Online courses - Self-paced Professional Development
Building Health Promotion Excellence Through Flexible Learning
The Health Promotion Forum of NZ (HPF) is committed to building a skilled and culturally competent health promotion workforce across Aotearoa. Our self-directed online courses are designed to provide the entry-level knowledge and practical application skills required to drive health equity.
Whether you are new to the field of health promotion and need to grasp the fundamentals of Mainstream, Māori, and Pasifika health promotion (L1 Foundations), or you are an established professional seeking a refresher with strategic application (L2 Application), our pathways support your continuous professional development (CPD).
All courses are delivered via the secure and user-friendly iQualify platform, giving you the flexibility to complete your learning and achieve your professional goals on your own schedule. These courses ensure you gain targeted, high-value skills that directly translate into effective community outcomes. Use our structured progression to build your expertise and prepare you for our other online courses or our Level 4 Certificate of Achievement in Introducing Health Promotion (CoA).
Available Courses
LEVEL ONE - BUILDING YOUR FOUNDATION
Essential preparation for effective, culturally responsive health promotion practice.
Stream One: Mainstream Health Promotion, Level One Topic: What is health promotion?
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Define the meaning of health
- Define the meaning of health promotion
- Briefly outline the history of health promotion on the world and New Zealand.
Stream Two: Māori Health Promotion Level One Topic: Māori Health Promotion
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Define Māori health promotion
- Identify and describe at least one Māori model of health promotion
- Describe four core values that strengthen Māori health promotion
Stream Three: Pasifika Health Promotion Level One Topic: Pasifika Health Promotion
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Define Pasifika health promotion
- Outline the history of Pasifika health promotion and its development in New Zealand
- Describe how Pacific people’s health is being advanced through health promotion.
LEVEL TWO - STRATEGIC APPLICATION
Advanced frameworks and practical tools for leading change in health promotion.
Stream One: Mainstream Health Promotion, Level Two Topic: Social Determinants of Health
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand what is meant by the Social Determinants of Health.
- Understand how one social determinant influences other determinants of health.
- Identify health promotion actions to reduce inequalities in health.
- Gain knowledge of tools and resources to support health promotion.
Stream One: Mainstream Health Promotion, Level Two Topic: Understanding the Geneva Charter for Well-being
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the history and purpose of the Charter.
- Understand the main components of the Charter.
- Know how to apply the charter to address the determinants of health and build well-being communities.
Stream One: Mainstream Health Promotion, Level Two Topic: Planetary Health
Advance your health promotion knowledge through the lens of planetary health and Indigenous knowledge systems. This course connects health, the environment, and wellbeing, using frameworks like the Geneva Charter for Well-being to shape real-world action.
In completing this course, you will be able to:
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Understand planetary health as a new field in health.
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Understand the foundations of health promotion and planetary health in New Zealand.
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Understand the contributions of Indigenous Knowledge to planetary health through health promotion.
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Understand the Geneva Charter, especially its contribution to planetary health, and its focus on "well-being societies" from a health promotion lens.
Stream Two: Māori Health Promotion, Level Two Topic: A Treaty Understanding of Hauora in Aotearoa-New Zealand (TUHA-NZ)
Developed to support health promotion practitioners, this course explores how Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins equitable health outcomes in Aotearoa. Grounded in both Te Tiriti and the Ottawa Charter, TUHA-NZ provides a practical framework to apply Treaty principles in everyday health promotion practice.
In completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in health promotion
- Understand the TUHA-NZ framework and how to apply this in your practice
- Apply Treaty principles to organisational practice
- Learn effective implementation strategies
- Examine ethics and evaluation in Treaty-based practice
Stream Three: Pasifika Health Promotion Level Two Topic: Pasific Health Promotion Models
Take your understanding of Pacific health promotion to the next level. In this four-module course, you'll learn to apply the Fonua Ola model to support the health and wellbeing of Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Includes interactive content, cultural context, and practical applications.
