Rebecca Bennett, Laura Duff, Kate Mallia, Steven Allender, Meaghan Christian, Julie Brimblecome, Carmen Vargas
Introduction
Food retail outlets represent a setting where a healthy diet can be promoted. Community public health practitioners need user-friendly tools to collect real-time data, engage with local food retailers, and customise health-enabling initiatives in supermarkets. We aimed to examine the distribution and variation of Store Scout App (SS-App) scores to demonstrate the influence of health-enabling changes within the participant supermarkets.
Methods
Data were collected from 10 supermarkets (5 implementation, 5 control) using the SS-App. The SS-App is a decision-support tool that evaluates health-promoting store practices and provides real-time feedback to retailers. Data were collected through a series of dichotomous (yes/no) questions related to the App's 4Ps of marketing: Promotion, Price, Product, and Placement. The Reach for the Stars programme included promotional and informational materials based on the health star rating of healthier products. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the effects of time group (implementation vs. control) and their interaction on overall mean SS-App scores within the study arm.
Results
SS-App scores improved from pre- to post-implementation (p < 0.01). A larger increase in SS-App scores was observed in the implementation group (M = 8.7, SD = 3.7) compared to the control group (M = 1.4, SD = 6.1), (t (8) = −2.28, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The SS-App was key in implementing the programme by ensuring stores aligned with its goals and objectives, supporting and enhancing retailer participation and sustained engagement.
{"title":"Creating Health-Enabling Supermarkets in Australia: Using the Store Scout App in Health Promotion Practice","authors":"Rebecca Bennett, Laura Duff, Kate Mallia, Steven Allender, Meaghan Christian, Julie Brimblecome, Carmen Vargas","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70147","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70147","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Food retail outlets represent a setting where a healthy diet can be promoted. Community public health practitioners need user-friendly tools to collect real-time data, engage with local food retailers, and customise health-enabling initiatives in supermarkets. We aimed to examine the distribution and variation of <i>Store Scout App</i> (<i>SS</i><i>-App</i>) scores to demonstrate the influence of health-enabling changes within the participant supermarkets.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data were collected from 10 supermarkets (5 implementation, 5 control) using the SS-App. The SS-App is a decision-support tool that evaluates health-promoting store practices and provides real-time feedback to retailers. Data were collected through a series of dichotomous (yes/no) questions related to the App's 4Ps of marketing: Promotion, Price, Product, and Placement. The Reach for the Stars programme included promotional and informational materials based on the health star rating of healthier products. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the effects of time group (implementation vs. control) and their interaction on overall mean <i>SS-App</i> scores within the study arm.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>SS-App</i> scores improved from pre- to post-implementation (<i>p</i> < 0.01). A larger increase in <i>SS-App</i> scores was observed in the implementation group (<i>M</i> = 8.7, SD = 3.7) compared to the control group (<i>M</i> = 1.4, SD = 6.1), (<i>t</i> (8) = −2.28, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The <i>SS-App</i> was key in implementing the programme by ensuring stores aligned with its goals and objectives, supporting and enhancing retailer participation and sustained engagement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145851044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James A. Smith, Rob Moodie, Carmel Williams, Glen Ramos, Katherine Trebeck, Caterina Giorgi, Melinda Edmunds, Gemma Crawford
<p>Just when upstream prevention is so urgently needed, the Victorian Government has taken a step in the opposite direction based on perceived ‘quick wins’ rather than a long-term systemic approach to health and wellbeing. In a myopic decision, the Victorian Government has recently announced its intention to ‘dismantle’ the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (more commonly known as VicHealth)—well, at least the intention to absorb it into the Victorian Department of Health. This decision was the result of the Silver Review—an independent review of the public service model in Victoria commissioned by Treasury and focused on reducing waste and inefficiency, primarily from an economic lens [<span>1</span>]. The review recommended major reforms to ‘public entities’ with little consideration of the health and social impacts of the recommendations, and no evidence of the adoption of an equity lens in their formation [<span>1</span>]. Although we already know that health and economic conversations need to better align to ensure optimal population health outcomes [<span>2</span>], the review recommendations fell short of achieving this in a general sense, but particularly in the case of VicHealth. Indeed, the review and resultant decision have been made without any effectiveness study or strategy for demonstrating how costs will be saved through the proposed transition process. The decision has also contravened the multi-partisan political support that underpins VicHealth. The review and decision-makers did not engage with contemporary evidence about the Wellbeing Economy [<span>3, 4</span>], nor did they factor in the economic and fiscal benefits that underpin VicHealth's long-term and ongoing strategic investment in health promotion [<span>5, 6</span>]. Elaborating on these shortcomings is useful in demonstrating why the abolishment of VicHealth is both unwarranted and unwise.