Melbourne's Homelessness and the Ottawa Charter's Health Promotion

This report analyzes the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, focusing on its strategies for strengthening community action and reorienting health services. It examines how these principles can be applied to address the complex issue of homelessness in Melbourne. The report highlights the importance of community involvement in decision-making, planning, and implementation of health promotion initiatives, emphasizing the empowerment of communities to control their health destinies. It also discusses the role of reorienting health services from curative to preventative care, advocating for a holistic approach to health that involves various stakeholders, including health professionals, healthcare institutions, the community, and government. The report emphasizes the need for increased access to affordable housing and supportive services to combat homelessness, referencing the Ottawa Charter's guidance on addressing housing gaps and supporting vulnerable populations. References are provided from various sources to support the arguments.

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION 1
Ottawa Charter
Name
Institution

HEALTH PROMOTION 2
Ottawa Charter
Strengthening Community Resources and Action for Health
This may involve the inclusion of the various communities in decision making, planning, and
implementation of health promotion. The communities are also involved in reviewing the
implemented health promotion plans ("Strengthening community action", 2019). The
communities are therefore empowered to own and control their destinies and endeavours.
Strengthening community action draws on the resources of the community thus providing self-
help and social support to the community. Additionally, this action helps in developing systems
that are flexible thus reinforcing public participation in health matters ("Strengthening
community action", 2019). The success of this action depends on access to information, funds,
and opportunities for learning health matters. It is important to note that when community
actions and resources are strengthened then communities become more responsible for their
health ("Strengthening community action", 2019). They additionally become more welcoming of
the initiatives aimed at promoting health.
Homelessness is a very sensitive and complex issue in the city of Melbourne. This is a problem
that can affect an individual at any time. The main causes of homelessness in Melbourne city are
poverty, unavailability of affordable and safe housing, and unemployment (Johnson & Wylie,
2010). The rate of homelessness is increasing across the entire Australia nation. Family violence,
mental health and physical health are some of the factors that make the situation of homelessness
worse in Melbourne (Johnson & Wylie, 2010). It is important to note that the city of Melbourne
is determined to reduce homelessness; this can be made possible by the use of the Ottawa
Charter for Health Promotion.

HEALTH PROMOTION 3
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion aims at making the communities capable of
responding to the crisis of homelessness by offering several options for shelter to ensure that
nobody remains unsheltered. Several priorities are being addressed to solve the issue of
homelessness in the city of Melbourne. The authorities are trying to increase the supply of safe
and affordable options for housing. This is done by developing partnerships with NGOs,
landowners, and businesses to build and provide housing to individuals who may need such
support (McDonald, 2014). By strengthening community action and resources, people can be
educated regarding homelessness thus influencing their perceptions about this issue. The issue of
homelessness is also being addressed by celebrating the successes of the community thus
building momentum and supporting changing attitudes.
Reorienting Health Services
The health sector has a role that must move in the same track as the health promotion as well as
accomplishing its responsibility of providing curative and clinical care services. Strong attention
must be given to research to appropriately reorient health services. Therefore, reorienting health
services is basically about changing the focus from curative and clinical services to the
promotion of health and prevention of diseases and infections (Judd & Keleher, 2013).
According to Ziglio, Simpson & Tsouros, (2011), the Ottawa charter states that “Health services
need to embrace an expanded mandate which is sensitive and respects cultural needs. This
mandate should support the needs of individuals and communities for a healthier life, and open
channels between the health sector and broader social, political, economic and physical
environmental components.” It is therefore important to note that the Ottawa charter encourages
the health sector to be actively involved in initiatives that promote health thus improving health,
preventing illness, and avoiding diseases. Some of the approaches to health promotion as stated

HEALTH PROMOTION 4
by the Ottawa Charter include immunization, encouraging people to lose weight and quit
smoking, and cancer screening.
It is therefore important to note that once the health services have been reoriented, the
responsibility of health promotion becomes shared among health professions, individuals,
healthcare institutions, the community, and government (Judd & Keleher, 2013). These people
and institutions must work together to achieve a system of healthcare that improves health
outcomes.
Reorienting health services can help in appropriately responding to the needs of homeless
Australians in the city of Melbourne. It is important to note that homelessness has become a
public threat that faces several communities in Australia and in particular the city of Melbourne.
The Ottawa charter encourages the identification of housing gaps in Melbourne to develop the
right supported housing for homeless youths coming from care and women and men struggling
with alcohol and smoking addictions (McDonald, 2014). Additionally, the authorities in the city
of Melbourne are currently the extra housing required so that individuals with cognitive
impairments can be supported by housing (Thomas, Gray & McGinty, 2010). Furthermore, there
is a proposal to invest in family support; this investment is aimed at ensuring that youths and
children are not displaced from their homes.

HEALTH PROMOTION 5
References
Johnson, G., & Wylie, N. (2010). This is not living: chronic homelessness in Melbourne.
Judd, J., & Keleher, H. (2013). Reorienting health services in the Northern Territory of Australia:
a conceptual model for building health promotion capacity in the workforce. Global
Health Promotion, 20(2), 53-63.
McDonald, S. (2014). Social partnerships addressing affordable housing and homelessness in
Australia. International journal of housing markets and analysis, 7(2), 218-232.
Strengthening community action. (2019). Retrieved 20 September 2019, from
https://www.pdhpe.net/better-health-for-individuals/what-strategies-help-to-promote-the-
health-of-individuals/the-ottawa-charter-as-an-effective-health-promotion-framework/
strengthening-community-action/
Thomas, Y., Gray, M., & McGinty, S. (2010). Homelessness and the right to occupation and
inclusion: An Australian perspective. World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Bulletin, 62(1), 19-25.
Ziglio, E., Simpson, S., & Tsouros, A. (2011). Health promotion and health systems: some
unfinished business. Health promotion international, 26(suppl_2), ii216-ii225.