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The PHA - an informed, collaborative and strong advocate for public health.

Public Health Champion 2002  -  Louise Croot

Louise Croot came to Otago from the Netherlands when she was nine. She has remained in the province ever since, eventually raising three sons and always being involved in the community.

Although a teacher by profession, Louise has been an advocate in the public health arena for 22 years. Her journey from teaching to health was by way of a medical officer of health who heard her speak about her work as a community representative on a children's board. He encouraged her to apply for a health education job in 1979. That job, Louise says, developed into health promotion. She didn't like telling people what to do but preferred to help them build their own capacities to make their own decisions.

From this she began work implementing the Ottawa Charter through the WHO programme Healthy Cities, Healthy Communities. She realised from this work the interdependence of the different facets of public health and became passionate teaching others about it too.

She finds it a fascinating process to lead people to the realisation that they can contribute to their own wellbeing. But she admits it can be lengthy, citing as an example the smokefree movement.

Her geographer's background gives substance to her passion for a healthy environment. She is a passionate advocate for quality water, sewerage, air, housing, safety - all the issues that bring the physical and natural environment together to enhance the well being of people. And she says the core value of all of this is public health.

She retired from the public health field in 2002, but continues her local government work, particularly at the Otago Regional Council, where she is chairs the Consents Committee. She is a vice-president of the International Federation of University Women (known in New Zealand as the Federation of Graduate Women) which, among other things, advocates for equitable access to education for women and girls around the world. She has been nominated for the Presidency election next year.

She also mentors young people both in New Zealand and overseas, and spends a lot of time doing what she calls her "networking stuff". She has held so many roles over the years, in education, local government and of course health, that she is in an ideal position to bring people together, sometimes, she says, with just a click of her computer mouse!

Louise gets frustrated by what she sees as the current "police officer" mentality of many medical officers of health in health protection and would love to see them participating more in policy making, advocating for public health and promoting health across a wide range of issues.

When not mentoring or networking or considering resource consents, Louise's ideal day involves her garden or what she calls "driving out the back of Kyeburn looking at water takes for the council." She enjoys photography and loves travelling. And she knits - but she quickly says, lest her audience is overwhelmed by all that she manages to get done in one day, "I knit only small things for my two grandchildren now!"