AHPA (WA BRanch) Newsletter

News from the West July 2009

S
News from the West
WA Branch JULY 2009

Editors: Angela Watson & Laura Emery

In this issue…. From the Editors…
Page
Hi and welcome to another edition of News from the West.
We trust you will enjoy this issue and welcome your ideas,
2 President’s Report
comments, stories and feedback for the November edition.
4 Summary – National Conference
Don’t forget ‘News from the West’ is an opportunity for you
to share project information, updates and/or photos of
6 The key player in health promotion
community events.
advocacy and leadership
Please read on to find out about a range of activities and
7 AHPA (WA Branch) Scholarship Updates
events happening ‘in and around’ the place…. And we
9 Weighing Up Our Future – Congress hope these articles inspire you to share your stories with us
for upcoming editions of News from the West.
9 Ray James Memorial Award Angela and Laura

10 Heart Week 2009

10 Heart Foundation’s Warning signs
strategy

11 Draw the Line on your portion size

12 Go Red for Women

12 New Find Thirty everyday resources

13 Be Active Cockburn

14 Music to Open Your Mind 2009

14 Advocacy in Action
Avinna Trzesinski (AHPA WA Branch Student Representative – Curtin),
15 Body Esteem Programs talking with interstate visitor; National Conference (May 2009)

15 Community Safe Speed Promise

16 Successful Mall Walking Launch

16 “Skipper in the Tav”

17 New Resource for Parents

17 Conference Dates of Interest

18 AHPA Contact Details Ben Ceber and Brennen Mills (AHPA Scholarship Recipients, 2009);
National Conference (May 2009)

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President’s Update
Meagan Shand (AHPA WA Branch)

Winding down from a conference there are always many things to consider.
With this in mind, I would like to share some of my closing conference speech with you….

(Wednesday 20 May 2009)…

…What an intellectual and inspiring journey we have been on over the last three days.

Thank you to our sponsors - The Western Australian Department of Health, Edith Cowan University,
the University of Western Australia, and Curtin University of Technology, who have enabled us to
create this prestigious event.

Over 100 people have volunteered their time to make this Conference a success, from organising
committee members, invited guests, speakers and presenters, abstract reviewers, session chairs,
student volunteers, MC’s and facilitators, and other administration support.

Thank you all for your contribution and participation. There are a number of people I would like to
acknowledge, starting with our keynote speakers:
⇒ Professor Rob Moodie (Chair, National Preventative Health Taskforce) who opened the door to
the National health and prevention agenda
⇒ Professor Penny Hawe (Markin Chair in Health and Society, AHFMR Health Scientist, University
of Calgary, Canada) who advised us to throw away our 1990 Evaluating Health Promotion text
book and embrace new ways of measuring health promotion impact and outcome
⇒ Tori Saint (Research Assistant, Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders
University) and Mick Gooda (Chief Executive Officer, Cooperative Research Centre for
Aboriginal Health) who provided two equally interesting perspectives on leadership
⇒ Professor Mike Daube (Director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia,
Curtin University) who entertained us with 10 Commandments for advocacy
⇒ Tricia Broadbridge (2006 Young Australian of the Year, Reach Foundation) who provided a very
real and moving story on how one individual can make a difference in the lives of others.

Special thanks to Professor Billie Giles-Corti (UWA) for MC’ing the Conference Dinner, Dr Gauden
Galea (Coordinator of Health Promotion, World Health Organisation) for presenting the 2009
Eberhard Wenzel Memorial Oration and Trevor Shilton (Director Cardiovascular Health, Heart
Foundation, AHPA Life Member) for the Ray James Tribute. Thanks also to Associate Professor
Ted Wilkes who performed the Noongar Welcome, Professor Peter Howat (Curtin University,
President PHAA WA Branch) for MC’ing the welcome reception and Terry Slevin (Director,
Education & Research, Cancer Council Western Australia) who facilitated the Alcohol Hypothetical,
Healthway for providing 12 Conference Scholarships, June Redman (Executive Officer, AHPA) for
administrative support, Megan Convine (Conference Coordinator) for conference coordination,
Laura Emery (Vice President, AHPA, WA Branch) for photography and Kylie Marie Porter (WA
Visual Artist) for the conference artwork.

There was also a very special group of people who have worked tirelessly for 18 months to create
this outstanding event - Our 2009 Local Organising Committee (LOC):
⇒ LOC Secretary: Michelle Gorman (EO AHPA WA Branch)
⇒ Program Sub-committee Chairs: Gemma Crawford (Curtin University of Technology) and Tracy
Fuhrmann (WA Country Health Services)
⇒ Social & Special Events Chair Sub-Committee Chair: Michelle O'Brien (Physical Activity Task
Force)
⇒ Marketing & Sponsorship Sub-Committee Chair: Kerry O'Hare (the Cancer Council WA)

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I would also give special thanks to Ms. Lyn Dimer (ATSI Working Group Chair) and Trevor Shilton
(International Stream, Conference Resolution Working Party and Program Committee member).

I must confess, with this being the first conference I have convened, it was hard to see the reward in
doing this hard work. But now I see it – my reward comes from seeing you enjoy the fruits of our
labour of love and the satisfaction on hearing the praise of a job well done.

Finally, I would like to take you back our Conference Bluebird, who encouraged you to ‘go west- to
make health promotion a priority’. We formed our flock and now we will fly our own separate ways.
The Bluebird is a symbol of health and happiness, if we are going to be good health promoters,
then we need to ‘walk-the-talk’ and start by looking after the health and happiness of those around
us.

Please take with you this message of health and happiness and pass on this gift to somebody else.

Meagan Shand
WA Branch President & 2009 National Conference Convenor
Australian Health Promotion Association (WA Branch)

ATSI Workshop Organising Committee Prof. Rob Moodie, Senator Louise Pratt, Meagan Shand, Ian White

Student Volunteers from Curtin
University, UWA, ECU and Notre Dame:
BACK ROW (L- R):
Zoe Gibson, Sarah Beasley, Belinda
Grandoni, Natalie Dorsa, Jenna
Smedley, Nicole Wallace
FRONT ROW: (L-R):
Kianna Barker, Mai Nguyen, Amy
Mitchell, Rebecca Flemming.

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Conference Inspiration: ‘Make Health Promotion a Priority’!
Michelle Gorman and Laura Emery (AHPA WA Branch)

Conferences not only provide an opportunity for networking, they also inspire and invigorate people.
With more than 500 state, national and international delegates, the recent 18th AHPA National
Conference ‘Go West, Make Health Promotion a Priority’ held in Perth (17 - 20 May 2009) did just
that, allowing plenty of learning and networking opportunities away from the day-to-day hustle and
bustle of the office.

The conference commenced on Sunday with the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander (ATSI) Pre
Conference workshop, followed by the welcome reception, MC’d by Professor Peter Howat.
Associate Professor Ted Wilkes gave the traditional Noongar welcome and shared his didgeridoo
skills, while two of his sons and grandson performed a traditional aboriginal dance.

On Monday morning, the auditorium was ‘abuzz’ as delegates were welcomed with the music ‘Go
West’ by the Pet Shop Boys. For anyone unfamiliar with the tune, it is one that sticks in your head
and pops up when you least expect it. Meagan Shand (President AHPA WA Branch), gave the
opening speech, where we learned about the significance of the bluebird featured in the conference
artwork – a symbol of health and happiness, originally considered to be a messenger for contentment
and health, bringing people good fortune wherever it flew.

With the theme of ‘Evidence, Advocacy and Action’, the dynamic program showcased leaders in
health promotion and provided fantastic opportunities for everyone to participate, network and share
their experiences with others. The focused, professional learning environment provided a range of
opportunities for delegates including keynote and concurrent presentations, workshops and panel
sessions. Exhibitors included:
the CO-OPS Collaboration (Collaboration of Community Based Obesity Prevention Sites)
Breastscreen WA
University of Western Australia
Edith Cowan University
Department of Health Western Australia
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC)
Curtin University of Technology
Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA)

Table displays were also provided by the Asthma Foundation of WA Inc, Australian Indigenous
Health InfoNet, Osborne GP Network (OGPN) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Collaboration with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) also
introduced a new international stream, ensuring the dissemination and exchange of global health
promotion practices.

Conference keynotes came from varied backgrounds and disciplines, including Senator Louise
Pratt (Senator for Western Australia), Professors Rob Moodie (Chair, Global Health, The University
of Melbourne), Penny Hawe (Markin Chair in Health and Society, AHFMR Health Scientist,
University of Calgary) and Mike Daube (Director, Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA, Curtin
University of Technology), Mick Gooda (Co-operative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health), Tori
Saint (Research Assistant, Flinders University) and Trisha Broadbridge (REACH Foundation).
Each gave powerful presentations with different messages and outcomes for us to consider.
Keynotes updated us on grass roots interventions, ground breaking research and facing adversities
(personal and professional) and also shared many memorable quotes and thought provoking ‘one
liners’.

“Don’t give up”- Trisha Broadbridge
“If advertising campaigns were meant to be easy they wouldn’t need you”- Mike Daube

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With a hint of frivolity, Terry Slevin (Director Education and Research, Cancer Council WA) chaired
Tuesday’s symposium (Full Bottle? An Alcohol Hypothetical). Taking a few liberties to set the scene
(…the year 2012 and the aftermath of the Dockers winning their first Grand Final at “Richmond
United Brewery Stadium”…), Terry kept the session light hearted and allowed the 12 panelists
representing different sectors of the community to discuss the issue of binge drinking by our younger
population.

Panel members included Lisa Scaffidi (Lord Mayor of Perth), Barbara Scott (MLC, South
Metropolitan Region Liberal Electorate), Jim McGinty (recently retired WA Minister for Health),
Steve Allsop (Director, National Drug Research Institute), Geoff Aves (Former Director, Liquor
Licensing), Bret Christian (Owner and Editor, Subiaco Post), Frank Daly (Emergency Medicine and
Clinical Toxicology, Royal Perth Hospital), Mike Daube (Director, Public Health Advocacy Institute of
WA), Alex Wright (WA Wine Makers Association), Joe Fisher (Owner and Licensee, Clancy’s Fish
Pubs), Stephen George (A/Detective Superintendent, WA Police), Lisa Lachon (Executive Director,
Youth Affairs Council, WA).

Terry coaxed the panelists and encouraged them to share their views and ask questions in pursuit of
solving the hypothetical problem. Although a hypothetical situation, information presented by
panelists was genuine, helping to educate the wider audience and dispel myths.

The conference was more than just presentations, symposiums, workshops and networking, with the
Local Organising Committee making a conscious effort to host a ‘health promoting’ conference.
Examples of ‘walking the walk’ and ‘talking the talk’ also included a number of lunchtime activities
being offered – chair exercises, stretching, strengthening and stabilisation, ‘Finding 30’through short
walks outside along the foreshore and laughter yoga. Being so central, the Perth Convention Centre
gave delegates the opportunity to explore the city or walk the banks of the iconic Swan River.

From a social perspective, the networking opportunities were many and varied. Not only were there
opportunities during the meal breaks, but also at Monday’s Dinner with the Stars’ (Botanical Gardens
Café, Kings Park) and Tuesday’s Conference Dinner. While Dinner with the Stars provided a casual
but intimate opportunity to discuss health promotion with keynote and high profile conference
speakers (Rob Moodie, Tori Saint, Penny Hawe and Mike Daube), the conference dinner MC’d by
Billie Giles Corti, changed gears and networking moved aside for dancing. During the evening Dr
Bill Kean introduced Dr Gauden Galea who gave a pre recorded DVD presentation of the Eberhard
Wenzel Memorial Oration. Trevor Shilton also gave a ‘Ray James Tribute’ speech and announced
the National AHPA Ray James Award which is expected to commence in 2010. After the formalities,
the music was turned up, and attendees hit the dance floor (and some the stage to sing with the
band) and danced the night away.

The Annual General Meeting and the appointment of the 2009-10 AHPA National Executive took
place as part of the conference and included Dr Ian White stepping down and Suzanne Gleeson
stepping up as National President.

Delegates were invited to participate in making health promotion history in Australia by providing
feedback on the Conference Communiqué which will provide recommendations for health promotion
action, and will be presented to Federal and State Health Ministers.

Congratulations to all involved in AHPA’s 2009 National Conference from the conference sponsors
(Edith Cowan University, Department of Health Western Australia, the University of Western Australia
and Curtin University of Technology) to the Local Organising Committee, their associated sub
committees and the student volunteers from local universities. However, the most important thanks
are to each and every delegate who made the effort to ‘Go West’. As noted by one of our keynotes
during the conference, ‘There is no I in TEAM’. Without each of you, the conference could not have
been the success it was, so thank you. We trust delegates each found their own bluebird for their
journey home and look forward to hearing more as information comes to light on the 2010 National
Conference in Melbourne.

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The key player in health promotion advocacy and leadership
Rowena Cramp (WA Scholarship Recipient, National AHPA Conference)

Despite a deep interest in working with people, a strong desire to understand other people’s
perspective and to share my passion for health, I have found my biggest challenge (both personally
and professionally) is mastering communication skills. As I near the end of my degree in Health
Promotion, I realise the pivotal role of effective communication in promoting health. Listening to Tori
Saint speak from a young person’s perspective on the communication skills and humility required for
the very industry I am entering, deeply resonated with me and my health promotion journey. I
currently feel very open to recognising mistakes and using mistakes as opportunities to learn, as I
realise that this is an important quality of a good communicator.

In communication, signals transmit messages from a source to a destination. However, successful
communication in advocacy and leadership requires health promoters to experience the world from
different vantage points, with the understanding that the totality of each individuals experience is
unique to the particular vantage point he or she occupies. To accommodate discrepancies in
perspective a leader must take all stakeholders perspectives into account when formulating and
interpreting speech and other forms of communication.

I learned that advocacy is very dependent on capacity building, tapping into existing abilities of
organisations, communities and individuals to increase involvement, decision making and ownership
over sustainable programs that support healthy environments. Capacity building is strongly
influenced by communication skills and the ability to mobilise citizens for collective action. Advocacy
is largely about engaging others, listening to them and helping them fight for their needs and wants.
By building community interest, through the involvement of a target population, it is likely that the
community interest becomes a sense of “drive” which is more likely to change long-term behaviours
and create sustainable programs. By listening to others, talking and gaining support for various
programs and initiatives, good community mental health and community cohesion is promoted.
Striving to understand different perspectives and encouraging others to get involved, creates
opportunities for the population to experience a sense of achievement, a sense of belonging and a
sense of community. Strong leadership is about providing guidance, direction and opportunities to
empower people. This results in increased self esteem, self worth, self efficacy and confidence
within the target population.

It is important to form networks, promote linkages, mutual support and collaboration among
communities and organisations, in order to synergise resources and strengthen a case. This
requires time and energy. Important elements of networking include talking to others, establishing
what they’re about and identifying potential areas to work together for a common goal. This requires
adaptability, humility and relationship management. Strong advocacy and leadership demands an
awareness and mastery of many forms of communication, including face to face communication,
media skills, government interaction, public speaking, petitions, letters, campaigns and online
communication.

As a final year Health Promotion student, I am very
appreciative of the opportunity I was given to attend the
Conference and engaging with fellow health promoters,
observing programs, initiatives and best practice methods as
well as forming new relationships with people to help guide
me in my health promotion journey was a wonderful
experience. My new understanding is that communication
skills are the key element of advocacy, leadership and
health promotion and the importance of these was
highlighted throughout the conference and I will continue to
look for opportunities to challenge and improve these skills
throughout my professional and personal development. Rowena Cramp (Scholarship Recipient) and
Carlie Jones (Curtin University)

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AHPA (WA Branch) Scholarship Recipients - An update…
Increasing program reach through intermediary engagement (Project update)
Gemma Whitman (National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

The AHPA graduate scholarship project has allowed me to explore the existing
communication channels used to engage with partners, networks and stakeholders involved
in state wide Heart Foundation programs such as Make tracks2School, Heart Foundation
Walking, Jump Rope for Heart and Smarter than Smoking.

