Editorial - A parliamentary spotlight on prevention

Abstract

It can be a disconcerting experience as a health promoter when the question comes up ?So... what do you do??. In reply you might say: ?I manage health promotion projects?, or ?I am a health promotion researcher?. The smile that you receive indicates that your interlocutor likes the sentiment of what you are saying, but the quizzical furrow on her or his brow suggests a lack of certainty about what it is you mean. If you are in the mood you might go on to discuss what health promotion is all about, but the experience serves as a reminder that it is not a widely recognised field of work. But things may be changing. The reports of the Preventive Health Task Force and the debate around the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) Bill 2009 in Parliament have brought an unprecedented level of attention to our field. The Hansard related to the ANPHA Bill provides a window into how our elected leaders understand health promotion and whether they consider a greater investment in this endeavour to be worthwhile.