</p><p>To provide some historical context, VicHealth was established in 1987 under the Tobacco Act. This means there is 38 years of learning that underpins VicHealth's organisational legacy. It was the first Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) established globally and has consistently been used as a model for innovation in other states of Australia, including Healthway in WA, Preventive Health SA, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Nationally, learnings from VicHealth helped shape the establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) (2011–2014) [<span>7</span>]; and globally VicHealth has influenced the establishment of HPFs in Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Tonga. VicHealth continues to provide foundational knowledge and guidance through its membership with the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations, of which it initiated in the early 2000s. VicHealth was also recently highlighted as a ‘thriving’ HPF within an editorial targeting the World Health Organization [<span>8</span>]. In addition, VicHealth has consistently partnered
{"title":"VicHealth Is a Health Promotion Exemplar: Evidence Demands Bolstering Investment (Not Eroding It)","authors":"James A. Smith, Rob Moodie, Carmel Williams, Glen Ramos, Katherine Trebeck, Caterina Giorgi, Melinda Edmunds, Gemma Crawford","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70146","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70146","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Just when upstream prevention is so urgently needed, the Victorian Government has taken a step in the opposite direction based on perceived ‘quick wins’ rather than a long-term systemic approach to health and wellbeing. In a myopic decision, the Victorian Government has recently announced its intention to ‘dismantle’ the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (more commonly known as VicHealth)—well, at least the intention to absorb it into the Victorian Department of Health. This decision was the result of the Silver Review—an independent review of the public service model in Victoria commissioned by Treasury and focused on reducing waste and inefficiency, primarily from an economic lens [<span>1</span>]. The review recommended major reforms to ‘public entities’ with little consideration of the health and social impacts of the recommendations, and no evidence of the adoption of an equity lens in their formation [<span>1</span>]. Although we already know that health and economic conversations need to better align to ensure optimal population health outcomes [<span>2</span>], the review recommendations fell short of achieving this in a general sense, but particularly in the case of VicHealth. Indeed, the review and resultant decision have been made without any effectiveness study or strategy for demonstrating how costs will be saved through the proposed transition process. The decision has also contravened the multi-partisan political support that underpins VicHealth. The review and decision-makers did not engage with contemporary evidence about the Wellbeing Economy [<span>3, 4</span>], nor did they factor in the economic and fiscal benefits that underpin VicHealth's long-term and ongoing strategic investment in health promotion [<span>5, 6</span>]. Elaborating on these shortcomings is useful in demonstrating why the abolishment of VicHealth is both unwarranted and unwise.</p><p>To provide some historical context, VicHealth was established in 1987 under the Tobacco Act. This means there is 38 years of learning that underpins VicHealth's organisational legacy. It was the first Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) established globally and has consistently been used as a model for innovation in other states of Australia, including Healthway in WA, Preventive Health SA, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Nationally, learnings from VicHealth helped shape the establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) (2011–2014) [<span>7</span>]; and globally VicHealth has influenced the establishment of HPFs in Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Tonga. VicHealth continues to provide foundational knowledge and guidance through its membership with the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations, of which it initiated in the early 2000s. VicHealth was also recently highlighted as a ‘thriving’ HPF within an editorial targeting the World Health Organization [<span>8</span>]. In addition, VicHealth has consistently partnered ","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hpja.70146","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145851056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristy Schirmer, Daniel G. Coro, Bronte McQueen, Karissa Deutrom, Christine Morris
This commentary outlines a successful case study of the collaborative work of research and advocacy in influencing changes in public health policy. It describes how the 2024 study on ‘junk food’ advertising across South Australian (SA) public transport (Coro et al., Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2024;36:e886) informed advocacy efforts that contributed to the introduction of a statewide policy, effective 1 July 2025, restricting such advertising on buses and trains.
