Health and wellbeing
The Golden Plains Shire Health and Wellbeing team is a partnership initiative between Golden Plains Shire Council, Ballarat District Nursing & Healthcare, Barwon Health and Ballarat Community Health.
Funded by the Department of Health, the Health and Wellbeing Team has a commitment to working in partnership to enhance and promote the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across Golden Plains Shire.
The key priorities for the Health and Wellbeing Team include:
- Promoting mental health and wellbeing
- Building healthy communities through increased physical activity and good nutrition
- Improving capacity building through evaluation and partnership development.
Learn about Health and Wellbeing services:
What does the Health and Wellbeing team do?
The Health and Wellbeing Team provide a range of activities and services from four main community hubs. These are:
396 Sago Hill Rd, Haddon. Ph. 5342 7000
19 Heales St, Smythesdale. Ph. 5321 1500
Swamp Rd, Dereel.
27 High St, Bannockburn. Ph. 5220 7260
For information about the current activities and services offered at these community centres please contact using the phone numbers above.
We also provide a range of other activities and programs across the Shire some of which include:
Our Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan "Healthy People - Healthy Places" sets the overarching framework for all of the policies and partnerships that must be in place if people in the Shire are to enjoy good physical and mental health in great communities. For more information click here.
VicHealth H30 Challenge
Golden Plains Shire Council is a proud supporter of VicHealth's H30 Challenge. The Challenge encourages Victorians to make a simple 30-day pledge to replace every sugary drink they would normally drink, with water. As part of the campaign we offered people who live, work or play sport in Golden Plains Shire the chance to win prizes for taking the Challenge.
More information at H30 Challenge
VicHealth H30 Challenge Sporting Club Competition
Congratulations to the following sporting groups who have received $500 H30 Challenge sponsorship
- Bannockburn Auskick
- Bannockburn Bush Run
- Bannockburn Net Set Go
- Carngham Linton Football Netball Club
- Rokewood Corindhap Football Netball Club
- Smythesdale Adult Riders Inc.
The final ladder of generated sign ups to the H30 Challenge by each club can be seen by clicking here.
Please refer to the terms and conditions of the Golden Plains Shire H30 Challenge Sporting Club Competition for more information at http://h30challenge.com.au/news/Golden%20Plains%20Shire%20Sporting%20Clubs
The Health and Wellbeing Team currently has funding available for ‘Gem of an Idea’ grants. These small grants of up to $500 are available for non profit community groups to undertake projects or activities aimed at promoting community connections, good nutrition, physical activity and/ or mental wellbeing. For more information visit the Gem of An Idea page.
Heart Foundation Walking is a network of free community based walking groups led by volunteer organisers.
The Heart Foundation Walking Area Coordinator for Golden Plains Shire can provide assistance to establish new walking groups or support any existing groups across the Shire to recruit walkers or plan walks with other groups.
For more information on the range of walking opportunities across the Shire contact Jacinta Walsh on 5321 1500 or jacinta.walsh@gplains.vic.gov.au .
Trailblazer Walks
The Golden Plains Shire Health & Wellbeing Team lead monthly walks along some of our local parths and trails. All fitness levels are welcome as a support vehicle is on hand with pick up points along the walks.
Trailblazers Walks August to December 2017
1-31 October 2017
For full details on all events and how to be involved download the Festival Brochure or call 0417 618 077 or email NorthernCommunityCentre2@gplains,vic.gov.au and we will send you a copy.
Download Seniors Festival Brochure
For more information on the statewide Seniors Festival 2017 go to www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au or call Seniors Information Victoria on 1300 135 090.
Health and Wellbeing staff work with partners and the community to identify opportunities to help people get more active across Golden Plains Shire.
Some of the programs and projects that the Health and Wellbeing team are delivering or partnering with others to provide currently are Branch into Music, Steady Feet, Sporting Schools, Nature play, Walk to School, and Trailblazers.
To find out more, please contact the Health and Wellbeing team.
In 2015 there was a great response from the community in relation to ‘Food for Thought’ forums at which information from a recent local Food Access study was shared and local solutions identified.
Following the Forums, two Food Network groups have been established, one in the north and one in the south of the shire, to identify and work on projects that help improve access to healthy food in Golden Plains Shire.
Project ideas have been prioritised by the food networks and are being developed by community working groups. The food network groups continue to meet and work on these projects and identify additional opportunities to strengthen our local food access system. If you would like to be involved in these projects or if you would like to start your own project and be linked into the Food Networks please contact Jacinta Walsh on 5321 1500 or email jwalsh@gplains.vic.gov.au.
A range of health information and resources are available for individuals, communities and events. This includes information on a variety of topics including mental health, diabetes, men's health, relationships, and available health and community services.
Please contact the Health and Wellbeing Team or drop into one of the above Hubs to enquire about any of the resources available.
Get ready, get set for Walk to School 2017!
Golden Plains Shire Council are encouraging all primary school students and their families to get involved in VicHealth’s Walk to School program which will be held from the 9th October – 3rd November. The aim of the program is to encourage students and their families to consider ways they can incorporate walking, riding or scooting to school into their regular routine. It’s a great way for the whole family to increase their physical activity levels. Plus, it is a chance to enjoy more time with your kids.
For those families who live too far from school to walk to school we encourage you to park a distance from school and walk the remaining way. Park and walk locations will be identified in some townships. Some schools may also choose to offer a community walk, walking at school or a walk the shire challenge as alternative ways to be involved. Weekly fruit deliveries will be made to participating schools during October and funding support will be provided for schools to conduct a Walk to School event. Golden Plains Shire Council has received funding from VicHealth to deliver these activities.
To encourage families to get out and walking in their local communities we have partnered with Haddon Community Learning Centre to deliver Golden Plains Rocks. This is a treasure hunt for hand painted rocks. Kids (and adults) decorate a rock, hide them in a public place that is safe and accessible and then post a clue to the rocks location on the Golden Plains Rocks Facebook group page. Using the clues people can hunt for the hidden rocks.
VicHealth are also encouraging kids to get creative by decorating their shoes, bikes or scooters. Students with the best shoe design will be in the running for some amazing prizes. Share your designs by sending your videos or photos to walktoschool@vichealth.vic.gov.au
For more information about the Golden Plains Shire Walk to School program please contact Belinda on 5321 1500.
For more information about the VicHealth Walk to School program visit https://www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au
For additional information on any of the activities or services provided, please contact the Health and Wellbeing Team Leader.
Follow the links below to find out more about the agencies involved in the partnership:
