#2328_WSLHD_CPH_YIR 2023_4A_WEB

Health Promotion directions Health Promotion Director, Michelle Nolan says her team will fully integrate its new Framework and Strategy (2023-2025) over the coming year and beyond, demonstrating its mission to reducing health inequities, and tailored initiatives that effectively reach priority populations. Focus areas will include strengthening of our settings-based work with early childhood services and schools via new equity-driven program support models, a consolidated approach to healthy food environments with our existing partners and settings and building on current work in smoking and vaping prevention, especially for young people. “One strategic shift will be our healthy ageing portfolio towards a more proactive, population-wide, evidence-based approach to prevention. Rather than directly delivering programs, our goal is to build partnerships with local services and organisations to enhance the reach and impact of initiatives in the community,” said Michelle. “We also plan to intensify our efforts in creating healthy built environments that facilitate increased physical activity among the community, particularly with older adults.” Michelle added the team’s commitment to healthy urban development and fostering community health and wellbeing will continue through active collaboration with our Council partners. This will include the launch and advocacy of the Healthy Higher Density Living for Families with Children - Guide. Public Health Unit directions A key focus for the Public Health Unit (PHU) in 2024 will be consolidating teams and functions as the emergency response to COVID-19 ends according to Director, Dr Catherine Bateman. “The PHU will be undertaking a strategic review, supported by a research and evaluation plan, to ensure it provides an efficient, responsive, health protection service well-suited to our populations needs.” An important aspect of this strategic review will be to operationalise recommendations from a suite of COVID-19 After Action Reviews. Recommendations include improving public health workforce and epidemiological capacity, enhancing engagement with local pathology providers, and better integrating public health into District emergency planning. “We will also be seeking to better understand population needs from a health protection service after years of COVID-19, increased economic pressures, and emerging climate-related health threats,” said Dr Bateman. “We are working with research partners to understand needs and develop community-focused strategies to address reduced immunisation coverage. We will also build on relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander non-government organisations and housing for health champions in piloting a program promoting child-safe environments in community housing.”

Dr Catherine Bateman , Public Health Unit Director

Michelle Nolan , Health Promotion Director

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WSLHD Centre for Population Health Year in Review 2023