{"title":"Bus Stops Here for Junk Food Advertising","authors":"Kristy Schirmer, Daniel G. Coro, Bronte McQueen, Karissa Deutrom, Christine Morris","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70141","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70141","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This commentary outlines a successful case study of the collaborative work of research and advocacy in influencing changes in public health policy. It describes how the 2024 study on ‘junk food’ advertising across South Australian (SA) public transport (Coro et al., <i>Health Promotion Journal of Australia</i> 2024;36:e886) informed advocacy efforts that contributed to the introduction of a statewide policy, effective 1 July 2025, restricting such advertising on buses and trains.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145716277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Renee N. Carey, Gemma Crawford, Nicola D'Orazio, Gina S. A. Trapp, Lauren Nimmo, Tina Lam, Jonine Jancey, Justine E. Leavy
Background
Advertising and marketing by the alcohol industry serve to normalise alcohol use, with exposure to alcohol advertising linked to earlier and riskier drinking among young people. Advertising that portrays alcohol use in and around waterways is of particular concern, with one in five fatal drownings being associated with alcohol.
Objective
This study aimed to explore the types of alcohol advertising that young people were exposed to, and to determine whether exposure to alcohol advertising was related to their alcohol use in aquatic environments.
Methods
We surveyed 102 young people aged 18 to 25 years attending a free event at a coastal location in Perth, Western Australia. Questions addressed demographics; participation in aquatic activities; alcohol use around water; recall of alcohol advertising; and social media engagement.
Results
Most participants recalled seeing alcohol advertisements often (n = 71, 69.6%) and had engaged with alcohol brands or products on social media, including viewing alcohol company-sponsored events (n = 66, 64.7%) and liking alcohol brand posts (n = 48, 47.1%). Sixty participants (58.5%) had consumed alcohol before or while participating in an aquatic activity in the past year. This behaviour was more common among those who reported higher engagement with alcohol brands on social media and a higher frequency of alcohol advertising recall.
Conclusions
These findings highlight the role of alcohol industry marketing in normalising alcohol use among young people. Our findings reinforce the need for advocacy and comprehensive marketing restrictions to counteract alcohol industry practices and reduce the risks associated with pervasive alcohol advertising within aquatic environments.
