Injury Matters has recently made a submission to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission regarding a proposed update to the Commissioner’s Interpretation Statement: Health Promotion Charities to be inclusive of injury within its definition of a Health Promotion Charity.
The current definition of an ACNC Health Promotion Charity is limited to the prevention or control of diseases in human beings, therefore excluding injury from its interpretation. The exclusion of injury from this definition results in the dependence of injury prevention organisations to raise funds predominantly through government grants.
Broadening the definition of Health Promotion Charities to include ‘prevention of injury’ enables greater opportunity to attract funding from philanthropic bodies. Changes in eligibility to qualify as a Health Promotion Charity would therefore enable injury prevention organisations to have a greater impact on the reduction of injury in Australia, which will result in an overall improvement to the health of all Australians.
Additionally, the revision would significantly support the injury prevention not-for-profit sector by improving the ability to provide competitive remuneration features and benefits that other Health Promotion Charities are able to offer within comparative roles, therefore improving the recruitment and retention of a vital professional and qualified injury prevention workforce.