Flinders Shire
HEALTHY COMMUNITY PROJECT
2009-2013
Aim: to promote and improve positive health behaviours such as physical activity & nutrition, well-being, Indigenous health and healthy active ageing.
Evidence shows that due to geographical location and access to Services in regional and remote communities in Queensland, residents have significantly higher rates of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. High risk factors such as lack of physical activity, poor nutrition and lack of strategies for active healthy ageing contribute to chronic diseases and injury.
Flinders Shire is located in the remote western plains of Queensland. Queensland Health in collaboration with Flinders Shire Council would like to address some of the above disadvantages and make these communities ‘healthy communities’. A healthy community is one that consciously seeks to improve the health of its people and to enable them to improve their health through participation and adoption of healthy lifestyles. Townsville Public Health Unit, Queensland Health is committed to working with the whole community to achieve improved participation in physical activity, nutrition, positive mental health, sun safety, Indigenous health and healthy active ageing strategies and to adopt healthier lifestyles.
This project is a place-based approach which means it is an initiative designed to address health improvement and specific health problems in a particular geographical area, where there are health issues that require sustained investment at multiple levels. The project has an inclusive and collaborative partnership approach. It involves a wide cross section of the community, government and non-government organisations as stakeholders.
Phase one:
- Community consultations to identify issues and improvements required in the community.
- Establishment of local steering committee.
- The project is funded by Queensland Health
- Community Consultation and identification of issues is to be completed by June 2010.
Phase two: starts from July 2010-June 2013:
- Prioritise the issues identified with the community and disseminate findings and recommendations of the consultations to the communities and other relevant stakeholders servicing Flinders Shire.
- Plan and implement an action plan with the steering committee.
- Develop evaluation strategies and disseminate the results and recommendations to the communities and other relevant stakeholders in Flinders Shire.
The following resources are available to be utilised during consultations and the life of the project.
- 10000 steps, a physical activity strategy.
- The “Supportive Environments for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating” tool.
- The information and resources around physical activity and nutrition as part of the “Australian Better Health Initiative’s (ABHI) “Measure Up” campaign and “Tomorrow’s People” campaign (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).
- SUNBusters grants for creating sun safe structures.
For more information please contact:
Senior Health Promotion Officer (Mental Health), Townsville Public Health Unit, Tropical Regional Services, Queensland Health: Ph: 07- 4753 9000
