Implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs for students: Views of Australian universities

Melinda Hutchesson; Megan Whatnall; Sally Hunt; Lee M Ashton; Myles D Young; Amanda Patterson; Mitch Duncan; Tracy Burrows

doi:10.1002/hpja.808

Implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs for students: Views of Australian universities

Health Promot J Austr. 2023 Sep 13. doi: 10.1002/hpja.808. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Melinda Hutchesson^{1

2}, Megan Whatnall^{1

2}, Sally Hunt^{3

4}, Lee M Ashton^{1

5

6}, Myles D Young^{3

5}, Amanda Patterson^{1

2}, Mitch Duncan^{5

7}, Tracy Burrows^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
² Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
³ School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Healthy Minds Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 37705141
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.808

Abstract

Issue addressed: Universities are a crucial setting to address and promote optimal mental health of young Australians. However, there is a lack of knowledge of universities' views of current implementation of health and wellbeing initiatives. Therefore, we examined the views of Australian universities on the implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs within Australian universities.

Methods: An online survey of Australian universities asked respondents to rate their level of agreement with five statements pertaining to the implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs for students within Australian universities using a 5-point Likert scale (strongly agree to strongly disagree).

Results: Eleven universities completed the survey (28.2% response rate). All respondents (n = 11) agreed that universities play a crucial role in supporting the health and wellbeing of their students and report access to sufficient expertise to do this. Approximately three-quarters (8/11) agreed that universities know what policies and programs to implement to support their students' health and wellbeing. There was less agreement that universities have sufficient resources (2/11 agree) or access to sufficient information about the health and wellbeing of their student population (3/11 agree) to support the implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs.

Conclusions: Australian universities demonstrated strong organisational commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of their students but highlighted some key barriers to implementation. SO WHAT?: Findings from this preliminary research highlight potential barriers and facilitators to the implementation of health and wellbeing policies and programs in Australian universities, and potential foci for future research.

Keywords: health promotion; mental health; stakeholders; university.

Abstract

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