Ah... this question.
Anyone who has studied Public Health will have had this discussion at family gatherings and struggled to convey the purpose of public health or health promotion.
First, what public health isn't.
It isn't the opposite of Private Health Insurance (it isn't Medicare).
It isn't an Arts Degree.....although job opportunities.... anyway,
It is...
Health on everything from a community scale to a global scale.
The importance of healthy eating, immunisations, seatbelts, physical activity, drinking in moderation, avoiding cigarettes and illicit drugs, tackling the rise and rise in gambling, creating good sexual health, promoting social inclusion and encouraging good mental health... and so much more! It's everywhere! And the jobs? They are promoting these important messages!
And where are the jobs?
Well, I'm not a leading authority on that quite yet. Maybe ask someone else that one.
But typically, they are in local or state government, or non-for profits such as The Cancer Council, The Asthma Foundation, The Heart Foundation etc.
The good news is that Victoria and Australia are the world leaders in this! Plain packaging? Yeah that was us. Seatbelt laws in cars? Us too! The first town in Victoria to add fluoride to the water - my hometown! I was born to do this.
Now, all that remains is some sexy employer (yes, I'm looking at you, future employer, with your great taste in blazers and dresses/perfectly manicured facial hair (literally just read whatever you want to read in that section) to see how enthusiastic I am - and that I know my stuff, and to give me a job! Easy, right?
April 20, 2015
Health Promotion Begins At Home
Like many people, I knew that I needed to do more physical activity, but found that I had little to no motivation to do it. I also knew that some of those closest to me, my amazing immediate family, could also afford to make more time in their days to keep active and get moving. This had been a frequent topic of conversation for my fiance and I - and about 2 months ago I found a device that proved to be very handy to our goals!
While out for dinner, an old manager showed me her Fitbit - I had heard of these of course, but had dismissed them as a glorified pedometer. What my boss showed me however was the mobile application that went alongside it - and the option to compete with friends in weekly challenges.
Again, like many people, I have a competitive streak, and knew that my family did too, and as I turned this over in my brain, I began to develop a plan to keep us moving, and thus, Wit-Bit was born (a play on Fitbit and the family name!)
We are about to run our first Wit-Bit challenge in the month of May. Each player contributes $30 for the month, and prizes are awarded for the most steps at the end of the four week period, first prize is a $60 A-Mart Sports Voucher to purchase new active clothing and shoes etc, and goes down to the lowest performing competitor who receives only a $10 Boost gift card. This is based on a 'sweep' type competition, similar to those held for the Melbourne Cup (though this a game of skill!)
I can see competitions such as this having a multitude of applications, most particularly in workplaces. Rather than employers shelling out money for incentives and awards for keeping their employees moving, it comes from within - it really gives the individuals something at stake - Can they win? Can they beat Shelly over in Human Resources? Will they get their money back, double it, or lose it? As we know from our old mate, the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change (my favorite) this type of activity can assist in moving individuals from precontemplation and contemplation stages to preparation and action stages - this might be the trigger they need to act upon to make changes to their health.
So far? I am averaging 10,000 steps a day - and I go out of my way to top my steps up when I have slow days. My Mum is comprehensively beating our collective asses, jumping on the previously un-used treadmill and racking up 6000+ steps before I even put my tracker on.
What health promotion initiatives have you started at home with your friends and family? How did it work? Did you see changes? I would love to hear from anyone who had, and of course, I would love to hear from any future employers too!
While out for dinner, an old manager showed me her Fitbit - I had heard of these of course, but had dismissed them as a glorified pedometer. What my boss showed me however was the mobile application that went alongside it - and the option to compete with friends in weekly challenges.
My actual app activity today - probably not my actual weight - I don't own scales!
Again, like many people, I have a competitive streak, and knew that my family did too, and as I turned this over in my brain, I began to develop a plan to keep us moving, and thus, Wit-Bit was born (a play on Fitbit and the family name!)