At the commencement of the project, I undertook a literature review on the importance of
capacity building and partnerships focusing on program dissemination and linking this with
Roger’s diffusion of innovation theory. Heart Foundation staff were then consulted to explore
current communication practices and to identify intermediaries vital to program adoption,
promotion and implementation. The two main groups of interest to Heart Foundation staff and
relevant to current and future programs are schools (teachers) and local government workers.

A brainstorming session was held with Heart Foundation staff to further explore ‘what they
wanted to know’ about the school and local government environments focusing on
communication and barriers and enablers to adopting a health program. This led to the
development of an interview guide and an appropriate recruitment method, allowing teachers
and local government workers to provide feedback.

Currently, recruitment and feedback summation is ongoing. Feedback will be compiled and
included in a final report about recommendations for communicating with intermediaries. The
information gained will help Heart Foundation staff with future program planning, with the
ultimate aim of increasing intermediary engagement, quality of program delivery and overall
program reach. The outcomes of the project will also be applicable to other agencies
delivering health promotion programs through intermediaries.

The opportunity to take on this project as a new health promotion graduate has put me in a
great position to work with other, like-minded professionals with years of experience in the
field. I have been able to learn from them and have been provided with support to flourish on
my own. As well as coordinating my scholarship project, I have also been able to liaise with
other Heart Foundation staff, participate in fundraising programs, help develop resources and
contribute towards many existing projects. With three months to go until the completion of my
project I feel confident that I will have developed many valuable skills to put me in good stead
for my future career in the health promotion field.

Creating a Mentally Health Healthy Toolbox for the Act-Belong-Commit Campaign
Benjamin Ceber (AHPA WA Branch, National Scholarship Recipient)

I am now part way through my Australian Health Promotion Scholarship with Mentally Healthy
WA working on the creation of a Mentally Healthy Toolbox. The resources produced for the
toolbox will assist health promotion practitioners to disseminate the Act-Belong-Commit
message.

I began the project by sending a survey to project officers to ascertain what Act-Belong-
Commit resources are being used and what other resources would help them in their work.
This formative research highlighted gaps in existing resources which provided opportunity to
produce some new resources. The recommendations included the production a speakers’ kit,
some fact sheets and a number of interactive resources such as crosswords and Sudoku’s.
We also plan to create an online survey tool that assesses individual’s current engagement in
mentally healthy activities and provides recommendations to improve mental health. The
research highlighted that project officers wanted resources that are engaging and interactive

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and have a story value. These components are being incorporated into the development of
the new resources.

I have also visited some Act-Belong-Commit sites to see how the
campaign is implemented on the ground and have attended a number
of events to promote to Act-Belong-Commit message. .

Working with Mentally Healthy WA has allowed me to gain skills in
survey design, interviewing and resources development. I have also
been learning about the statistical package SPSS. My project has also
given me skills in networking and communication with key stakeholders.
Working with the Mentally Healthy WA team at Curtin Behavioural
Research and Cancer Control is an enjoyable as well as educational
experience and I look forward to completing the remainder of my
scholarship.

Online Video Experiment to Improve Memorability of Graphic Health Warnings
Brennen Mills, Dr Owen Carter, Professor Peter Howat (Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control)

We are currently undertaking an experiment to investigate ways to increase reaction to
advertisements that simulate damage to organs in health warning messages. As part of the
experiment, filming has been completed of various simulated human organs getting damaged,
including lungs, hearts, livers and eyeballs.

Animal offal acquired from Linley Valley Fresh meat processors has been used to simulate
the human organs with lots of fake blood. The depictions include either an aggressive
condition (where the object is subjected to physical harm such as a dissection or puncture
and then leaks various fluids) or a passive condition (where only the damaged organ and
leaking fluids are depicted). The organs were filmed at Murdoch University in a green screen
studio to allow manipulation of the video backgrounds via computer generated imagery (CGI)
registration.

Videos from each condition will be
displayed as part of a mixed series of
36 and participants will be asked to
rate how ‘confronting’ they consider
the footage in order to assess relative
visceral responses.

One week later, participants will view
a series of 72 videos, including the 36
they previously viewed, plus an
additional 36 similar videos not seen
before. Participants will be asked to
nominate if they have previously
viewed this exact video using a yes/no Video images used in the 1997 National Anti-Tobacco Campaign to
format to determine which video highlight merged (left) and plain (right) backgrounds
condition generated the highest recall
value.

Upload of the experiment website is weeks away. To date over 700 participants have been
recruited via ‘recruitment’ emails. If you are interested in participating please contact Brennen
Mills via email at b.mills@curtin.edu.au.

AHPA (WA Branch) Scholarships funded by:

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Weighing Up Our Future - Congress
Alice Cullam (Communications Officer, Physical Activity; National Heart Foundation WA Branch)

The Weighing Up Our Future –
WA’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and
Healthy Weight Congress (18-20
March) was a three day event
organised by the Heart Foundation,
Cancer Council WA and Diabetes
WA through funding from the
Department of Health, WA.

Leading Australian experts in
healthy weight, physical activity and
nutrition, together with around 200
local professionals, met in
Fremantle to explore different ways
Terry Slevin, Boyd Swinburn, Rosemary Stanton, Di Ledger, to fight the overweight and obesity
Trevor Shilton & Neville Owen
epidemic in Australia.

