Late 1970s

The Health Promotion Unit started as a pilot funded by NSW Health, originally located in Building 72 at RPA Hospital.

1991

The Health Promotion Unit wrote the first HIV Prevention Plan and became the first winner of the Ethnic Communications Award (as it was then known).

Multicultural HIV/AIDS Service (MHAS) was established as a 12-month project to provide support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.

1993

The NSW Heterosexual HIV Service, known as Pozhet began in 1993 as a small, volunteer-run telephone service. Pozhet is now a state-wide service funded by the NSW Ministry of Health and hosted by Sydney Local Health District.

2000

The Multicultural HIV/AIDS Service expands to include a focus on hepatitis C in CALD communities, becoming Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS).

2001

The Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) multilingual website officially launched.

2002–2010

The Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) delivers a number of national blood-borne viruses (BBV) programs on behalf of the Australian Federal Government.

2008

Munch & Move and Live Life Well @ School programs began.

2010

The Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) expanded to include a focus on hepatitis B.

2011

The NSW Healthy Children initiative was established. Munch & Move and Live Life Well @ School were flagship programs with the addition of Go4Fun; Crunch & Sip; NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy; Active Travel; Healthy Supported Playgroups and Finish With The Right Stuff.

2013

The first NSW Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy 2013–18 launched.

2015

"Reducing childhood overweight and obesity by 5 per cent by 2025" became one of the 12 NSW Premier's priorities.

2016

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was introduced in NSW.

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA), drugs used to treat hepatitis C infections, were also rolled out in NSW.

NSW HIV Strategy 2016–20 and Ending HIV campaign to eliminate HIV transmission were launched.

2017

The Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS) Facebook page was launched. 

The Healthy Food and Drink in NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework launched.

2018

The administration of the Bilingual Community Education (BCE) program moved to Population Health, becoming the Cultural Support Program – an innovative and unique model of service delivery.

Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub was established, bringing together the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service; the Multicultural Health Service (MHS) and the Cultural Support Program. Providing an opportunity for a more flexible, responsive and agile approach to the development and implementation of initiatives for CALD communities.

The HIV and Related Programs Health Promotion team joined Population Health, becoming HIV and Related Programs Unit.

The current Population Health structure was formed with the inclusion of Sydney Health Care Interpreter Service and the establishment of Diversity Programs and Strategic Hub.

2020

Population Health had an integral role in the Sydney Local Health District response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

2022

The HIV and Related Programs Unit became Priority Populations Programs which consists of the HARP Health Promotion; Pozhet; Women’s Health; and LGBTIQ+ and Men’s Health programs.

Sydney Local Health District’s first Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Health Strategic Plan launched.

NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy launched – the first comprehensive state-wide plan to enhance the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people across NSW.