Welcome to Healthy Communities
'Healthy communities result from healthy choices and environments that support shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in building a healthier, more vibrant community.' [Norris, T and Pittman, M]
Many factors impact on the health and wellbeing of a community including social, economic, environmental, genetic and behavioural factors. These vary across different population groups - those with lower socio-economic positions having poorer health; change as we grow older - with key transition points throughout our lives; and are linked to the places in which we live, and the social and economic conditions of everyday life, for example income, education, housing, safety, and access to services.
A number of the major causes of poor health are preventable. As the level of government with the closest connection to their community, councils are increasingly acknowledged as having a lead role to play in addressing these issues and helping create healthy communities through;
The LGAQ Healthy Communities Project is funded by Queensland Health from June 2010 to December 2012 to build the capacity of Qld local government to create healthy communities as an integral part of council business.
What's New
| Funding available for 6 Healthy Community Demonstration Projects
The LGAQ Healthy Communities Project has funding of up to $100,000 to fund up to six Queensland councils as demonstration projects. Projects funded will offer insights for other councils into how healthy places, programs, plans or policies might be implemented and sustained or how community members or council leaders may be supported to commit to healthy choices.
Qld councils may apply for funding up to a maximum $25,000. Projects must be delivered over a period of 8 months (May 2012 – December 2012).
Funded projects will demonstrate innovative or easily replicable initiatives that build the capacity of participating councils and of other councils to create healthy communities. Successful applicants must be willing to share the details of their progress as well as discussion of the issue to be addressed, emerging challenges or solutions and what worked or didn’t work so well.
Based on feedback from councils, this flexible funding pool seeks to acknowledge the diversity of needs, challenges, capacity and readiness of Qld council’s to address healthy community issues. Aspects of unsuccessful applications to the Australian Government Healthy Community Initiative may be used as a basis for applications where these also meet the selection criteria for this initiative.
Application Form and Guidelines provide further information including examples of projects that will be considered, selection criteria and how to apply. For further information contact Gillian Myers, LGAQ Healthy Communities Advisor or phone 3000 2259.
Applications close 5.00pm Wednesday 28 March 2012 |
 | Healthy Leaders Awards
The LGAQ will soon be calling for nominations for elected members, managers and officers from Queensland councils who have made a significant contribution to leading the creation of healthy communities and / or healthy council workplaces.
Based on feedback from Queensland councils about the importance of leaders in creating healthy communities and healthy workplaces, the awards aim to encourage those in local government who have demonstrated leadership across a number of criteria.
Winners will receive valuable recognition as local government leaders in the creation of healthy communities and /or healthy council workplaces and prizes to further enhance their capacity to create healthy communities. |