{"title":"Alcohol Advertising at the Beach: Insights From Young People in Western Australia","authors":"Renee N. Carey, Gemma Crawford, Nicola D'Orazio, Gina S. A. Trapp, Lauren Nimmo, Tina Lam, Jonine Jancey, Justine E. Leavy","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70129","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Advertising and marketing by the alcohol industry serve to normalise alcohol use, with exposure to alcohol advertising linked to earlier and riskier drinking among young people. Advertising that portrays alcohol use in and around waterways is of particular concern, with one in five fatal drownings being associated with alcohol.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to explore the types of alcohol advertising that young people were exposed to, and to determine whether exposure to alcohol advertising was related to their alcohol use in aquatic environments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We surveyed 102 young people aged 18 to 25 years attending a free event at a coastal location in Perth, Western Australia. Questions addressed demographics; participation in aquatic activities; alcohol use around water; recall of alcohol advertising; and social media engagement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most participants recalled seeing alcohol advertisements often (<i>n</i> = 71, 69.6%) and had engaged with alcohol brands or products on social media, including viewing alcohol company-sponsored events (<i>n</i> = 66, 64.7%) and liking alcohol brand posts (<i>n</i> = 48, 47.1%). Sixty participants (58.5%) had consumed alcohol before or while participating in an aquatic activity in the past year. This behaviour was more common among those who reported higher engagement with alcohol brands on social media and a higher frequency of alcohol advertising recall.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings highlight the role of alcohol industry marketing in normalising alcohol use among young people. Our findings reinforce the need for advocacy and comprehensive marketing restrictions to counteract alcohol industry practices and reduce the risks associated with pervasive alcohol advertising within aquatic environments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145726652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caroline Shaw, Ryan Gage, Alice Miller, Katherine Cullerton, Alex Macmillan
Objective
Transport is a major determinant of population and planetary health, causing significant and ongoing harm. The scale and pace of policy action to create a healthy, low-carbon transport system is inadequate. Using a commercial determinants of health framework may offer a useful approach to understand the lack of action to reduce this harm.
Methods
We examined the diaries of the Aotearoa New Zealand ministers of transport for 5 years to look at the interest groups they met with. Interest groups (IGs) were classified firstly into commercial, non-commercial or iwi/hapū (the Crown's Indigenous treaty partners) and, secondly, by the focus of the group.
Findings
Over the 5-year period, there were five ministers and associate ministers who encountered 974 transport-related IGs during 880 meetings. Most of these IGs (74%) were commercial (18% business associations and 56% firms). Health and safety organisations represented 3.6% of total encounters (health alone was 0.7%). The most common IG focus was air travel.
Conclusions and Implications for Health Promotion
Commercial IGs were heterogeneous, but they had opportunities to influence ministers of transport at three times the rate of non-commercial IGs. Efforts are needed to understand the absence of health IGs in these meetings and to increase the involvement of health in transport policy. Measures to increase transparency around corporate political activity are needed.
{"title":"Commercial Influences on Healthy Transport: Interest Group Engagement With Transport Ministers in Aotearoa/New Zealand 2017–2022","authors":"Caroline Shaw, Ryan Gage, Alice Miller, Katherine Cullerton, Alex Macmillan","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70140","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Transport is a major determinant of population and planetary health, causing significant and ongoing harm. The scale and pace of policy action to create a healthy, low-carbon transport system is inadequate. Using a commercial determinants of health framework may offer a useful approach to understand the lack of action to reduce this harm.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined the diaries of the Aotearoa New Zealand ministers of transport for 5 years to look at the interest groups they met with. Interest groups (IGs) were classified firstly into commercial, non-commercial or iwi/hapū (the Crown's Indigenous treaty partners) and, secondly, by the focus of the group.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Over the 5-year period, there were five ministers and associate ministers who encountered 974 transport-related IGs during 880 meetings. Most of these IGs (74%) were commercial (18% business associations and 56% firms). Health and safety organisations represented 3.6% of total encounters (health alone was 0.7%). The most common IG focus was air travel.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions and Implications for Health Promotion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Commercial IGs were heterogeneous, but they had opportunities to influence ministers of transport at three times the rate of non-commercial IGs. Efforts are needed to understand the absence of health IGs in these meetings and to increase the involvement of health in transport policy. Measures to increase transparency around corporate political activity are needed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145709787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lillian Newton, Katrina Filewood, Minh Pham, Amitabh Gupta, Jennifer Reath, Daniel Thomson
Issue Addressed
The use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programs is linked to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This study sought to understand the strengths within Aunty Roma's falls prevention program that have facilitated successful implementation, continued engagement and improved health outcomes. This study is the first to explore perspectives surrounding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander falls prevention program that has demonstrated long-term success in a hospital environment.