We are about to run our first Wit-Bit challenge in the month of May. Each player contributes $30 for the month, and prizes are awarded for the most steps at the end of the four week period, first prize is a $60 A-Mart Sports Voucher to purchase new active clothing and shoes etc, and goes down to the lowest performing competitor who receives only a $10 Boost gift card. This is based on a 'sweep' type competition, similar to those held for the Melbourne Cup (though this a game of skill!)
The sick-as runners I am going to buy myself when I win
I can see competitions such as this having a multitude of applications, most particularly in workplaces. Rather than employers shelling out money for incentives and awards for keeping their employees moving, it comes from within - it really gives the individuals something at stake - Can they win? Can they beat Shelly over in Human Resources? Will they get their money back, double it, or lose it? As we know from our old mate, the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change (my favorite) this type of activity can assist in moving individuals from precontemplation and contemplation stages to preparation and action stages - this might be the trigger they need to act upon to make changes to their health.
My willingness to give up jam donuts sits somewhere between the number 1 and the word precontemplation. Which is to say I will not give them up. Ha.
So far? I am averaging 10,000 steps a day - and I go out of my way to top my steps up when I have slow days. My Mum is comprehensively beating our collective asses, jumping on the previously un-used treadmill and racking up 6000+ steps before I even put my tracker on.
What health promotion initiatives have you started at home with your friends and family? How did it work? Did you see changes? I would love to hear from anyone who had, and of course, I would love to hear from any future employers too!
April 18, 2015
Sarah Wittick is ... seeking employment
It's now 6 months since I completed my degree in Public Health at La Trobe University. I aced the course - finishing with a High Distinction average grade, a scholarship for academic excellence, and my lecturers standing behind me as willing referees, yet employment in this field is still elusive.
In the past 6 months, I was shortlisted for one position, (prior to interviews) and interviewed for another. In feedback from the interview, I was told that my application and interview were excellent, but another candidate had more experience.
Unfortunately, this seems to continuously be the problem - in a profession devoid of graduate specific jobs - and despite the two additional work experience placements I did voluntarily alongside my degree - one in Local Government, and another for a non-for profit community organisation.
I know from my studies that having gainful employment is key to happiness and good mental health, and while I love my retail job and the amazing people I work with, it breaks my heart to go to work each day and upsell customers on additional pairs of socks, when I know that I should be upselling the community on better health!
I am applying for an average of one-two positions a week, though many ask for qualifications and experience I do not have- and will not have until I am given an opportunity to develop -such as experience with database software, experience coordinating volunteers, minimum seven years experience, etc. I have now decided to take the application process into my own hands and put myself out there instead of waiting for positions to become available to showcase my talents.
I am passionate, hard working, personable, have a good understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of public health issues and I inherently know that I will make an excellent employee for whoever takes a chance on a graduate student.
Which is why I began this blog. I plan to build this blog into a journey of my experiences in seeking employment in the Health Promotion/Public Health/Community Development field - and turn this into a social media campaign!
In the past 6 months, I was shortlisted for one position, (prior to interviews) and interviewed for another. In feedback from the interview, I was told that my application and interview were excellent, but another candidate had more experience.
Unfortunately, this seems to continuously be the problem - in a profession devoid of graduate specific jobs - and despite the two additional work experience placements I did voluntarily alongside my degree - one in Local Government, and another for a non-for profit community organisation.
I know from my studies that having gainful employment is key to happiness and good mental health, and while I love my retail job and the amazing people I work with, it breaks my heart to go to work each day and upsell customers on additional pairs of socks, when I know that I should be upselling the community on better health!
I am applying for an average of one-two positions a week, though many ask for qualifications and experience I do not have- and will not have until I am given an opportunity to develop -such as experience with database software, experience coordinating volunteers, minimum seven years experience, etc. I have now decided to take the application process into my own hands and put myself out there instead of waiting for positions to become available to showcase my talents.
I am passionate, hard working, personable, have a good understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of public health issues and I inherently know that I will make an excellent employee for whoever takes a chance on a graduate student.
Which is why I began this blog. I plan to build this blog into a journey of my experiences in seeking employment in the Health Promotion/Public Health/Community Development field - and turn this into a social media campaign!
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