Healthier Universities Program
High risk drinking, smoking, poor eating habits, inactivity and mental health issues such as stress are all common among the university population group. University students are at a time in their lives when these types of behaviour can still be influenced if education and support is available. Therefore, it is good practice to implement interventions or health promotion programs within tertiary learning settings.What is the Healthier Universities Program (HUP)?
HUP is a university based health promotion program that aims to promote the adoption of healthier behaviours among university students. HUP addresses a range of lifestyle factors experienced by young people. These include nutrition, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, mental health and injury. The program is implemented by university staff as the Coordinator and students as Peer Helpers.What are the strategies of HUP?
The strategies of the Healthier Universities Program are classified under three key components. They are promotion, policy and partnerships. Below is a list of the strategies that are implemented on university campuses under each of the key components:
Promote
- drink spiking awareness and protective behaviours
- DrinkSmart* messages
- anti smoking messages and new tobacco laws
- Queensland Health Young Women and Alcohol Campaign message
- anti drink driving and other forms of transport messages and education campaigns
- dietary guidelines for Australian adults and the new fruit and vegetable campaign
- national physical activity guidelines for Australians.
Policy
- advocate/review or update alcohol, tobacco and other drug policy
- adopt the DrinkSmart* Volunteer Program policies and procedures
- advocate and comply with the new tobacco laws, for eg. Adopting smoke free building entrances & designated smoking areas in licensed venues and at events
- advocate and promote healthier food options in food service facilities on campus
- work in partnership with other sectors to encourage policy and environmental change to support physical activity.
Partnerships
- responsible service of alcohol training
- event management training
- endorsement and implementation of resource proformas for the DrinkSmart* Volunteer Peer Helper program
- volunteer recruitment interviews, training and reward processes
- liaise with local road safety/transport department to obtain resources and work jointly on local transport programs
- liaise with food service management to address food options available to students
- liaise with local community health nutritionists and physical activity officers for support and information
- contact and partner with sporting area on campus to investigate opportunities to work on promotions together
- provide support and referral quit services to students
- utilise relevant resources.
Healthier University Coordinators
They are staff members of the university who reside in Student Services, Student Associations or Guilds. The Coordinators receive small grants from Queensland Health to deliver the program. The funds can be used on a variety of processes, strategies and products depending on the needs of students on each campus.
This page last updated:
10 November, 2005
Review date: July, 2006
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