General News
3 March, 2023
New focus on regional wellbeing
A CAMPAIGN is underway to improve the health and wellbeing of the nine communities which fall under the umbrella of West Wimmera Health Service. The service has teamed with La Trobe University and the John Richards Centre to map and set goals for...
A CAMPAIGN is underway to improve the health and wellbeing of the nine communities which fall under the umbrella of West Wimmera Health Service.
The service has teamed with La Trobe University and the John Richards Centre to map and set goals for each community.
From this year Nhill, Natimuk, Goroke, Kaniva, Jeparit, Rainbow, Minyip, Rupanyup and Murtoa residents will have help to track their differences, similarities and unique accomplishments to determine the health of their community.
All indicators reveal that the health and wellbeing of rural residents is worsening when compared with their urban counterparts.
The service's health promotion team, La Trobe University's Rural Health School and the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research have partnered in a project to check out each of the nine towns.
They will also combine to work towards better health and wellbeing for residents.
"One size does not fit all," she said. "So we have a separate profile for each town, but the overall goal is to make each community healthier."
Health promotion manager Dorothy McLaren said verbal indicators did not always tally with statistics which were from many sources including the Bureau of Statistics, Census results, Cancer Council and socio-economic data.
"When we look at 'population health' and a 'burden of disease indicator' which looks at issues including cancer statistics, diabetes levels, obesity, smoking statistics and many other health statistics, rural people do not always show up well," she said.
"Often people will say they have lots of fresh air and an enviable lifestyle but that doesn't indicate the full picture."
Ms McLaren said the plan was to develop profiles to support each town to make the Wimmera and Southern Mallee a healthier place to live, work and play.
A launch this week at a seminar in Nhill Uniting Church hall allowed people from the nine communities opportunity to look at new town profiles and hear from those involved in the health and wellbeing project.
Issues such as availability of childcare, access to healthcare, social determinants, availability of transport, incidence of family violence, life expectancy rates and 'climate-change adaptive behaviour' would be discussed.
People who attended heard of the background to the study, development of the profiles and their plans to "engage, plan and monitor".
Speakers included Hindmarsh Mayor Brett Ireland, John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research deputy director, La Trobe University's Dr Sean MacDermott, West Wimmera Health Service CEO Ritchie Dodds and Health Promotion Manager Dorothy McLaren.