Toward International Collaboration on Competencies and Accreditation in Health Promotion and Health Education: The Galway Consensus Conference Viv Speller Health Development Consulting & University of Southampton

with thanks to….. John P. Allegrante Columbia University Margaret M. Barry National University of Ireland, Galway And other participants of the Galway Consensus Conference….

Background to Conference  Increased global interest in competencies, standards, and quality assurance in professional preparation  New challenges facing the public health workforce  Timed to build on IUHPE Melbourne (2004) and Vancouver (2007)

Recommendations for ‘Building a competent health promotion workforce’ Training should include knowledge & skills for advocacy and mediation with politicians and private sector, assessing impact of policies, using info and evidence, and evaluating interventions Closer links and coalitions must be made with complementary disciplines which contribute both conceptually and practically to health promotion Transnational agreement on health promotion core competencies is needed to further define the field and provide common direction for curriculum development

North-American Efforts  U.S.  Role Delination Project (1970s)  Competencies Update Project (1990s)  National Accreditation Task Forces on Accreditation in Health Education (2000s)  Canada  CATCH (2000)  HP Ontario core competencies (2006)  PHAC report on core competencies (2007)

Australian Efforts  AHPA, Curtin, AHF, WAHD work on competencies (1990s)  AHPA and NHP Workforce Development Task Group undertook development of initial competencies  AHPA PHAA, IUHPE SWPRC revision of competencies (2005)

European Efforts  Bologna Declaration and EAQAHE  European Master´s in Health Promotion (EMHP)  ASPHER and EAAPHE standards and quality criteria  IUHPE Sub-committee exploring pan- European framework for accrediation  UK - UKPHR specialist and practitioner standards & registration

Common Goals of these Efforts  Protect the public by establishing and assuring a minimum acceptable standard of quality and performance  Improve or strengthen institutions and programs of professional preparation through systems of peer external review  Promote continued professional development of the workforce

Purpose  To promote the global exchange and understanding concerning core competencies and accreditation in the professional preparation of health promotion and health education specialists.

Objectives  Exchange experiences and lessons learned in identifying competencies, developing standards, and establishing credentialing systems for health promotion and health education specialists  Explore the contemporary and future uses of technology in professional preparation and training  Generate a Conference Proceedings and Consensus Conference Statement

Key Elements of the Galway Consensus Statement  Intended Audiences  Health Promotion and Health Education  Core Values and Principles  Domains of Core Competency  Standards and Quality Assurance  Recommendations and Key Actions

Domains of Core Competency  Catalyzing change  Leadership  Assessment  Planning  Implementation  Evaluation  Advocacy  Partnerships

Key Actions and Next Steps  Stimulating dialogue among key stakeholders  Moving towards global consensus  Developing a comprehensive plan for communicating the results of the Galway Consensus Statement to diverse audiences

Consultation on Consensus Statement and Implementation  Through IUHPE regions to assess impact, and requirements for putting into practice  Starting now – till 1 st June ’09  Do competencies reflect local health promotion practice, and how will they be received by users?  Impact on practice and education & professional development?  What is required to implement in region?

UK Consultation on Galway Consensus Conference Statement Important to continue to consider international competencies in health promotion alongside UK public health practitioner regulation - to ensure health promotion is adequately reflected in UK systems and in step with global developments Following the conference will organise the consultation and feedback through the RSPH website and database and collate responses