Petra Gajar

Petra Gajar received her basic training at the HTL for Chemical Engineering and gained business experience at Baxter and at Austrian Research Centers in Seibersdorf. She has been active in health promotion since 1997 and played an instrumental part in setting up the Lower Austrian health forum (Gesundheitsforum NÖ). While still working, she completed further training on the side as an NLP and communication trainer and coach. Then, she acquired practical experience with young people in communication and health promotion and in company training courses. Her main responsibilities as the health promotion specialist at the FGÖ office include the continuing training offerings (training network/courses of study), SIGIS self-help support, the implementation of the priority topic “Children and Young People in Non-School Settings” and the evaluation and coaching of associated subsidized projects.

"I view health promotion as a social policy measure for making the future more positive. Health promotion is a major challenge in youth work and in project coaching for this target group. At this stage of their development, young people test their individual limits and find out what possibilities and skills they possess. They explore how to fit in with the requirements of the outside world. All these experiences are important in setting the direction of their future lives.  It is an exciting task and I feel privileged to be involved in it.”