Municipal Health Plan open for comment
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The Geelong Council endorsed the draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-2017 to be sent out for public comment.
The draft plan describes how the City will work to support the health and wellbeing of the Greater Geelong community for the next four years. It is a legislative requirement of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
According to Community Development Portfolio holder Cr Kylie Fisher, the plan demonstrates the core role Council has in protecting and promoting public health, as well as setting the agenda for the next four years.
“It is a really exciting time for health planning in Council,” she said.
“While local government has always played a role in supporting public health, initiatives like Healthy Together Geelong and VicHealth’s BE ACTIVE have given us more resources and more scope to work in new and different ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.”
“The focus of government health planning has shifted from service provision to prevention.”
“This means a greater focus on influencing behaviours that can have some impact on the likelihood of lifestyle-related chronic diseases,” said Cr Fisher.
The plan contains a thorough review of the international, national, state, regional and local health planning policy context.
The key health and wellbeing priorities identified for 2013-2017 are:
- Accessible and nutritious food
- Physical activity and active communities
- Social inclusion and community connectedness
- Reducing harm from alcohol, drugs and problem gambling
- Reducing tobacco use.
Each health and wellbeing priority has an ‘Action Guide’ that provides:
- a quick snapshot of the issue
- evidence that highlights the need for action
- how the City of Greater Geelong will seek to address the issue
- indicators that will be used to monitor change at the population level
- the desired outcomes.
Copies of the draft plan and demographic and health profiles can be accessed on our website or by contacting Customer Service on 03 5272 5272. Hard copies will also be made available at City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centres.
For more information http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ct/news/item/8d071e661264f8d.aspx