Keep VicHealth Independent and Strong
Dear Premier
The most important thing is the health and wellbeing of our families and communities. That’s why it matters to all of us that there is a strong focus on keeping Victorians healthy and well.
For 40 years, VicHealth has been a world-leading health promotion agency at the forefront of campaigns and programs that have improved the health of people across the state, and saved countless Victorian lives.
VicHealth’s independence is critical to its impact – existing beyond four-year political terms, it has the ability to build enduring community partnerships, inform long-term strategy, and deliver programs that help more Victorians lead longer, healthier lives.
For these reasons, we call on you to keep VicHealth as a strong, independent and fully funded health promotion agency.
As the world’s first health promotion foundation, VicHealth has been instrumental in major reforms and initiatives, including the world-leading Quit and SunSmart programs, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, the This Girl Can Program to support Victorian women and girls to be active, and the first Victorian breast screening and cervical screening programs. Beginning with its bold move to replace tobacco billboard advertising with 200 VicHealth billboard advertisements in 1989, VicHealth has paved the way for innovative new approaches to health, benefiting the lives of many Victorians.
Today, VicHealth continues to work with community organisations, local governments, universities and charities to build healthier communities and address disadvantage. Its track record of driving change and creating impact is why other countries look to Victoria for guidance in establishing their own health promotion agencies.
The health challenges facing Victoria are growing and far reaching. They include increasing rates of chronic disease and mental health conditions, misinformation and disinformation, and overwhelmed hospital systems.
Now more than ever, prevention matters.
We need independent, trusted health bodies to provide advice, support community-based work, and lead policy development and research.
We are calling on you to maintain VicHealth as a stand-alone, fully funded health promotion agency, and withdraw any plans to absorb it into the Department of Health.
Yours sincerely
Carmel Guerra OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Multicultural Youth
Mary Nega, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic)
Farah Farouque, Chief Executive Officer, Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Juanita Pope, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS)
Greg Little, Chief Executive Officer, Grampians Community Health
Sean Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, Ballarat Community Health
Mandy Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer, Bendigo Community Health Services
Sue Clarke AM, Chair, Bendigo Foodshare
Mija Gwyn, Head, Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)
Katy Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Bellarine Community Health Ltd
Dr Stephen Judkin, Director, Regional emergency department
Professor Rob Moodie, Professor of Public Health, University of Melbourne
David Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer, National Heart Foundation
Dr Lisa Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Stroke Foundation
Dr Sarah White, Chief Executive Officer, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health
Dr Erin Lalor, Chief Executive Officer, Alcohol and Drug Foundation
Glen Ramos, President, Australian Health Promotion Association
Melissa Russell, President, Australian Epidemiology
Terry Slevin, Chief Executive Officer, Public Health Association of Australia
Professor Catherine Bennett, Distinguished Professor and Chair in Epidemiology, Deakin University
Tim Read, Victorian state MP, The Greens
Andrea McLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Better Health Network
Holly Donaldson, Executive Director, Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia
Professor Dan Lubman AM, Executive Clinical Director, Turning Point; Professor of Addiction Studies and Services, Monash University
Chris Christoforou, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Alcohol and Drugs Association
Chris Povey, Chief Executive Officer, Justice Connect
Selina Namchee, Executive Director, Australian Global Health Alliance
Chantella Perera, President, Women Sport Australia
Ayla Chorley, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)
Simone Heald, Chief Executive Officer, North Richmond Community Health
Trent Dean, Chief Executive Officer, Gateway Health
Natalie Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, Each
Sarah Loh, Chief Executive Officer, Softball Australia
Kent Burgess, Chief Executive Officer (interim), Thorne Harbor Health
