Health Promoter Kaiwhakatairanga Hauora

Health promoters work with communities and groups to develop ways to improve people’s health. They also work with government agencies to improve environmental conditions.

Health promoters may do some or all of the following:

  • develop policies, strategies and programmes for improving health
  • work with other agencies to co-ordinate health promotion programmes
  • work alongside schools and community groups to identify health issues and solutions
  • manage health promotion programmes
  • advocate and lobby for health promotion causes
  • establish networks in the community
  • develop promotional and educational material for publication.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for health promoters includes:

  • work in health
  • teaching
  • work with government agencies, charities or community groups
  • involvement in community health promotion activities.

As many health promoters work in a specific area of health, such as helping people to stop smoking, or with a particular sector of the community, such as children, experience in these areas or with these groups is useful.

Personal Qualities

Health promoters need to be:

  • excellent communicators
  • good at planning
  • outgoing and confident, with an interest in health improvement
  • able to work with a wide range of people from different cultures and backgrounds
  • able to motivate others.

Skills

Health promoters need to have:

  • an understanding of different cultural approaches to health
  • knowledge of the health system and political environment
  • knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Ottawa Charter of Health (used in New Zealand for planning public health)
  • project management skills
  • evaluation skills, for assessing how effective their programmes are
  • facilitation and negotiation skills.

 

Conditions

Health promoters:

  • usually work regular business hours, but have to work evenings and weekends to attend community meetings or events
  • work from offices but also in the community at places like schools, rest homes and marae.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a health promoter. However, health education, biology, chemistry, te reo Māori, home economics (food and nutrition), and social studies are useful. 

Health Promoters can earn around $58K-$86K per year.

Health promoters working for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ (former DHBs)

  • Qualified health promoters usually earn $58,000 to $86,000 a year.
  • Senior health promoters who supervise staff can earn $87,000 to $119,000.

Sources: Auckland Region District Health Boards/PSA, ‘Allied, Public Health, Scientific & Technical Multi Employer Collective Agreement, expires 30 June 2023’, 2022; and District Health Boards/PSA, ‘Allied, Public Health, Scientific & Technical Multi Employer Collective Agreement, expires 30 June 2023’, 2022.

Health promoters may progress to work in managerial positions.

They may work with certain groups or with topics such as:

  • family violence
  • alcohol and tobacco use
  • mental health
  • healthy housing
  • community development.

Years Of Training

1-3 years of training usually required.

There are no specific entry requirements to become a health promoter. However, employers often prefer you to have a health promotion qualification such as a New Zealand Certificate in Public Health and Health Promotion (Level 5).

A certificate, diploma or degree in a related area can also be useful. Related subject areas include:

  • social sciences
  • education
  • public health
  • health sciences
  • nursing.

It is also useful to have experience in a related field such as:

  • child health
  • youth work
  • community housing
  • nutrition.

Some health promoters learn skills on the job while studying toward a relevant qualification.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children. 

Health Promoter