Six new cutting edge projects are being put in to practice linking leading academics and evidence with communities across Victoria as part of a new focus by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation.
The new projects are being funded close to $60,000 in total, reaching out to communities from Echuca to Bendigo, Mildura to Maribyrnong to work on critical areas needed for promoting good health in their communities.
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) Chief Executive Officer, Todd Harper said: “The Link And Learn grants are about assisting local communities to improve their health and wellbeing.”
”The projects will work out new and innovative ways to reduce ill health, trips to the local hospital and ultimately how to improve our overall wellbeing,” Mr Harper said.
“We are making sure that some of Victoria’s leading experts can assist our local communities to improve health outcomes of all of us,” Mr Harper added.
The six projects are:
Binge and cringe – run by Echuca Regional Health.
This project is working out the best way to reduce alcohol related harms in the Campaspe and Moama region. It will seek expert assistance to evaluate and implement the shire’s Action Plan 2008-2010; A rural community strategy to reduce harm form alcohol consumption.
Feasibility Study: FEAST (Family Eating and Socialising Together) – run by Time for Youth.
This Geelong project is trying to make it easier for ‘vulnerable’ families to eat healthy food together. It will seek expert assistance to examine methods that encourage families and young people to eat well.
Newly Arrived Social Connectedness – run by Dianella Community Health.
This project will improve the overall mental health and wellbeing of newly arrived communities across North West Melbourne. It will engage experts from The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health and the local community to develop, for the first time, an evidence based, three year, newly arrived refugee social connectedness project plan.
Local Government Advocacy for Women's Health – run by Women's Health Loddon Mallee.
This project will start work across 10 local governments to prevent violence against women. It will engage, expert Dr Carolyn Whitzman, to build the knowledge and skills of staff from Women's Health Loddon Mallee in developing violence against women strategies across the Loddon Mallee Region.
Making health promotion culturally inclusive in the Sunraysia Region
Run by Sunraysia Community Health Services, this project will improve nutrition and physical activity amongst the culturally diverse communities in the Sunraysia region. Experts will be engaged to work with Sunraysia Region health promotion and other relevant agency staff.
Maribyrnong Being Active Eating Well (MBAEW) - run by Western Region Health Centre
This project is working out the best ways to communicate with young people about healthy eating and being physically active. It will employ experts to assist with training staff and working with young people and a number of key organisations about successful healthy eating and physical activity initiatives.