The Health Promotion professionals work to create a healthy environment, where healthy choices are the easy choices.
The team are striving to make Yarriambiack Shire a healthy place for all to thrive while supporting community settings to have access to healthy environments through healthy food options and physical activity spaces where everyone feels socially connected.
The health promotion service is delivered by a team of health professionals with university qualifications in the health sciences.
Using a range of lenses, models, strategies, themes and influencers in accordance with the latest evidence, the team aims to improve rural liveability and the physical, social and mental wellbeing of the Yarriambiack community.
Accessing this service
As health promotion works to improve community health and wellbeing, our services are targeted towards the general population.
RNH Health Promotion used the Department of Health’s Health Promotion Community Guidelines to the 2021-2025 RNH Health Promotion Strategic Plan.
This plan uses a settings-based approach and provides a roadmap that aims to improve health outcomes in the following areas within our community:
- Schools.
- Hospitals.
- Sporting clubs.
- Food outlets.
Current projects within the RNH health promotion service
Stride Squad
RNH Health Promotion runs a weekly walking group, providing an opportunity for individuals to engage in regular physical activity, improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing whilst fostering a sense of community and joy in nature.
School Achievement Program
RNH Health Promotion has started collaborating with Yarriambiack shire schools to join more than 700 Victorian schools signed up to the Healthy Schools Achievement Program.
This program is based on the World Health Organisation’s Health Promoting Schools model and is aligned to key policies and guidelines including the Victorian Curriculum, Framework for Improved Student Outcomes and School Improvement Framework.
The program is centred around seven key health areas to achieve a whole-of-school approach to health and wellbeing, which include:
- Healthy eating and Oral health.
- Physical activity and movement.
- Sexual health and wellbeing.
- Mental health and wellbeing.
- Sun protection.
- Safe environments.
- Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
Each health area has a set of targets to achieve, resulting in healthy changes to school’s physical environment, policies and practices, and health promoting activities.
When schools achieve all targets for a health area, they will receive Victorian Government recognition.
Rural Northwest Health provides education and support in implementing changes within schools to meet these targets.
Cancer awareness, support and early detection (CASED)
Through grant funding received from the Grampians Integrated Cancer Service (GICS), Rural Northwest Health provides free skin checks to the Yarriambiack Shire.
Attending community events such as Agricultural Shows, Health Promotion offers busy farmers and community members a free skin check with no need for an appointment.
The program is currently undergoing development to improve capacity and sustainability.