Methods
Indigenous methodologies were used to inform a qualitative descriptive research design and gather Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through a yarning circle and individual yarns. An Aboriginal Reference Group was established to provide community control over the research process and ensure prioritisation of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural values. Thematic analysis was used to produce key themes.
Results
Yarning was conducted with two healthcare workers and nine group members involved in Aunty Roma's. Themes emerging from the data included community ownership, staff commitment, cultural safety, flexibility, social connection and relationships and improved health access and outcomes.
Conclusions
This research demonstrates that through strong partnerships with staff and the community, and commitment to long-term implementation, hospital-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander falls prevention programs can be culturally safe and successful in the long term.
So What?
These findings will benefit the community involved through documentation of factors contributing to success, driving continual improvement of the program. The findings may also inform implementation of similar programs in the future.
{"title":"Factors Influencing Success and Long-Term Engagement With Aunty Roma's Falls Prevention Program","authors":"Lillian Newton, Katrina Filewood, Minh Pham, Amitabh Gupta, Jennifer Reath, Daniel Thomson","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70137","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70137","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Issue Addressed</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programs is linked to improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This study sought to understand the strengths within Aunty Roma's falls prevention program that have facilitated successful implementation, continued engagement and improved health outcomes. This study is the first to explore perspectives surrounding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander falls prevention program that has demonstrated long-term success in a hospital environment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Indigenous methodologies were used to inform a qualitative descriptive research design and gather Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through a yarning circle and individual yarns. An Aboriginal Reference Group was established to provide community control over the research process and ensure prioritisation of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural values. Thematic analysis was used to produce key themes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Yarning was conducted with two healthcare workers and nine group members involved in Aunty Roma's. Themes emerging from the data included community ownership, staff commitment, cultural safety, flexibility, social connection and relationships and improved health access and outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This research demonstrates that through strong partnerships with staff and the community, and commitment to long-term implementation, hospital-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander falls prevention programs can be culturally safe and successful in the long term.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> So What?</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings will benefit the community involved through documentation of factors contributing to success, driving continual improvement of the program. The findings may also inform implementation of similar programs in the future.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145702491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sharyn Burns, Roisin Glasgow-Collins, Hanna Saltis, Jacqueline Hendriks
Issue Addressed
School-based relationships and sexuality education (RSE) offers broad social, emotional and physical health benefits. However, many teachers feel unprepared to deliver comprehensive, contemporary RSE. To address this, the Curtin RSE Project supported schools in implementing whole-school RSE using a Health Promoting Schools framework, through a supported case study intervention.
Methods
A multiple, embedded case study design was employed to evaluate implementation in participating case study schools. Of the four schools recruited, data were collected from one primary and one secondary school. This paper reports on student surveys (Grades 6 and 7–12) and focus group discussions and interviews with teachers, parents and students (Grades 9–12). Descriptive statistics were generated for the surveys and reflexive thematic analysis conducted for qualitative data.
Results
Students found RSE relevant, though some reported discomfort during sessions. The breadth of RSE topics in the primary school increased post-intervention. Four themes were reflexively identified to understand RSE implementation: RSE is systematically not prioritised; Approaches to age-appropriate education; Schools are appropriate environments; and A whole-school approach for success.
Conclusions
Support from school leadership was essential for proper implementation of whole-school RSE, supported by passionate and well-supported school staff. Whole-school approaches ensured consistent messages within the school and home environment.
So What?
There is a pressing need to embed RSE in pre-service teacher education and to provide coordinated, ongoing professional learning for in-service teachers. Provision of technical support for schools facilitates implementation. These strategies will ensure delivery of contemporary, high-quality RSE and support sustainable whole-school implementation.
