Rapidly evolving Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit
The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) has been rapidly evolving over the past 6-12 months, as its functions and capabilities in prevention and population health, communicable disease, environmental health and emergency management have expanded. In that time the LMPHU has established a Primary Care and Population Health governance structure, developed the Loddon Mallee Population Health Plan 2023-25, The Climate Change in Health Framework, and transitioned notifiable conditions to local management. The unit aims to collaborate, communicate and build capacity through established and developing networks at regional and sub-regional levels. To do this effectively the LMPHU has set up offices and teams in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Echuca and Mildura. Communication has also been a focus for the unit and has seen the inclusion of the Bendigo Health website LMPHU page, increased targeted public health messaging . Social media and the distribution of the LMPHU Public Health Update has also improved communications. This is a fortnightly publication that provides situational awareness on current public health issues and risks and is shared with regional stakeholders. A communications community of practice has also been established. This allows appropriate messaging and assets to be shared across the region for stakeholders and other organisations to utilise, in turn having better community reach across the Loddon Mallee.
“We’re really excited to see the role of the public health unit consolidate over the last six months and play a growing role supporting the community and our partners across the region,” LMPHU medical director Naveen Tenneti said. LMPHU operations manager Emma Vains shared the same enthusiasm, saying this was an important step forward for the unit. “We’re excited in the public health unit to be part of this evolution and play a growing role in supporting the community and our partners across the region,” she said. Prevention and Population Health The Loddon Mallee Population Health Plan 2023-2025, identified three priority areas of focus, Healthy Food Systems, Mental Wellbeing and Climate Change and Health. Implementation plans were developed in consultation with key agencies within the sub-regions of Loddon, Mallee and Murray. These implementation plans will guide the work over the coming 12 months and will be evaluated against each priority’s objectives. Work is well underway, with the team commencing projects that exhibit place-based initiatives and participation. Healthy Food Systems The Loddon Team has been working alongside Healthy Loddon Campaspe (HLC) to support its Healthy Food System Framework (Flourish). This resource will bring together stakeholders to move
the region’s food system toward a more sustainable circular economy in food production, social equity and increasing healthy eating. The Flourish Framework does not extend to the local government areas of Buloke, Gannawarra, Mildura, and Swan Hill. Consultations were therefore held with stakeholders in these areas to test the applicability of the framework being extended across the region. Participants were impressed but were clear they wanted to undertake the development process to better understand the issues and opportunities of their areas. Because of this, the Mallee team has begun the research and primary stages of putting a Mallee Food Strategy paper together. They have also started work in establishing a Sunraysia Healthy Food Systems Network and Sunraysia Food Relief Network. In the Murray, the LMPHU funded and worked with Njernda Aboriginal Corporation to support the regeneration of an Indigenous garden in Echuca. The team has also supported organisations such as East Wimmera Health Service, Swan Hill District Health and Northern District Community Health to promote healthier more affordable food choices, food sharing events and enhance community gardens. Mental Wellbeing The LMPHU developed a Social Prescribing resource for stakeholders, which can be found here: Social Prescribing (bendigohealth.org.au)
The Loddon Mallee Population Health Plan 2023-2025, identified three priority areas of focus, Healthy Food Systems, Mental Wellbeing and Climate Change and Health.
LMSHSNDRieggitiaolnNael wResv|ieIwssue| 1 I|ssOuceto3be|r 20A2u2tumn 2023 LMHN Regional Review | Issue 6 | Summer 2024
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