In completing this course, you will be able to:
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Understand the history of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Understand the evolution of Pacific health promotion.
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Discuss what a health promotion model is.
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Explore how to apply Fonua Ola in your practice.
On completion of the online health promotion workshops, you will be awarded your badge of completion.
Three Streams and Three Levels
There are 3 streams of Health Promotion online courses you can enroll in, with 3 levels in each stream. While all three streams are related, each stream focuses on a distinct form of health promotion knowledge and practice.
- Stream 1 is Mainstream Health Promotion (MSHP). It focuses on Western based principles of health promotion.
- Stream 2 is Māori Health Promotion (MHP) and it focuses on Māori health promotion.
- Stream 3 is Pacific Health Promotion (PHP) which focuses on Pacific health promotion.
The level in each stream indicates the level of knowledge you can learn in each course and the complexity of the course. Level 1 starts as an introductory and basic knowledge point, with Level 3 being more advanced.
The below image shows the streams and levels of courses we have available and will become available soon.
Investment in your Professional Development:
- Member price: $69 incl of GST each course.
- Non-member price: $99 incl of GST each course.
Not yet a member? Join HPF today to access member pricing and other exclusive benefits. View more about membership here→
Ready to begin?
Click on the link above for your chosen course, or contact our office for guidance on which course is right for you.
Have questions? Get in touch:
Email: hpf@hauora.co.nz
Phone: 09 300 3071
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How are the courses structured?
Our courses are offered in three streams (Mainstream, Māori and Pasifika), with courses available in two main levels. Level 1 (foundational) courses establish the essential cultural context, core concepts and professional language. Level 2 (application and strategy) courses build on this foundation to provide more specialised expertise, strategic frameworks and practical implementation skills.
Are your courses recognised or accredited?
Our courses are designed for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and are aligned with the NZQA framework levels. While not formally accredited, they provide essential, evidence-based training recognised by health sector employers across Aotearoa.
Do I need to take the Level 1 course before enrolling in the Level 2 course?
It is not mandatory but is highly recommended that you complete the corresponding Level 1 course (e.g. Pasifika L1 before Pacific Health Promotion Models L2). This will help to provide you with the necessary foundational concepts and cultural context to successfully apply the advanced strategic frameworks in the Level 2 course.
How long do I have to complete the course?
The courses are self-directed, allowing you to work at your own pace. Once enrolled, you will have up to 6 months to complete the course via the iQualify platform. You can go back and review your completed courses later via your same login.
How do I access the course material?
All courses are hosted on our online learning experience platform, iQualify. Once you have enrolled (via Eventbrite), you will receive an email with a link to login and instructions on how to access the course content right away.
What kind of technical support is available?
The iQualify platform is designed to be user-friendly. Should you encounter any technical issues, the platform includes a wealth of built-in technical support and guides to help you navigate the course or resolve common issues.
What is the time commitment for each course?
Each course is self-paced and the time varies depending on the level. The level 1 courses are suggested to take between 2-4 hours of study time, while our level 2 courses can be completed within 4-6 hours of study time. You can work through the material in blocks that suit your schedule over the 6-month access period.
Can I enrol in multiple courses at once?
Absolutely! Many learners enrol in multiple courses across different streams to build comprehensive cultural competence. You'll have 6 months access to each course from your enrollment date.
How much do the courses cost?
The cost varies depending on your membership status. Please refer to the pricing section on this page above which lists the member and non-member price for each course.
What do I receive upon completion?
Upon successful completion of all required modules and assessments, you will be awarded an HPF Badge of Completion, which serves as professional evidence of your learning for your CPD records.
What is the next step after completing Level 2?
Completing the Level 2 courses positions you for advanced professional leadership. While we do not yet have Level 3 courses available, this is something we will be working on. In the meantime, you can continue your ongoing learning with our Level 4 Certificate of Achievement in Introducing Health Promotion (CoA), learn more about this here.