Internationally renowned keynote speakers included Professor Boyd Swinburn (Professor of
Population Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; Deakin University), Professor Neville
Owen (Professor of Health Behaviour and Director of the Cancer Prevention Research Centre,
University of Queensland), and Dr Rosemary Stanton (renowned nutritionist).

Trevor Shilton (Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Health Director and Congress Chair) said that the
congress “provided an excellent opportunity to share what can be done locally to reduce the
incidence of overweight and obesity” and that “West Australians can no longer ignore the fact that
physical inactivity and poor nutrition are linked to obesity and chronic disease.”

The congress provided an important opportunity to gather local and national experts to talk about
how we can work together in health, as well as with other sectors, to fight overweight and obesity in
our communities.

Announcing the ‘Ray James Memorial Award’
The Ray James Memorial Award is for excellence and innovation in health promotion research
published during the previous year in the Health Promotion Journal of Australia.

The Award will include $1,000 prize money and be presented at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
of the Association during the Australian Health Promotion Association National conference or at
another suitable time as agreed by the Management Committee.

Further details about the Award and how to nominate will be included in issues of the Journal and
circulated to members via other distribution channels. Financial members of the Association will be
eligible to apply for the Award.

It is hoped that the first award will be announced in 2010.

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HEART WEEK 2009: Women and heart disease – it’s news to me!
Alice Cullam (Communications Officer, Physical Activity; National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

Thank you to everyone who helped us spread the word about the simple steps women can take to
improve their heart health during Heart Week (Sunday 3 May - Saturday 9 May).

Even though heart disease claims the lives of almost 11,000 women each year, most Australian
women are still dangerously unaware of their risk.

There are many ways to promote a healthier heart, and one of the most important is to find 30
minutes of physical activity every day. The Heart Foundation recommends at least 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity physical activity every day for good health.

Apart from a healthier heart, people who Find Thirty® every day also find that they feel better, sleep
better, have more energy and enjoy better health. Why not encourage the women in your life to be
more active this week. For ideas and tips on how to Find Thirty® every day visit
www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au

Other important steps towards a healthier heart include visiting your GP for regular heart check-ups
(including finding out your cholesterol level and blood pressure), giving up smoking, and enjoying
healthier eating.

This year, Heart Week also played a pivotal role in launching the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for
Women campaign, aimed at empowering women to understand their risk of heart disease and lead
healthier lives. For more information contact Sally Courboules (08 9382 5914,
Sally.Courbolues@heartfoundation.org.au or www.goredforwomen.com.au).

Support the Heart Foundation’s Warning Signs Strategy
Natalie Quinn (Women’s Health and Warning Signs Project Officer, National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

During 2009, the Heart Foundation will implement a nationwide strategy aimed at helping all
Australians to identify and understand warning signs of heart attack.

The Warning Signs strategy is a key priority of the Heart Foundation; addressing the concerns that
heart disease (mainly heart attack) is the leading cause of death for Australian men and women with
nearly 23,000 lives lost to the disease in 2006.

The Heart Foundation is keen to partner with health professionals to communicate a consistent
message about:
o the warning signs of heart attack
o what to do if you have warning signs
o why it’s important to act quickly if you have warning signs.

Ideas on how you can publicly support the Warning Signs strategy and help us communicate this life
saving message include:
o Newsletter article: Heart Foundation article could be adapted or included ‘as is’ in your
stakeholder and staff publications.
o Website link: Provide a link on your website to the Heart Foundation website
Intranet/website news: Upload or link to information about Warning Signs strategy and key
messages and information on your intranet or website.

For further information about the Warning Signs Strategy please contact Natalie Quinn (08 9382
5945, Natalie.Quinn@heartfoundation.org.au).

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Draw the Line on your portion size
Megan Booth (Healthy Weight Project Officer, National Heart Foundation WA Branch)

West Australians are being urged to take more notice
of the size of the food servings eaten in order to
prevent weight gain and the many associated health
problems.

It has become increasingly easy to eat too much, with
many packaged, take-away foods and restaurant
meals being presented in ‘over-sized’ quantities. Put
simply, larger portions lead to more kilojoules in our
diet, which in turn can lead to weight gain.

A piece of steak for example should weigh no more
Dietitians - Sharonna Freeman (Heart Foundation),
than 100g (approximately the size of the palm of your Sue Stockdale (Diabetes WA) & Loren
hand), but many people are eating three times as Muhlmann (TCCWA) showing different portion
much in one sitting. sizes of steak (~ 100g and 350g respectively)

The ‘Draw the Line’ campaign which urges West Australian adults to ‘draw the line’ on further weight
gain is an initiative of the Heart Foundation, Cancer Council WA and Diabetes WA, with funding from
the Department of Health, Western Australia. The campaign communicates simple steps people can
take each day to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight including:
• eat smaller portions
• eat less fat and sugar
• be more active
• sit less.

Tips being promoted to help individuals control portion sizes include:
• use smaller dinner or snack plate
• serve meals onto individual plates to minimise the temptation of going back for seconds (or thirds)
• top up between meals with low energy snacks (ie fruit or vegetables)
• when eating out, consider ordering an entrée with a side of salad or vegetables if required
• be aware of packaging – consider buying smaller packages or dividing up the contents of larger
packages into smaller containers when you bring home from the shops.

The statewide campaign features television, press and outdoor advertising as well as a consumer
information booklet with practical tips on healthy eating and physical activity. For more information
visit www.drawthelinewa.com.au.

