We see health in a very broad context

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organisation as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organisation, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion

The first International Conference on Health Promotion, meeting in Ottawa on the 21st of November 1986, developed a Charter for action to achieve Health for All by the year 2000 and beyond. This Charter continues to form the basis for much of ACON’s work.

Prerequisites for Health

The prerequisites for health are:

• peace
• shelter
• education
• food
• income
• a stable eco-system
• sustainable resources
• social justice and equity

Definition of Health Promotion

Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realise aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is, therefore, seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living.

Health is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. Therefore, health promotion is not just the responsibility of the health sector, but goes beyond healthy lifestyles to wellbeing.

More info

Contact: ACON's Media and Communications Team

Tel: (02) 9206 2001
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2053

Email: mbadorrek@acon.org.au