GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE MUNICIPAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACTION PLAN 2017-2021

Health and Wellbeing Priorities

Golden Plains Shire Council – Council Plan 2017-2021

We are committed to the following health and wellbeing priorities that underpin the Council Plan and our strategic framework for the next four years and beyond:

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Health and Wellbeing Priorities: Outcomes

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Priority 1: Healthy Eating and Active Living

1.1 Provide and support programs, activities, and spaces to promote and encourage increased healthy eating and food security.

Support and participate in shared regional priorities and initiatives

Increase water consumption/reducing sugar sweetened beverages initiatives

Deliver pre-schoolers/primary schoolers programs to encourage increased healthy eating

Deliver programs and allied services that support and encourage healthy eating within the community

Deliver capacity building and education initiatives

Provide gender lens on inclusion and participation in healthy eating/food access

Provide opportunities for financial support for healthy eating/food access projects

1.2 Provide a workplace that facilitates healthy eating and supports a healthy lifestyle for employees.

Support the development and implementation of policy and initiatives in workplaces that encourage healthy eating choices

1.3 Provide and support programs, activities, and spaces to promote and encourage increased participation physical activity.

Support and actively participate in Regional/State Recreation and Sporting partnerships

Deliver physical activity programs including for children and older adults

Increase active travel in the Shire

Deliver physical activity programs for all abilities

Provide gender lens on programs and activities for physical activity

Provide and design spaces for physical activity

1.4 Provide a workplace that facilitates increased participation in physical activity and supports a healthy lifestyle for employees.

Support the development and implementation of policy and initiatives in workplaces that encourage physical activity

Objectives:

Strengthen and develop collaborative partnerships with others to improve healthy eating outcomes for all people in our community

Support and enable participation in physical activity, sport and recreation

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Priority 2: Access to local health and community services

2.1 Develop a longer term vision and planning for an integrated approach to providing quality health and community services infrastructure.

Develop and implement Golden Plains Shire Social Services and Infrastructure planning project

Ensure an integrated approach to planning

Identify current gaps in health service needs in partnership with community and providers 2.2 Provide and support programs, activities, and spaces which increase access to health and community services for people of all ages and abilities.

Deliver health services and programs including medical, allied health, women’s health programs, family and relationship and alcohol and other drugs

Deliver health services and programs for pre-schoolers, primary school children, youth and older people

Provide accessible programs and places for all abilities and coordinate with disability providers

Advocate for new or increased services 2.3 Support people at all life stages and abilities to maximise their potential and participation in community life.

Provide community members opportunities to actively participate in community groups and drive community improvement initiatives

Active participation and contribution to shared initiatives across networks for health and wellbeing, children’s services and youth services

Objectives:

Facilitate increased and equitable access to local health and community services to meet the current and future needs of our community

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Priority 3: Healthy and Sustainable Environments

3.1 Invest in maintenance, renewal and improvement of community infrastructure.

Prepare and implement strategic plans and approaches

Manage, maintain and/or support community spaces

Access funding opportunities to improve community spaces 3.2 Respect, celebrate and protect the history and diversity of our heritage, the arts and community spaces.

Protect heritage places

Deliver programs and initiatives 3.3 Support and encourage community resilience to respond to a changing climate and the impact of natural disasters.

Develop and implement strategic plans and approaches

Review and undertake waste management /recycling practices and education programs 3.4 Promote and support innovative and environmentally sustainable management of water resources through strategic partnerships. 3.5 Work with the community and emergency management agencies to improve community preparedness and resilience.

Objectives: Work with the community to plan and provide natural and built environments that create safe, accessible,

inclusive and inviting public spaces, social infrastructure, open space and destinations for all.

Plan, resource and strengthen Council and community capacity to effectively respond to current and future challenges related to the natural environment including climate change, water, biodiversity and emergency management.

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Priority 4: Connected Communities

4.1 Support local sporting and community groups to provide participation and engagement opportunities and continue to encourage and value volunteering in our community.

Support capacity building at local community groups and sporting clubs

Encourage and support volunteering

4.2 Implement a range of activities and programs to support young people in our Shire to be healthy, resilient and empowered.

Deliver activities and programs for youth

4.3 Provide and support programs, activities, and spaces to promote and encourage social connection for people of all ages and abilities.

Provide programs, activities and spaces for social connection for all ages and abilities.

Support community driven initiatives that foster social connection

Explore options to strengthen and develop new partnerships with organisations to increase opportunities to connect and participate

4.4 Provide and support contemporary and innovative community development programs initiatives and opportunities.

4.5 Identify, facilitate and advocate for initiatives to increase access to public and community transport.

4.6 Communicate, consult, and engage with our community to ensure the provision of responsive and effective services and to enable people to increase control over, and to improve, their wellbeing.

GPS to communicate, consult and engage for responsive and effective infrastructure and service delivery

4.7 Proactively support and encourage an increase in civic pride and build ownership of place.

4.8 Develop a long-term (25-year) community plan outlining a future vision for Golden Plains Shire.

4.9 Review decision making and governance processes and structures to improve transparency, accountability and progressively implement Council’s Community Engagement Strategy.

4.10 Promote and advocate for education, vocational and lifelong learning opportunities to support skill development and employment opportunities.

Provide spaces for education, lifelong learning and employment services

Deliver educational and vocational programs

Provide work experience and employment opportunities

4.11 Lobby, advocate, collaborate and develop strategic relationships with government, business, community and key stakeholders to facilitate local economic development and job creation.

Explore options for partnerships with more organisations

Objectives: Build community strength, capacity and resilience through fostering opportunities for people to engage,

connect and participate in community life.

To increase access to affordable and sustainable transport options for our communities

Encourage active community engagement, genuine and effective consultation and accountability through reporting of achievements.

Support and encourage pathways for education, training and lifelong learning for our community

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Priority 5: Family violence and gender equity

5.1 Lobby, advocate and work with others to maintain and enhance the safety and security of all people across our community and proactively address family violence.

Participate and develop regional partnerships and plans

Provide services in an integrated way

Deliver communications on family violence and gender equity

Explore opportunities for partnerships with more organisations

5.2 Provide and support programs, activities, and spaces to promote gender equity and support those experiencing family violence.

Provide programs

Increase opportunities for female participation in sport

Create safe and accessible spaces

Provide training in family violence and gender equity issues

5.3 Council supports, encourages and acts on the Communities of Respect and Equality Alliance (CORE) plan to prevent violence against women. 5.4 Continue to implement Council’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and influencing broader access, inclusion and gender equity issues in our community.

Objectives:

Maintain and enhance community safety to enable people to feel safe and secure in their local communities, with a focus on preventing family violence.

Demonstrate leadership on equal opportunity, gender equity, inclusion and wellbeing for all groups in the community.

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Partnerships

“Collaborating and strengthening partnerships to improve health and wellbeing outcomes of our community.”

The Golden Plains Shire Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Action Plan reflects and captures the activities of Council and other organisations working in Golden Plains Shire.

The following organisations worked with Council to develop and identify actions that contribute to Council’s five Health and Wellbeing priorities:

Ballarat Community Health

Barwon CASA

Barwon Child Youth and Family (BCYF)

Barwon Health

Barwon Water

Berry Street

Bethany Community Services

Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership

Centacare

Department of Education & Training

Geelong YMCA

G21 Geelong Region Alliance

Hesse Rural Health

Integrated Living Australia Inc.

Geelong LLEN

Leisure Networks

Meredith Community Learning Hub

Sports Central

Women's Health Grampians

Woady Yaloak Catchment Group