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Useful experience for health promoters includes:

• work in health
• teaching
• work with government agencies, charities or community groups
• involvement in community health promotion activities.

As many health promoters work in a specific area of health, such as helping people to stop smoking, or with a particular sector of the community, such as children, experience in these areas or with these groups is useful.

Health promoters may do some or all of the following:

• develop policies, strategies and programmes for improving health
• work with other agencies to co-ordinate health promotion programmes
• work alongside schools and community groups to identify health issues and solutions
• manage health promotion programmes
• advocate and lobby for health promotion causes
• establish networks in the community
• develop promotional and educational material for publication.

Demand for health promoters stable 

Job opportunities for health promoters are average as demand is reasonably stable, according to the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand.

According to the Census, 2,181 health promoters worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Opportunities best for health promoters with relevant qualifications or experience

Your chances of securing work as a health promoter are best if you:

• have a qualification in health promotion or a related field such as nursing or public health
• have worked in related roles such as community health worker or environmental health officer for local authorities.

If you are a graduate, it's useful to complete an internship at a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand. These are usually organised by tertiary institutes as part of a student's health promotion training. Internships can provide you with experience, contacts and work references.

Types of employers varied

Health promoters can work for:

• district health boards
• primary health organisations such as doctors' practices
• non-governmental organisations such as community development groups
• local authorities.

Many health promoters work part time or as contractors on several projects at once.

Health Promotion Forum

(09) 531 5500 - hpf@hauora.co.nz - www.hauora.co.nz

NZ Public Health Workforce Development

publichealthworkforce@moh.govt.nz - www.publichealthworkforce.org.nz

Health promoters may progress to work in managerial positions.

They may work with certain groups or with topics such as:

• family violence
• alcohol and tobacco use
• mental health
• healthy housing
• community development.

Health promoters need to be:

• excellent communicators
• good at planning
• outgoing and confident, with an interest in health improvement
• able to work with a wide range of people from different cultures and backgrounds
• able to motivate others.