Background:

Health Promotion has suffered significant cuts in recent times, notably in South Australia and Queensland. However, it has survived and there has even been some optimism and energy emerging from these communities of health promoters. How do we harness these positives and find new ways of fulfilling our aims as an organisation? What do we need to keep from our past and what might we need to let go of if we are to thrive into the future?

Methods:

In order to engage attendees in problem solving for their community of practise a World Café approach built around 4 of the conference key themes is planned. What smart systems and creative solutions (new partnerships? New approaches?) are needed or emerging? What is the role of legendary leadership – building on the past while looking to the future; and what language do we need to be mindful of?

Attendees would have 10 minutes per table to respond to these themes using a framework of Head (thinking), Heart (values), Handbag (practical what next’s) and Bin (what might we need to leave).

Results/Discussions:

At the end of each 10 minute round the table facilitator would summarise the input from that round. The last 20-30 minutes of the session would focus on collating and summarising the overall input and discussing with participants what next steps could or should be taken.

Conclusions/implications:

The Health Promotion community needs to be like the chameleon – changing to suit its environment whilst not losing its substance of principles and values so that we can thrive into the foreseeable future.