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Go Red for Women: Heart Foundation’s campaign to make heart
health a priority for women
Natalie Quinn (Women’s Health & Warning Signs Project Officer, National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

Community spirit is alive and well thanks to the many West Australians who recently supported Go
Red for Women Day on Friday June 12. Supporters wore red, held events, made donations and
bought merchandise to help the Heart Foundation raise awareness of heart disease in women, as
well as raising vital funds to assist with education and research into women and heart health.

Go Red for Women day will continue to be an important annual event (so mark it in your diaries) in
the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women campaign which aims to inform Australian women about
the easy steps they can take to reduce heart disease and empower them to lead healthier lives, as
well as raising vital funds for research and education into women and heart disease.

In WA, HBF has taken up the fight of women and heart disease through the HBF and Heart
Foundation Go Red for Women Alliance. HBF has supported the campaign by selling Go Red for
Women merchandise in its branches and by helping the Heart Foundation to conduct free healthy
heart checks in Forrest Place (Perth CBD) on 12 June.

With the continued support of the West Australian
community we can ensure women are better
informed and take positive steps to make heart
health their priority.

Help us by:
• Signing up to the Go Red for Women
network and get informed through regular
newsletters and website information. To
learn more visit:
www.goredforwomen.com.au
• Talking to female family and friends
• Supporting fundraising
• Sharing your story
• Visiting www.goredforwomen.com.au
• Contacting us for more information on 1300 Photo represents the 30 women who die from heart
36 27 87 disease every day (Photo courtesy of the Heart

New Find Thirty® every day Resources
Kristel Modderman (National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

The Find Thirty® every day campaign is set to release a new set of physical activity resources in July,
specifically targeting priority groups including older adults, low income earners and regional
populations. Resources include a brochure, activity planner and poster.

These resources will communicate social, mental and physical health benefits that physical activity
can provide. They will also promote a range of low-cost physical activities and suggest how to
overcome perceived barriers to physical activity specifically related to these target groups.

The activity planner includes practical tools and advice for getting started, including goal setting,
planning and recording physical activity. For more information contact Kristel Modderman (08 9382
5955 or kristel.modderman@heartfoundation.org.au) or visit the Find Thirty® every day campaign
(www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au).

Page 12


Be Active Cockburn, one year on…
Jamie-Lee Cavill (Health Promotion Officer, South Metropolitan Public Health Unit)

Over the past 17 months, the South Metropolitan Public Health Unit (SMPHU) have been working
with the City of Cockburn on their physical activity program – ‘Be Active Cockburn’. Be Active
Cockburn was launched in April 2008, with funding support from Lotterywest, the Premier’s Physical
Activity Taskforce and the Western Australian Local Government Association. While the grant period
ended in April 2009, Be Active Cockburn continues through event stalls, links with other City of
Cockburn projects, local Heart Foundation Walking groups and the Be Active Cockburn website:
www.beactivecockburn.com.au.

Recently, the City of Cockburn and SMPHU produced a pocket-sized booklet titled ‘Walking in the
City of Cockburn’. The booklet was put together by Gilly Street (City of Cockburn Health Promotion
Officer and Heart Foundation Walking Area Coordinator) and Jamie Cavill (SMPHU Health Promotion
Officer) with the help of City of Cockburn volunteers and UWA students.

Along with the Be Active Cockburn website, the booklet aims to increase the amount of Cockburn
residents who participate in walking, with an overall goal of increasing the incidence of physical
activity in the City. ‘Walking in the City of Cockburn’ is available from all City of Cockburn libraries or
alternatively by contacting the City of Cockburn on 9411 3444.

Coinciding with Heart Week 2009, walkers of all ages attended the booklet launch and a Heart
Foundation Walking Community information session held at Phoenix Shopping Centre on 7 May
2009. Logan Howlett (Mayor, City of Cockburn) launched the event and showed enthusiastic support
towards the new booklet as well as encouraging community members to take part in physical activity
in their area by joining a Heart Foundation Walking group. Walkers (including Cities of Cockburn and
Fremantle Mayors) then set off for a social 2km group walk around Spearwood’s MacFaull Park (a
walk which features in the new booklet).

The new booklet provides a great incentive for people to join local Heart Foundation Walking groups.
Heart Foundation Walking is Australia’s largest network of free community-based walking groups with
volunteer Walk Organisers that lead groups in their local area. Additional groups are being set up
throughout WA and looking for organisations to come on board.

For more information about Heart Foundation Walking contact 1300 36 27 87 or
www.heartfoundation.org.au/walking.

Jamie Cavill (SMPHU), Stephanie Lamb (City of Fremantle), Mayor Logan
Howlett (City of Cockburn) and Gilly Street (City of Cockburn)

Page 13


Music to Open Your Mind 2009
Angela Piscitelli (Senior Planning & Projects Officer, South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Mental Health)

The Music to Open Your Mind (MTOYM) community concert was held on Sunday 22 March and
attracted over 2000 visitors to Kings Square, Fremantle. This free annual event was co-hosted by
the South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Mental Health (SMAHS, MH) and South Metropolitan
Mental Health Advisory Group (SuMMAt) with the aim to raise community awareness of mental
health.

Passers by and participants were treated to live music, market stalls, children’s activities and
information stalls provided by 15 non government organizations’ (NGOs) who shared information
about mental health issues and services. The MTOYM event provided NGOs and the public mental
health service an opportunity to build partnerships and share a common message with the public to
increase mental health literacy, improve personal help-seeking behaviour and reduce stigma.

