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For 40 years, VicHealth has stood out as one of the most influential health promotion organisations in the world – an agency whose vision, independence and innovation have shaped not only the health of Victorians, but global approaches to preventing illness. VicHealth has put Victoria on the map as a public health leader.
As the world’s first health promotion foundation, and as a designated WHO Collaborating Centre, VicHealth has contributed expertise, leadership and evidence to health promotion systems globally. Other states and countries continue to look at VicHealth as a model for how strong, independent prevention agencies can shift population health outcomes.
VicHealth’s global significance is matched by its local impact. Its independence – operating beyond electoral cycles – has been central to its ability to build trusted community relationships, catalyse long-term reforms, and respond rapidly to emerging public health threats. The independence is not symbolic; it is functional. It enables VicHealth to undertake and facilitate research, support healthy policy development and deepen community partnerships that government departments or academic units alone cannot replicate.
VicHealth has contributed to many of Victoria’s most important public health achievements, often exported and lauded globally in public health: world-leading tobacco control reforms, SunSmart efforts, the establishment of Quit Victoria, support for healthy food and physical activity programs such as the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, and early leadership in cancer screening initiatives. More recently, VicHealth has been an international leader on action to protect young people: advocating for strong measures on vaping, supporting a ban on under-16s accessing harmful social media platforms (a world first), and advancing work on the commercial determinants of health.
These achievements matter now more than ever. Australia – and the world – faces rising rates of chronic disease and mental health conditions, widening inequities, increasing misinformation and disinformation, climate change, a retreat from science, and significant pressure on hospitals and health systems. Prevention is the most effective, equitable and sustainable response to reducing the impact of chronic conditions. It requires long-term thinking, trust, and independent institutions with the ability to lead, convene and innovate.
Therefore the proposed move to absorb VicHealth into the Department of Health raises serious concerns. In Victoria without VicHealth’s independent, prevention-focused leadership, who will fulfil these essential functions including meeting the requirements of Australia’s National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030?
Globally VicHealth has driven evidence-based prevention, championed community-based programs AND held commercial interests to account with significant work made by them around defining and pursuing the commercial determinants of health. The VicHealth-funded Lancet Series on Commercial Determinants of Health has contributed to health equity scholarship, policy and thinking well beyond Victorian and Australian borders. The Alliance and the global health community at large have benefited enormously from the efforts of a local initiative that has grown into a credible global public good.
The Alliance therefore calls on the Victorian Government to protect VicHealth’s independence and preserve its role as the strong, impactful and globally respected prevention agency it has been for so long.