Julie Edwards, Chief Executive Officer, Jesuit Social Services
Mark Powell, Chief Executive Officer, WRAD Health Inc
Martin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Gambling Reform
Laura Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Council on Smoking and Health
Paul Wappert, Chief Executive Officer (Interim), MCM Group
Dr Timothy Falzio, Doctor, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Dr Rosemary Stanton, Public health nutritionist, Senior Visiting Fellow, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales
Steven Allender, Distinguished Professor, Deakin University
Mariam Hachem, President, Public Health Association of Australia Victorian Branch
Melinda Edmunds, Immediate Past President, Australian Health Promotion Association
Michael Abramson AM, Emeritus Professor of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Mark Lawrence, Professor of Ecological Nutrition (1 of 3 inaugural VicHealth fellowship recipients), Deakin University
Professor James Smith, Global Vice President – Scientific Affairs, International Union for Health Promotion and Education; Life member, Australian Health Promotion Association
Billie Giles-Corti, Professor Emerita, RMIT
Adrian Cameron, Professor of Public Health, Deakin University
Jo Barraket AM, Professor and Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Colin Bell, Professor of Public Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University
Christine Parker, Professor of Law, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
Colin MacDougall, Emeritus Professor of Public Health, Flinders University
Amanda Lee, Emeritus Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
Fran Baum AO, Professor and Director Stretton Health Equity, Adelaide University
Professor Chris Browne, Professor Emeritus, Monash University
Kathryn Backholer, Professor of Public Health, Deakin University
Professor Simone Pettigrew, Program Director, Food Policy, The George Institute for Global Health
Michelle Jongenelis, Associate Professor / Acting Director, Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, The University of Melbourne
Caterina Giorgi, Partner, For Purpose
Nick Rose, Co-founder and Executive Director, Sustain the Australian Food Network
Serene Yoong, Associate Professor, Deakin University
Becky Freeman, Professor, University of Sydney
Angela Dawson, Professor of Public health, UTS
Holly Wild, Lecturer – Public Health & Health Promotion, Monash University
Megan Hammersley, Lecturer, Public Health, University of Wollongong
Linda Slack-Smith, Professor, University of Western Australia
Deborah Gleeson, Associate Professor in Public Health, Department of Public Health, La Trobe University
Basia Diug, Professor, Monash University
Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, The George Institute for Global Health
Jennifer Lacy-Nichols, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Melissa Ensink, Lecturer, Health Promotion, Deakin University
Mark Chenery, Co-founder and Director, Common Cause Australia
Ness Vaughan, Senior Lecturer Global Health, University of Western Australia; Deakin University (Adjunct)
Dr Kelly Donati, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University
Wendy Steele, Professor, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT
Nafisa Anvar, Researcher, First Person Consulting
Joanne Flavel, Senior Research Fellow, Adelaide University
Ashleigh Haynes, Senior Research Fellow, Cancer Council Victoria
Jennifer Browne, Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University
Sabrina Gupta, Senior lecturer and International Partnerships Coordinator/Dr, La Trobe University
Gary Sacks, Professor of Public Health Policy, Deakin University
Sharon Friel, Professor of Health Equity and Director Australian Research Centre for Health Equity, Australian National University
Pip Henderson, Researcher, Flinders University
Aimee Brownbill, ARC Early Career Industry Fellow, The University of Queensland
Dr. Connie Musolino, Research Fellow, Stretton Health Equity, Adelaide University
Natalie Jovanovski, Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University
Penny Robinson, Lecturer & Biostatistician, SPHPM, Monash University
Charles Livingstone, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Michael Livingston, Associate Professor, National Drug Research Institute
Melanie Davern, Professor, RMIT University
Lennert Veerman, Professor of Public Health, Griffith University
Cathy Vaughan, Professor, The University of Melbourne
Lucy Wickham, Project Manager, Public Health
Le Smith, National Manager Health and Wellbeing, Heart Foundation
Joseph Lea, Consultant, First Person Consulting
Josephine Chau, Associate Professor, Macquarie University
Claudia Strugnell, Associate Professor, Deakin University
Toby Freeman, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide
Sharon Clifford, Research fellow/Project manager, Monash University
