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Health Promotion in Local Government
Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales (LGSA)
In 2003, the NSW Department of Health entered into a partnership with the LGSA. This action emerged from the Prevention of Obesity in Children and Young People: NSW Government Action Plan 2003 – 2007, where local government was identified as an important setting for health improvement.
The purpose of the collaboration is to develop capacity within the LGSA to focus on population health issues and to enhance partnership arrangements. It identifies and utilises existing structures, policies, networks and communication mechanisms to enhance population health outcomes and identifies additional mechanisms that could be developed to strengthen the population health response of local government across NSW.
The Local Government Public Health Survey and the Healthy Local Government Grants Program have been two initiatives developed as part of the partnership.
Local Government Public Health Survey
The Local Government Public Health Survey was conducted to research and document the approach and extent of existing Local Government population health activity and partnerships with Area Health Services in 2004. The Survey had an excellent response rate of 70.4% with 107 councils out of 152 NSW councils completing the Survey.
Key findings were made in planning for public health, best practices and awards, capacity building needs, health protection and promotion activities, partnerships with Area Health Services and other agencies, and the role of Local Government and Shires Association.
A summary and full version report are available from http://www.lgsa.org.au/www/html/266-public-health--role-of-local-government.asp
Healthy Local Government Grants Program
The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) has distributed funds of $480,000 to 26 local government bodies and one Aboriginal land council, through the Healthy Local Government Grants Program, funded by the NSW Department of Health.
This Program is a vital component of the strategic partnership formed between the NSW Department of Health and the LGSA. The purpose of the alliance is to develop capacity within Local Government to focus on public health issues (both health promotion and health protection) and to enhance partnership arrangements on key public health issues.
Through a formal application process the Grants Program has provided funding to develop and deliver best practice in four key areas:
- Active communities
- Community safety and injury prevention
- Capacity building: partnerships, equity and special populations
- Skin cancer prevention
NSW Health is delighted to announce the projects successful in obtaining grant funding:
Active Communities
- Ashfield Council, active community project
- Lithgow Council, active community project
- Blue Mountains Council, bike to school project
- Weilwan Aboriginal Lands Council (Coonamble district), Aboriginal well-being project
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), active transport project
- North Sydney Council, healthy pool food project
- Lismore Council, physical activity project targeting Aboriginal children
- Walgett Shire Council, fitness track
Community Safety and Injury Prevention
- Blacktown Council, Emerton water safety project
- Great Lakes Council, safe communities network
- Newcastle Council, water safety for African refugees
- Baulkham Hills Council, falls prevention for aged
- Warringah Council, life ball for seniors falls prevention project
- Richmond Valley Council, cattle transport and saleyard safety
Capacity Building: partnerships, equity and special populations
- Cowra Shire Council, young women's hip-hop for health
- Wollongong Council, food access project
- Randwick Council, East Coast active Kooris
- Holroyd Council, implementation of city health plan
- Lithgow Council, active Bowenfels- public housing estate
- Forbes Shire Council, creative adolescent support program
- Blue Mountains Council, youth co-morbidity project
- Muswellbrook Council, caravan park communities project
- Blacktown Council, African 'nadi' club
Skin Cancer Prevention
- Conargo Shire Council, sun protection structures children's playgrounds
- Gilgandra Shire Council, Sunsmart pool project
- Greater Hume Shire Council, Shade Sail Child Care Centre
- Kyogle Council, shade structures children's play areas
- Bourke Shire Council, Made in the Shade (mobile shade structures, education program & purchase dermoscope)
- Hurstville Council, shade structure for playground utilised by disabled children
For further information on population health initiatives in local government, visit the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW (LGSA) website
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