{"title":"Implementation of a Whole-School Relationship and Sexuality Education Project in Western Australian Schools: Evaluation Data From a Multiple, Embedded Case Study","authors":"Sharyn Burns, Roisin Glasgow-Collins, Hanna Saltis, Jacqueline Hendriks","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70138","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Issue Addressed</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>School-based relationships and sexuality education (RSE) offers broad social, emotional and physical health benefits. However, many teachers feel unprepared to deliver comprehensive, contemporary RSE. To address this, the Curtin RSE Project supported schools in implementing whole-school RSE using a Health Promoting Schools framework, through a supported case study intervention.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A multiple, embedded case study design was employed to evaluate implementation in participating case study schools. Of the four schools recruited, data were collected from one primary and one secondary school. This paper reports on student surveys (Grades 6 and 7–12) and focus group discussions and interviews with teachers, parents and students (Grades 9–12). Descriptive statistics were generated for the surveys and reflexive thematic analysis conducted for qualitative data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Students found RSE relevant, though some reported discomfort during sessions. The breadth of RSE topics in the primary school increased post-intervention. Four themes were reflexively identified to understand RSE implementation: <i>RSE is systematically not prioritised; Approaches to age-appropriate education; Schools are appropriate environments; and A whole-school approach for success.</i></p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Support from school leadership was essential for proper implementation of whole-school RSE, supported by passionate and well-supported school staff. Whole-school approaches ensured consistent messages within the school and home environment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> So What?</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There is a pressing need to embed RSE in pre-service teacher education and to provide coordinated, ongoing professional learning for in-service teachers. Provision of technical support for schools facilitates implementation. These strategies will ensure delivery of contemporary, high-quality RSE and support sustainable whole-school implementation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12676084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natalie Ball, Angela Gilmour, Caitlin Liddelow, Karena J. Burke, Megan F. Lee
Issue Addressed
The postpartum period, a time known to instil joy and fulfilment, is dominated by unreasonable and often unattainable expectations for mothers to achieve perfection across multiple domains. Despite prior research confirming that body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating and postpartum depression are prevalent in the postpartum, mothers remain pressured to maintain active and healthy lifestyles while juggling the demands of parenthood.
Methods
This qualitative phenomenological study investigated body image, eating attitudes and mental health of the lived experiences of 182 Australian postpartum women through open-ended survey questions. Mothers over 18 years (M = 33.50, SD = 7.22) with biological children under four years of age completed an online survey and were recruited through social media.
Results
Responses to six open-ended questions were examined using thematic template analysis, which generated three themes: (i) Grieving Old Self: Finding Acceptance Amidst Changes to Appearance, (ii) Convenience is Key: Balancing Child-Centred Nutrition and Mindful Choices Amid Time Constraints, and (iii) The Cognitive Load: Demands of Motherhood Supersede Positive Mental Health.
Conclusions
Findings demonstrated the complexities that mothers experience and emphasised that the postpartum period is a time of personal transformation and growth, as well as considerable vulnerability toward the development of adverse physical and psychological outcomes. Mothers continue to experience body image dissatisfaction, are too time-poor to eat healthily and are cognitively burdened by increased responsibility. So what? Significant attention and robust resources are needed from healthcare providers to mitigate these likely outcomes, offer preventative strategies to decrease risks to psychological health, and normalise mothers' experiences.