Sally Fitzpatrick MPH GCULT DrPH, Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Studies, University of Technology Sydney
Matt Healey, Principal Consultant, First Person Consulting
Bethany Howard, Senior Lecturer, Monash University
Dr Shaan Naughton, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Dr Christina Zorbas, Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University
Jill Darby, Adjunct Lecturer, Edith Cowan University
Mark Robinson, Principal Research Fellow / Associate Professor, University of Queensland
Dr Julia McCartan, Senior Lecturer, Monash University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
Madeline Forbes, Senior Health Practitioner
Shankar Kasynathan, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice
Krisha Thakor, Researcher, CAPHIA
Judy Currey, Deakin University
Karyn Knight, Health Planner, Kingston City Council
Lauren Fortington, Research, Independent consultant
Jacqui McCallum, Executive Director Brand, Communications and Advocacy, Stroke Foundation
Dr Sue Kleve, Course Director Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and Senior Lecturer – Community and Public Health, Dept. Of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University
Shirley Phan, Senior Facilities Presentation Coordinator, Monash University
Tania Lewis, Professor, RMIT University
Jill Stark, Director, Stark Words
Aurélie Pankowiak, VicHealth research fellow, Victoria University
Ben Harris-Roxas, Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney
Dr Alexandra Jones, Chair and Co-Founder, Friends of Really Excellent Dentistry (FRED)
Jo Le, Co-Founder, Friends of Really Excellent Dentistry (FRED)
Mary Brushe, Epidemiologist, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Galina Daraganova, Executive Director, SEMPHN
Susan Paudel, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Cara Busst, Director, Implementation Science, Movember
Ken Winkel, Associate Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Hailey Docking, Health Promotion Officer, Alfred Health
Jennyann North, Educator, Peninsula Grammar
Dr Emily Denniss, Lecturer, Deakin University
Leah Galvin, Food systems consultant, Leah Galvin Consulting
Mark Zirnsak, Senior Social Justice Advocate, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Nason Maani, Senior Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy, University of Edinburgh
Richard Franklin, Professor – Public Health, James Cook University
Sharon Kemboi, CAPHEN member, CAPHIA
Anna Ugalde, Professor, Deakin University
Drew Meehan, Lecturer, Public Health, La Trobe University
Stephanie Partridge, Researcher/Associate Professor, The University of Sydney
Cilla Haywood, Geriatrician, Austin Health
Lulu Chen, Student, University of Melbourne
Robyn McNeil, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne
Aneta Stefanidis, Lead, Research Funding and Performance, Deakin University
Rebecca Ivers, Professor of Public Health, UNSW Sydney
Ms Lisa Brassington, MPIA., Strategic & Sustainability Food Systems Facilitator, AGperiurban AGRIbusiness
Lukas Parker, Associate Professor – Communication, RMIT University
Dylan Lissek, Program Facilitator, KIP
Tadele Anagaw, PhD candidate, Curtin University
Tess Devine-Hercus, Knowledge Translation Project Officer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Claire Henderson-Wilson, Associate Professor, Deakin University
Daniel Hunt, Senior Adjunct Fellow, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland
Elizabeth Boutros, PhD Student and casual academic, La Trobe University
Melissa Kennedy, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Natalie Arambasic, Community engagement worker, Wellways
Jack W Rowland, Research and community support lead, Marlee
J Adamm Ferrier, Course Coordinator, Master of Health Administration, La Trobe University
Sean Docking, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
Vidanka Vasilevski, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Sarah Jackson, Director, Jackson Pearse Policy and Communications
Alison McAleese, Public Health Dietitian, Independent
Amy Carrad, Research Fellow, ANU
Sheila Duffy, CEO, ASH Scotland, UK
Hira Aslam, Public health specialist, Deakin university
Tesfaye Feyissa, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Andrew Butt, Professor of Urban Planning, RMIT University
Erika Martino, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Melbourne
Lesley Hendy, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University
Oliver Grozdanoski, Chief Information Officer, CBM Australia
Ngaire Bissett, Senior Academic Convenor, Central Queensland University
Rachel Laws, Associate Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Deakin University
Elissa Hill, Freelance editor and copywriter, Elissa Hill Communications
Alexandra Chung, Senior Lecturer, former VicHealth Research Fellow, Monash University