Dr Elizabeth Moore (Executive Director, Mental Health; SMAHS) said “This event is an excellent
demonstration of partnership and collaboration within the Mental Health sector. It could not have
gone ahead without the commitment and dedication of staff and volunteers”. Music was chosen as
the theme of MTOYM as it reaches across age, culture and religion to assist social cohesion and
helps to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. The event, which organisers had been
planning for twelve months, received extremely positive feedback from the public and NGOs. Nine
out of ten people surveyed agreed the information provided by the NGOs was of a high standard and
planning is already underway to open more minds in 2010.

Advocacy in Action: a toolkit for Public Health Professionals
Julia Stafford & Helen Mitchell (Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA)

The Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA (PHAIWA) aims to promote, support and develop public
health advocacy in WA. The PHAIWA team are committed to building the capacity of both health
professionals and the community to engage in effective public health advocacy.

The PHAIWA has developed a practical, user-friendly resource titled ‘Advocacy in Action: a toolkit for
Public Health Professionals’ to support and build the advocacy skills of public health professionals
and includes examples and public health case studies to illustrate advocacy in action!

The Advocacy in Action tools provide examples and guidance for toolkit users to:
Prepare media releases
Send out action alerts
Write letters to Politicians
Meet with Politicians
Participate in radio and television interviews.

The PHAIWA launched the toolkit at an advocacy workshop at the
Weighing Up Our Future Congress (Fremantle, March 2009).
Participants were guided by the toolkit to:
Conduct and record a radio interview
Conduct and video a television interview
Plan and role play a meeting with the Health Minister
Write a media release.

The toolkit is being used at a series of further workshops in metropolitan Advocacy in Action: a toolkit for
and regional WA. The Advocacy in Action toolkit is available to download Public Health Professionals
free of charge at www.phaiwa.org.au or contact the PHAIWA team at
phaiwa@curtin.edu.au.

Page 14


Body Esteem Programs at WOMEN’S Healthworks
Cath Ashton (Body Esteem Coordinator; WOMEN’S Healthworks)

The continuing success of the ‘Body Esteem’ program has enabled the Anorexia/Bulimia group to
add another date for a 20 week program starting on Monday 14 October 2009.

Another ‘carer/ Parent Education Support’ program commenced on Tuesday 7 July - 25 August
(6.30-8pm). The Step-Down Program is for women who have previously attended the 20 week
eating disorder program and wish to seek support for an eating disorder. The Step Down Program
will run twice monthly until 30 January 2010 for two hours.

Please contact WOMEN’S Healthworks on 08 9300 1566 or cath@womenshealthworks for more
information.

Community Safe Speed Promise
Shane Pope (City of Stirling) and Marissa MacDonald (City of Joondalup)

The City’s of Stirling and Joondalup have received a grant to fund the Community Safe Speed
Promise project. The Community Safe Speed Promise is based on the Neighbourhood Pace Car
Pledge run at the City of Stirling and is a way for the community and Local Government to take
control of road safety on their local streets. It works like a treaty between communities stating “we
will act as a guest in your community if you act as a guest in ours”. The project was launched on 31
March and is being promoted heavily with $36,000 allocated for press and radio advertising.

The initiative is based on the cognitive dissonance theory and asks residents to:
o sign a Safe Speed Promise
o commit to driving within the speed limit and
o be a courteous driver

Participants receive a bumper sticker and fridge magnet so they are identifiable to set an example for
other motorists as well as regular updates through a Safe Speed Promise newsletter. Other methods
of increasing participation in the project include approaching schools, action groups, local
businesses, council staff and councillors and residents on targeted streets with higher speeds.
Evaluation of the project will include the number of participants, number of media hits and noting any
changes in driver behaviour in regard to acceptability of ‘low level’ speeding. Targeted streets that
participate in the project will also be evaluated to assess any changes in the 85th percentile speed.

Page 15


Successful Mall Walking Launch!
Joanne Horvat (WOMEN’S Healthworks)

In March 2002, WOMEN’S Healthworks launched their first shopping centre walking group in
Western Australia. This group of women, the ‘Whitfords Walkers’ continues to walk at the Westfield
Shopping Centre in Hillarys on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with regular, dedicated walkers, some of
whom boast original membership.

Seven years later, WOMEN’S Healthworks together with Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City hosted a
successful launch on May 28 to mark the start of what will inevitably be another successful mall
walking group. With the recent redevelopments at Lakeside Joondalup (transforming the shopping
centre to become one of Perth’s largest) the bright, airy atmosphere offers walkers a safe and
comfortable environment to walk all year-round - no sun, no wind, no rain and certainly no flies.

The launch was well attended, with speeches from Tony O’Gorman (MLA for Joondalup), City of
Joondalup and Walk There Today representatives to name a few. However, perhaps the best part of
the morning was giving away some great prizes (2x $100 vouchers donated by Athletes Foot and 2x
$100 vouchers donated by Lakeside Joondalup). Laura from Lakeside had the pleasure of drawing
the winners with three out of four prizes being won by walking group members. Congratulations to
Robyn, Margaret and Kaye. For more information, please contact Jo at WOMEN’S Healthworks on
9300 1566 or visit www.womenshealthworks.org.au.

‘Skipper in the Tav’: Interventions where university students
Learn, Work, Play and Drink.
Ruth Wernham and Asha Singh (UWA Health Promotion Unit)

The UWA Health Promotion Unit ‘Skippers in the Tav’ project
aims to provide information to students about safe drinking
levels, the effect of alcohol on their bodies and the risks
associated with high levels of alcohol consumption. This project
has been delivered at the university tavern since 2006 and is
part of a wider alcohol education program, the Tertiary Alcohol
Project (TAP).

