VicHealth has developed a series of local government action guides that councils may consider when preparing their Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans and other strategies.
Local governments play a major role in supporting the objectives of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 by protecting, improving and promoting public health within their municipality. By integrating action across the social, cultural, built, economic and natural environments, council policies and practices can make major contributions to economic prosperity, community cohesion and population health outcomes.
VicHealth has developed a series of local government action guides that councils may consider when preparing their Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans and other strategies. The guides outline recent solid research and some ideas for local action on ten public health topics. The proposed strategies are consistent with national and state health promotion priorities and prevention frameworks, including The Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2011–2015.
- Reducing health inequalities
- Improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing
- Increasing participation in physical activity
- Increasing social connections
- Reducing race-based discrimination
- Preventing violence against women
- Supporting healthy eating
- Reducing tobacco use
- Reducing harm from alcohol
- Protecting Victorians from skin cancer
You can find further information on these topics and links to additional resources and organisations below.
General resources
- VicHealth publications
- Department of Health resources:
- Municipal Association of Victoria
- Department of Human Services
- The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
- Victorian Local Government Association
1. Reducing health inequalities
- VicHealth health inequalities publications
- VicHealth mental health promotion publications
- Municipal Association of Victoria’s social and community resources
- Victorian Office for Disability
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
2. Improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing
- VicHealth Aboriginal health publications
- Victorian Department of Health – Aboriginal health
- Municipal Association of Victoria – Indigenous
- Reconciliation Australia www.reconciliation.org.au
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
3. Increasing participation in physical activity
- VicHealth physical activity publications
- Victoria Walks
- Bicycle Network Victoria
- Vicsport
- Sport & Recreation Victoria
- Heart Foundation
- Better Health Channel – Physical Activity
4. Increasing social connections
- VicHealth social connection publications
- Municipal Association of Victoria’s social and community resources
- VicHealth’s Localities Enhancing Arts Participation (LEAP) program
- Cultural Development Network
- Multicultural Arts Victoria
- Regional Arts Victoria
5. Reducing race-based discrimination
- VicHealth race-based discrimination publications
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- Municipal Association of Victoria’s resources:
- Victorian Multicultural Commission
- Centre for Multicultural Youth
- VicHealth’s Localities Embracing & Accepting Diversity (LEAD) program
6. Preventing violence against women
- VicHealth preventing violence against women (PVAW) publications
- Municipal Association of Victoria – Gender Equality
- VicHealth & City of Darebin’s Victorian Local Government and Community Leaders PVAW project
- Municipal Association of Victoria – Embedding preventing violence against women into council business
7. Supporting healthy eating
- VicHealth healthy eating publications
- VicHealth’s Food for All program
- Victorian Department of Health – Nutrition and public health
- Food Alliance
- Cancer Council Victoria
- Obesity Policy Coalition
- Heart Foundation
8. Reducing tobacco use
- Quit
- Heart Foundation
- Municipal Association of Victoria – Tobacco
- Department of Health – Tobacco reforms: Local government
- Cancer Council Victoria
9. Reducing harm from alcohol
- VicHealth alcohol misuse publications
- Municipal Association of Victoria – Alcohol and other drugs
- Australian Drug Foundation
- Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre
- Say When
- Department of Health – Local government area profiles
- Department of Planning and Community Development – Licensed premises: Assessing cumulative impact
- Cancer Council Victoria
