Email: health.promotion@nhw.org.au
Green Street, Wangaratta, VIC 3677
What is Health Promotion?
Health promotion enables people to increase control over their own health. It covers a wide range of social and environmental interventions that are designed to benefit and protect individual people’s health and quality of life by addressing and preventing the root causes of ill health, not just focusing on treatment and cure. World Health Organization
What we do
We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community by promoting good health and preventing poor health before it occurs.
Our health promotion team work closely with other key partners and organisations across our region including Gateway Health, Alpine Health, Benalla Health, Mansfield District Hospital, Central Hume Primary Care Partnership (CHPCP) and the Rural City of Wangaratta. Our aim is to identify opportunities in the community and create supportive environments for communities to increase healthy behaviour choices.
We are a key contributor to the Integrated Health Promotion Prevention plan developed by the Central Hume Primary Care Partnership.
Northeast Health is also involved in the Local Health and Wellbeing partnership with the Rural City of Wangaratta, which supports the development and implementation of the Health and Wellbeing plan.
Some of our current and ongoing projects include;
Smiles 4 Miles is an initiative of Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) which aims to improve the oral health of children and their families. Tooth decay is Australia’s most common health problem. Smiles 4 Miles assists early childhood services to encourage and promote good oral health habits and healthy eating among children in their care.
NHW Dental Service supports the implementation of this program in 21 services across Wangaratta, Benalla, Beechworth and Mansfield. The three key messages of the program are Eat Well, Drink Well and Clean Well. As part of this program, the NHW Dental clinic provides free screenings to all children at participating services.
Schools can make a big difference when it comes to creating a healthy eating environment. When children and young people eat well they learn better, are more alert and are more likely to grow and develop to their full potential. By providing foods and drinks that support health and wellbeing for primary and secondary school students, you can help them establish healthy eating habits throughout some of the most influential years of their life.
Our Health promotion team work closely with local schools to implement the healthy choices guidelines in their settings. This involves working with staff and assisting with menu development, menu assessments using FoodChecker, policy reviews/development plus marketing and promotion. The healthy choices guidelines use the traffic light system to identify and promote healthy choices. Green for everyday food, amber for choose carefully and red for occasionally.
Northeast Health is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment that is free of tobacco-related risks. As part of our commitment to a smokefree health service, we have implemented a tobacco-free policy. This means that smoking is not permitted on any NHW campus at any time, including all buildings and grounds/outdoor areas.
Visit the Smokefree NHW page for more details.
Pregnancy is an ideal time to promote and support healthy lifestyles changes. Improving healthy habits gives the baby the best start to life. We work with NHW Antenatal clinic, Midwifery Group Practice and Lactation clinic to develop a number of antenatal resources. These include the Models of Care, Pregnancy Journey Map and Breastfeeding Journey Map.
We have also developed a Breastfeeding app, which can be downloaded at the App Store or Google Play store by searching for 'From Bump to Beyond'.
Useful Links
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
Better Health Channel – Victorian Government health and medical information
Kitchen Garden Foundation – Promotes healthy food education in primary schools
LiveLighter – A program which aims to encourage adults to lead healthier lifestyles
Healthy Eating Advisory Service – Supports organisations to promote healthier food and drink choices
FoodChecker – Check your foods and drinks against Victorian guidelines
Eat For Health – Advice about the amount and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing
Achievement Program – Supports Victorians to create healthy places for working, learning and living.
Quit Victoria – Quit smoking website