Skippers is a peer based project and involves a group of peer
educators conducting alcohol related interventions at the tavern,
once a month, with messages of drinking responsibly and
safely. Activities such as alcohol related quizzes, brief
motivational interviewing (delivered by a Youth Alcohol and
Other Drugs? Counsellor) and measuring students’ blood
alcohol concentration levels using a breathalyser are conducted.
Student participation is voluntary but incentives are provided,
Ruth showing poster at AHPA Conference encouraging positive responses from students.

At each event, approximately 150 to 200 UWA students are exposed to the project, with about 40%
of these students actively participating in the intervention. Data collected from ‘Skippers’
demonstrates that students who frequent the campus tavern are more likely to drink at harmful and
hazardous levels, and thus are likely to benefit from alcohol interventions.

At the 2009 AHPA conference, Ruth Wernham presented a poster on ‘Skippers in the Tav’ which
received much interest from conference delegates. The implementation of this project at other
Australian universities is possible and other opportunities to expand the project to other target groups
has also been investigated.

Page 16


New Resource for Parent Groups
Kristel Modderman (National Heart Foundation, WA Branch)

The Heart Foundation and the West Australian Council of State School Organisations (WACSSO)
have developed a new resource entitled ‘Healthy Environments, Healthy Children: Advocating for
walking, cycling and other health issues - A guide for parent groups’. The guide was funded by
Healthway and developed in consultation with parent groups and key stakeholders. It was designed
to assist parent groups to influence their school community to make positive changes to their
environment, making it easier for children to lead healthy, more active lives. A copy will be sent to
all schools and parent groups in WA in term three, accompanied by a make tracks2school program
registration form.

The guide provides information on how to advocate for healthier school and community environments
that support walking, cycling and other healthy behaviours. It includes easy-to-use templates, case
studies and links to existing programs and services and complements the term four ‘make
tracks2school’ program.

For further information, or to order a copy of the guide, contact Kristel Modderman on
08 9382 5955. Information on the make tracks2school program can be obtained from
Anna Sheppard on 08 9382 5939.

Conference Dates of Interest:
2009…
th
AIPN 9 National Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion
26-28 Jul 2009 Melbourne, VIC
[www.injuryprevention2009.com]
WA August Heartmoves workshop Dept. Sport and
21-23 Aug 2009
[carmen.lam@heartfoundation.org.au] Rec - Perth, WA
23-25 Aug 2009 Connect, learn, Activate [www.healthpromotion.org.au] Townsville, QLD
Together! 2009! Cultural Connections for Quality Care at the End of Life
(Combining the 10th Australian Palliative Care Conference and the 8th
24-27 Sept 2009 Asia Pacific Hospice Conferences) Perth, WA
[www.conlog.com.au/palliativecare2009]
1st Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium
2-3 Nov 2009 Canberra, ACT
http://anzmh.asn.au/rmha9/
WA Country Health Service Rural & Remote Mental Health Conference
11-13 Nov 2009 Goldfields, WA
[www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au]
2010…
th
6 Australian Women’s Health Conference
18-21 May 2010 Hobart, Tas
[www.awhn.org.au]
th
20 IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion. "Health, Equity and Geneva,
11-15 July 2010
Sustainable Development" [www.iuhpeconference.net] Switzerland
If you know of other conferences that may be of interest to members,
please forward information to Michelle Gorman.

Page 17


Membership benefits Contacting
Are you a member? the
Australian Health
What does membership entitle you to? Promotion Association
Membership to the WA Branch of the Association can (AHPA):
serve you and your profession in a number of ways
including access to:

Professional development workshops and seminars
WA Branch
at a reduced fee;
News From the West, our WA Branch newsletter, Michelle Gorman, Executive Officer
produced three times a year; PO Box 1825, SUBIACO WA 6904
An exclusive mentoring program; Ph: (08) 9382 5921
A listserver for members which provides weekly Fax: (08) 9388 3383
postings of current employment opportunities, news
of events and developments in the field and ahpa@heartfoundation.com.au
networking news; www.healthpromotion.org.au
Graduate Health Promotion Scholarships every
year; and WA Branch office hours
Regular social and networking events with other 9.30 – 2.30 Mon, Wed & Thurs
practitioners in the field.

Your continuing support as a member is very valuable
to us. Please help the WA Branch to grow by
introducing a new member today! If you or your
colleagues are interested in joining the association or National Branch
you would like more information about membership, University of the Sunshine Coast
please contact Michelle Gorman, Executive Officer
Maroochydore DC QLD 4558
Ph: (07) 5430 2873
Fax: (07) 5430 1276
ahpa@usc.edu.au
Do you have something to share? www.healthpromotion.org,au
We want to hear from you!
Contributions for the next edition of ‘News from
the West’ are due November 4, 2009
Please use the article template available from Are your details current?
Angela Watson at
angela.watson@health.wa.gov.au. Do you receive emails via the
listserve?
Photos, events, updates, website or resources of Are you receiving your copy of the
interest are also welcome. national newsletter and journal?
Please limit articles to 250 words

Articles appearing in ‘News from the West’ do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Health If not, drop the WA Branch Executive
Promotion Association (WA Branch or National). The Officer a line to update your current
editors reserve the right to omit, edit or condense any
submitted article. details.

Page 18

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