Prof. James Sallis, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and Director of Active Living Research shared his experience of working to implement policy and practice change in the USA on improving levels of physical activity.  Prof Sallis has developed an extensive programme of work looking at the policy and environmental influences on physical activity, nutrition and obesity.  As Director of Active Living Research his work contributes to the prevention of childhood obesity in low income and high-risk communities. 

The aim of this meeting is to provide participants with the opportunity to hear about and discuss how HIA can support action on health inequalities. Join us for what promises to be a lively and informative discussion:

·         Ensuring health equity is considered in policies developed both within and outside the health system is an issue of concern for the World Health Organisation. We are delighted to welcome Sarah Simpson to present an overview of work conducted by WHO in this area.

'Climate change: whose health will be affected' was the focus of a recent Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) seminar. 

Opened by Minister John Gormley TD, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the event raised awareness of the potential health impacts of climate change and the action needed to reduce likelihood of adverse health outcomes and brought together stakeholders with a role in the climate change agenda.

Speakers included:

Applications are now closed for the next Health Impact Assessment training course.

The course will take place 8th – 10th February 2010 in Dublin and interest those working in public health, central and local government and community and voluntary sectors.

Access information on HIA and future courses from http://www.publichealth.ie/ireland/hiatraining

The HIA Forum provides an opportunity for those with an interest in HIA to meet, share experiences, hear about new developments and consider how to progress HIA.  The next meeting 'HIA: a tool to support healthier communities' - 17th September, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford

This session will include:

    * An update on how health is being incorporated into the Environmental Impact Assessment process (Carrie Garavan, University of Limerick)

Seminar: ‘Health Modelling for Better Policy’

Health Analysts’ Special Interest Group Seminar
Seminar title: ‘Using data at different geographical levels: pros & cons’
10am-12.30pm 8 May 2009

When is a simple answer sufficient?
Understanding complex interventions – implications for policy and practice in public health

Many of the major determinants of ill health and inequalities have roots in complex relationships between the individual and social forces shaping our choices and experiences over the life-course. Our efforts will too often be “confounded” and frustrated, if we imagine that we can easily unpack “the black box”.