{"title":"“The Pressure to Do It All”: Qualitatively Exploring Body Image, Eating Attitudes and Mental Health in Postpartum Women","authors":"Natalie Ball, Angela Gilmour, Caitlin Liddelow, Karena J. Burke, Megan F. Lee","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Issue Addressed</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The postpartum period, a time known to instil joy and fulfilment, is dominated by unreasonable and often unattainable expectations for mothers to achieve perfection across multiple domains. Despite prior research confirming that body image dissatisfaction, disordered eating and postpartum depression are prevalent in the postpartum, mothers remain pressured to maintain active and healthy lifestyles while juggling the demands of parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This qualitative phenomenological study investigated body image, eating attitudes and mental health of the lived experiences of 182 Australian postpartum women through open-ended survey questions. Mothers over 18 years (<i>M</i> = 33.50, SD = 7.22) with biological children under four years of age completed an online survey and were recruited through social media.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Responses to six open-ended questions were examined using thematic template analysis, which generated three themes: (i) <i>Grieving Old Self: Finding Acceptance Amidst Changes to Appearance</i>, (ii) <i>Convenience is Key: Balancing Child-Centred Nutrition and Mindful Choices Amid Time Constraints</i>, and (iii) <i>The Cognitive Load: Demands of Motherhood Supersede Positive Mental Health</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings demonstrated the complexities that mothers experience and emphasised that the postpartum period is a time of personal transformation and growth, as well as considerable vulnerability toward the development of adverse physical and psychological outcomes. Mothers continue to experience body image dissatisfaction, are too time-poor to eat healthily and are cognitively burdened by increased responsibility. <b>So what?</b> Significant attention and robust resources are needed from healthcare providers to mitigate these likely outcomes, offer preventative strategies to decrease risks to psychological health, and normalise mothers' experiences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145655955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frith Klug, Sharonna Mossenson, Claire Elizabeth Pulker, Clare Whitton, Elizabeth J. Cook, Catrina McStay, Gina Trapp
Objective
Food environments are significant drivers of obesity and diet-related diseases, making them key targets for interventions that support healthier food choices. The role of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is pivotal in shaping community food environments. However, the specific intervention commitments of these authorities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify Western Australian (WA) LGA commitments to improve food environments, as specified in their Local Public Health Plans (LPHPs).
Methods
Between July and October 2023, all WA LGA (n = 139) websites were reviewed to identify publicly available LPHPs. All commitments relating to food environments were identified, summarised and thematically analysed using a document analysis methodology.
Results
Thirty-five percent of LGAs (n = 48) had publicly available LPHPs. Within these LPHPs, there were 11 food environment-related focus areas containing a total of 412 commitments. All LPHPs addressed at least two focus areas; the most prevalent being alcohol reduction (n = 44; 92%), food quality and safety (n = 43; 90%) and healthy food/drink policy or provision in LGA settings (n = 37; 77%). Overall, the commitments within each focus area lacked clarity and a clear strategy for how they would be achieved and evaluated.
Conclusion
It is commendable that WA LGAs are committed to enhancing food environments through their LPHPs. For their efforts to be successful, ensuring LPHPs are well-informed, adequately resourced and supported is essential.
So What?
Without increased support for LGAs to deliver on their LPHP commitments, food environment advancements may be limited. Future research should assess the implementation of LGA LPHP commitments and subsequent impacts.
{"title":"Commitments to Improve Food Environments in Western Australia: A Review of Local Government Public Health Plans","authors":"Frith Klug, Sharonna Mossenson, Claire Elizabeth Pulker, Clare Whitton, Elizabeth J. Cook, Catrina McStay, Gina Trapp","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70130","DOIUrl":"10.1002/hpja.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Food environments are significant drivers of obesity and diet-related diseases, making them key targets for interventions that support healthier food choices. The role of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is pivotal in shaping community food environments. However, the specific intervention commitments of these authorities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify Western Australian (WA) LGA commitments to improve food environments, as specified in their Local Public Health Plans (LPHPs).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Between July and October 2023, all WA LGA (<i>n</i> = 139) websites were reviewed to identify publicly available LPHPs. All commitments relating to food environments were identified, summarised and thematically analysed using a document analysis methodology.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Thirty-five percent of LGAs (<i>n</i> = 48) had publicly available LPHPs. Within these LPHPs, there were 11 food environment-related focus areas containing a total of 412 commitments. All LPHPs addressed at least two focus areas; the most prevalent being alcohol reduction (<i>n</i> = 44; 92%), food quality and safety (<i>n</i> = 43; 90%) and healthy food/drink policy or provision in LGA settings (<i>n</i> = 37; 77%). Overall, the commitments within each focus area lacked clarity and a clear strategy for how they would be achieved and evaluated.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>It is commendable that WA LGAs are committed to enhancing food environments through their LPHPs. For their efforts to be successful, ensuring LPHPs are well-informed, adequately resourced and supported is essential.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> So What?</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Without increased support for LGAs to deliver on their LPHP commitments, food environment advancements may be limited. Future research should assess the implementation of LGA LPHP commitments and subsequent impacts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145649681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
One-third of children in New Zealand (NZ) are overweight or obese, with suboptimal dietary patterns. The NZ government implemented the Healthy Active Learning (HAL) initiative and the ‘Healthy Food and Drink Guidance for Schools’ (2020) to improve school food environments. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these guidelines over 3 years.
