AUT and the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) have signed a relationship agreement, establishing a formal partnership between the HPA and AUT Centre for eHealth. L-R: HPA CEO Clive Nelson, AUT Dean of Health and Environmental Sciences Professor Max Abbott and Director of AUT’s Centre for eHealth Associate Professor Duncan Babbage.
AUT and the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) have signed a relationship agreement, establishing a formal partnership between the HPA and AUT Centre for eHealth.
Established in 2012, the HPA is a Crown entity that exists to empower communities and develop self-help tools in the area of public health. Their main activities consist of the promotion of health and wellbeing, and encouraging healthy lifestyles – making them the perfect partner for the AUT Centre for eHealth.
Both AUT and the HPA are in the business of behaviour change according to HPA CEO, Clive Nelson.
“Essentially, we are pushing the right levers to persuade people to take that first step towards a healthier life.”
The two bodies work closely with industry partners and whānau communities, creating opportunities for the public to pursue their own health and wellbeing.
The core vision and goals of the HPA are also closely aligned with those of AUT. Both institutions are fully committed to ensuring effective and positive change in the community. The newly formed partnership will allow both parties to explore new areas of research, partnered with practical clinical trials to deliver a wholly formed approach to public health.
The partnership also fits in well with the recently released new New Zealand Health Strategy which identifies five strategic themes as key to a successful health strategy: people-powered; closer to home; value and high performance; one team; and smart system.
Associate Professor Duncan Babbage, Director of AUT’s Centre for eHealth, agrees. “I see very strong alignment between the values of the HPA and its objectives, and the very real-world focus and practical approach that we are wanting to take – and are taking – at the Centre for eHealth,” says Babbage, “and it’s the beginning of an ongoing relationship, which we are very excited to embark on.”
Professor Max Abbott, Dean of the Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, looks forward to the projects that may unfold in the pursuit of these themes.
Abbott is excited for the relationship to unfold: he sees a “natural synergy” between the Centre for eHealth and the HPA, and believes there is “huge opportunity” in the partnership. “There’s potential to extend this relationship over time across other faculties,” says Abbot, “even the whole university.”
