Building and maintaining a strong health promotion and public health workforce is vital to improving health and wellbeing. The pandemic showed that public health expertise was critical, as was the importance of coordinated, multisectoral responses.

The National Preventive Health Strategy 2021 – 2030 listed ‘Enhanced public health workforce planning’ as a priority. The health promotion and public health workforce is broad and complex. It requires tailored support and development. The South Australian draft State Public Health Plan outlines public health workforce shortages, particularly in local government and environmental health. Preventive Health SA Strategic directions also highlight the importance of partnering across sectors, requiring a capable and competent workforce.

To improve health equity and preventive health, we call on the South Australian Government to develop a Health Promotion and Public Health Workforce Strategy.

With a new State Public Health Plan and a new Preventive Health SA plan in development, a dedicated workforce strategy is urgently needed. The evidence and directions for this work are clear. In 2022, Wellbeing SA commissioned the Australian Health Promotion Association to develop ‘An evidence-informed review to support the development of the South Australian Health Promotion Workforce’. The review’s first recommendation was to establish an advisory committee to develop a workforce strategy. This needs to become a reality.