Tan Nguyen, PhD Candidate, Monash University
John Linton, Managing Partner, Berlin Creative
Navoda Liyana Pathirana, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University
Julia Anaf, Research fellow, Stretton Health Equity
Cecily Maller, Professor, Associate Dean Research and Innovation, RMIT university
Stephanie Kilpatrick, Chair, Program Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Health Sciences, Victoria University
Kasey Cutler, Nutritionist & Master of Dietetics Student, Deakin University
Paddy Dempsey, NHMRC Research Fellow, Deakin University / Baker Institute
Phillip Baker, ARC Future Fellow, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Anshul Kaul, Doctor (career break)
Cassandra de Lacy-Vawdon, Lecturer, La Trobe University
Professor Dr Muhammad Aziz Rahman, Professor of Public Health and Associate Dean of Research, Federation University Australia
Christina Pollard, Professor of Public Health Priorities, Curtin University
Jennifer Halliday, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Vaishali Ravichandran, Co-founder, Evidexa solutions
John Oldroyd, Senior Lecturer, Australian Catholic University
Bettina Backman, Associate Research Fellow and PhD candidate, Deakin University
Karen Lee, Dr, University of Sydney
Deanne McMullen, Advanced Health Promotion Officer, Queensland Health
Merran Blair, Dietitian, Monash University
Dr Benjamin Wood, Research Fellow, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
Rae Allen, Nutritionist, Rae Allen
Professor Hannah Badland, Director, Social Equity Research Centre, RMIT
Lauren Dempsey
Dana Young, Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Taylah Gregory, Public health research student & Project Officer, University of South Australia
Julian Cleary, Public Policy Officer
Edwina Pearse, Director, Jackson Pearse Policy and Communications
Sally Pymer, Professional Speaker / Empowerment Coach, Empowered with Sally
Linny Phuong, Paediatric infectious diseases physician, The Water Well Project
Catherine Chamberlain, Professor Indigenous Health Equity, University of Melbourne
Miranda Blake, Australian Research Council DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University
Dr Penny Gleeson, Academic, Deakin Law School
Rebecca Segrave, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
Darren Ong, Researcher & Medical Student, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute & Australian National University
Penny Farrell, Dr, Sydney School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre
Ghazaleh Dashti, Senior Research Fellow/ Dr, MCRI and University of Melbourne
Kudzai Kanhutu, Associate Professor, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Michelle Morgan, Public health professional
Damon Chester, Operations Director, YLab
Matt Coffey, Indigenous Outreach and Education Coordinator, ARC Centre of Excellence MACSYS
Talya Hamid, Nutrition Student, Monash University
Lisa Moran, Professor, Monash University
Santhiya Subramaniam, Business Support Administrator, Agency staff for Govt orgs
Adriana Ridzwan, Senior Policy and Project Officer, Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Sarah Lausberg, Sessional Academic, LaTrobe University
Seema Khadka, PhD Candidate, Deakin University
Professor Nicholas Carah, Director of Centre for Digital Cultures and Societies, The University of Queensland
Katherine Cullerton, Associate Professor, University of Queensland
Zerina Lokmic-Tomkins, A/Prof (Maternal and Child Health Adaptation and Resilience), Monash University
Dr Samantha Chakraborty, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University, Cochrane Australia
Dr Jude Ball, Senior Research Fellow, Public Health, University of Otago
Lidia Engel, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
Michelle Brownstein, Community Engagement Manager/Nutritionist, Farm My School
John Hedley, Group Manager Support Services, Western District Health Service
Mahisha Lim, Health educator/ Pharmacist, The Water Well Project/Eastern Health
Robyn Preston, Senior Lecturer, Public Health, CQUniversity
Natalia Radywyl, Assoc. Professor, RMIT
Carmel Williams, Director, Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation, Adelaide University and SAHMRI
Dr Sophie Lamond, Food Systems Researcher, Freelance
Matthew Fisher, Senior Research Fellow, Adelaide University
Gemma Tarpey-Brown, PhD Candidate, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
Adam Jay, Director, Cocreate Catalyst
Sheridan Rodda, Pharmacist and researcher, Monash University
Tiana Felmingham, Lecturer, Deakin University
Emmeline Taptiklis, Public Health Nutritionist, Health Coalition Aotearoa
Emma Truong, Marketing Manager, Rylock Pry Ltd
Elizabeth Zuccala, Senior Deputy Medical Editor, Medical Journal of Australia
Zanfina Ademi, Professor of Health Economics, Monash University
Bill Lam, Health Promotion Project Officer, Deakin University
