.

“Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being an individual or group must be able to identify and realise aspirations, to satisfy needs and to change or cope with the environment.” (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, International Conference on Health promotion 17 – 21 November 1986. Ottawa: World Health Organisation).