Methods
A convenience sample of 89 primary schools (4.6% of NZ primary schools) provided menus at baseline (2020/2021) and follow-up (2023/2024). Food items were categorised according to the guidance using a traffic-light criteria (green, amber, red).
Results
‘Green’ menu items increased from 15.5% to 21.2%. ‘Amber’ items decreased from 44.4% to 33.8% (p = 0.005). ‘Red’ items showed minimal change (35.4% to 37.5%). There were reductions in the presence of sugar-sweetened beverages (40% to 31%) and ultra-processed savoury snacks (42% to 33%). Schools in affluent areas reduced ‘amber’ foods, while schools in high deprivation areas saw minimal change in ‘green’ foods (8.6% to 7.2%) and ‘red’ foods (32.4% to 29%).
Conclusions
The guidance implementation led to modest improvements in the healthiness of school menus, particularly reducing ‘amber’ foods and ultra-processed snacks. The limited increase in healthy ‘green’ foods and the persistent presence of unhealthy ‘red’ foods highlight the need for further intervention.
So What?
This study emphasises the importance of sustained efforts to improve the nutritional quality of school food, particularly in communities facing socioeconomic challenges. National consistency, monitoring, and feedback are needed to support policy implementation and ensure children have equitable access to healthy food at school.
{"title":"Three Years Later: Healthiness of Food in New Zealand Primary School Canteens Following Implementation of the Healthy Food and Drink Guidance","authors":"Danika Pillay, Ajmol Ali, Carol Wham","doi":"10.1002/hpja.70135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Issue Addressed</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>One-third of children in New Zealand (NZ) are overweight or obese, with suboptimal dietary patterns. The NZ government implemented the Healthy Active Learning (HAL) initiative and the ‘Healthy Food and Drink Guidance for Schools’ (2020) to improve school food environments. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these guidelines over 3 years.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A convenience sample of 89 primary schools (4.6% of NZ primary schools) provided menus at baseline (2020/2021) and follow-up (2023/2024). Food items were categorised according to the guidance using a traffic-light criteria (green, amber, red).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>‘Green’ menu items increased from 15.5% to 21.2%. ‘Amber’ items decreased from 44.4% to 33.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.005). ‘Red’ items showed minimal change (35.4% to 37.5%). There were reductions in the presence of sugar-sweetened beverages (40% to 31%) and ultra-processed savoury snacks (42% to 33%). Schools in affluent areas reduced ‘amber’ foods, while schools in high deprivation areas saw minimal change in ‘green’ foods (8.6% to 7.2%) and ‘red’ foods (32.4% to 29%).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The guidance implementation led to modest improvements in the healthiness of school menus, particularly reducing ‘amber’ foods and ultra-processed snacks. The limited increase in healthy ‘green’ foods and the persistent presence of unhealthy ‘red’ foods highlight the need for further intervention.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> So What?</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study emphasises the importance of sustained efforts to improve the nutritional quality of school food, particularly in communities facing socioeconomic challenges. National consistency, monitoring, and feedback are needed to support policy implementation and ensure children have equitable access to healthy food at school.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":47379,"journal":{"name":"Health Promotion Journal of Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145626374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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