An empirical model for school health promotion: the Western Australian school health project model

Models of school health promotion simplify and support the complex process of encouraging schools to adopt health promotion as part of their organizat ional practice by outlining phases and areas that bear on adoption and scop e of activity. Models provide a value conceptual framework on which to base action and a standard against which to measure success. The Western Austra lian School Health (WASH) model is an empirically designed model that can a ssist both internal and external agents seeking to inter est schools in dev eloping comprehensive school health promotion programs The WASH Model schem atically represents the main elements of the WASH Project's process of init iating and developing health promotion with Western Australian schools. The model is based on the project's practical implementation experience (1992- 1995) as an external intervention with its own specific health promotion ag enda operating in a setting that requires a participative approach to maxim ize outcomes. The model draws on system theory related to organizational ch ange processes and on previous models of school health promotion. The WASH Project, which used this model in its interaction with schools, was able to demonstrate change in the level of health promotion activity and structura l support in participating schools Accordingly the model provides a tested framework on which to base approaches and activity for school health promot ion initiation, development and continuity.