Nicola Creagh, Research Fellow, University of Sydney
Diane Bakon, Public Health Student, Student
Brian O’Sullivan, ED, People, Communications and Engagement Services, South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network
Martin Tomko, Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne
Kirsty Lawson, Advocate, Aged Rights Advocacy Service
Evie Kendal, Senior Lecturer of Health Promotion, Swinburne University of Technology
Katherine Cummings, Digital Project Manager, Breast Cancer Network Australia
Caitlin Ogdon, Anthropology student, Deakin University
Rebecca Lindberg, Senior lecturer, Deakin University
Naomi Hull, RN, MPH, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney
Molly Fairweather, Research Officer, Public Health Nutrition, Monash University
Georgina Lau, Research Fellow, Monash University
Ellen Rawsthorne, Public health graduate
Troy Walker, Clinician and senior research fellow, Deakin University
Caroline de Moel, Lecturer Public Health, La Trobe University
Melanie Lacomel, Health Promotion Officer, Alfred Health
Dr Christina Watts, Research Fellow, The University of Sydney
Vicki Brown, Senior Research Fellow, Deakin Univerity
Dr Erica Reeve, Academic, Deakin University
Elise Rivera, Lecturer in Public Health, Central Queensland University
Katherine Trebeck, Advocate for a more humane economy, TNE/ University of Edinburgh
Lauren Monaghan, Manager: Policy, Strategy and Research, Diabetes Victoria
Georgia Bartlett, Researcher, University of Melbourne
Mascha Friderichs, Lecturer Public Health, Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Anja Bless, Lecturer, University of Technology Sydney
Elke Johnson, Project Officer, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Priscila Machado, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Dr Kate Sievert, Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University
Annika Molenaar, Sessional Academic, Monash University
Georgia Savage, CEO, The Community Grocer
Belinda Tassone, Senior Policy Advisor
Hannah Woerle, Public Health Lecturer, Menzies School of Health Research
Sam Cassar, LecturerPublic Health, CQUniversity
Rachel Dale, Media and Comms Lead and Centre for Non-Violence, Centre for Non-Violence
Charlene Edwards, Manager, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Hannah Pierce, Executive Officer, Alcohol Change Australia
Carla Italia, Coordinator, Alcohol Change Victoria
Jasmine Chan, Research Fellow, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Deakin University
Anne-Marie Laslett, Professor, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University
Kelly Allen, Course Director, Bachelor of Public Health, Monash University, Monash University
Phuong Nguyen, Research Fellow, Deakin University
Hannah Wechkunanukul, Associate Professor, Torrens University Australia/CAPHIA
Nicole Bruges, Academic, Deakin University
Ruby Healey, Senior Studio Manager, YLab
Jessica Watterson, Senior Lecturer, Deakin University
Angela Taylor, Monash University
Elizabeth Haris, Academic, University of Melbourne
Sam Mckay, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Erica Neill, Researcher, University of Melbourne/ Orygen Youth Mental Health
Katrina, Senior Research Fellow in Suicide Prevention, Orygen
Dr Vivien Santer, Doctor (retired)
Lucy Westerman, Public health consultant and lecturer
Carolyn Revill, Research Assistant, WA Register of Developmental Anomalies
Joanna Hatcher, PhD Candidate and Public Health Practitioner, RMIT
Monique Boatwright, PhD Candidate / Research Officer, The University of Sydney
Stacey Holden, Dietitian/Educator & Research, Eastern Health & Monash University
Caitlin Montgomery, Student, University of Technology
Gabrielle Anand, Public Health Graduate, The Council of Ambulance Authorities
Laura Duff, Public Health Nutritionist
Jess Smith, Lived Experience Consultant
Camilo Cayazaya, Public Health Strategy and Partnerships
Tanuja Ramaswamy, Public health graduate, Deakin alumni
Asad Yusoff, PhD student, The George Institute for Global Health
Nadia Laznik, FoodSwitch Database Administrator, The George Institute for Global Health
Inez Rojas, Research Assistant, The George Institute for Global Health
Kristy Law, PhD candidate, The George Institute for Global Health
Kathy Trieu, Program Lead, Nutrition Implementation Research and Director of WHO Collaborating Centre on Salt Reduction, The George Institute for Global Health
Antonia Thodis, Research Fellow and Dietitian, The George Institute for Global Health
F Taylor, Managing Director, Food Switch, The George Institute for Global Health
Megan Gow, Senior Research Fellow, The George Institute for Global Health
Marina Padovan, Research Assistant, The George Institute for Global Health
Dr Annet Hoek, Program Engagement Manager, The George Institute for Global Health Kim Glover, PhD candidate and and accredited practicing dietitian