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Not everyone is able to enjoy the same level of good health. Health promotion works to minimise differences in health that are due to social causes such as poverty, social exclusion, poor housing and lack of access to timely and appropriate health information and services.
Over the next five years our Equity and Communities Team aim to:
- work in two localities to improve physical and social environments and access to local health care and community services.
- improve the availability and/or access to healthy and affordable food options to disadvantaged population groups.
- focus on early life including educational opportunities.
Examples of our work towards these aims include:
'Food Fairness Illawarra'
The Health Promotion Service has been a key partner in the development of the 'Food Fairness Illawarra' coalition that works to raise awareness and understanding of food security in the local Illawarra community.
The coalition meets regularly since its formation in October 2005, following a forum held during anti-poverty week. It has representatives from the community and from a range of welfare organisations, food providers, councils, health services and the University of Wollongong.
The coalition supports projects that promote food security, seeks secure on-going funding sources and advocates for food fairness at a local level.
Warrawong community kitchen
The Health Promotion Service has lent research and financial support to the Warrawong Community Centre to document the benefits of providing free lunches to disadvantaged people in need. Providing nutritious meals at a community venue seems to have additional benefits such as users developing social networks and being more likely to access health, social and welfare services.
Aboriginal health
Aboriginal Australians suffer poorer health and die at a younger age than the non-Aboriginal Australian population. Our Aboriginal health work involves local Aboriginal communities and organisations to find solutions to health issues that respect Aboriginal wisdom, knowledge, history and culture.
Recent projects include:
- young people from an Aboriginal student hostel working alongside a regional art gallery and an elder Aboriginal women's painting group to build relationships and promote cultural identity through an art mentoring scheme.
- the appointment and support of two Aboriginal cadetships that will be based in the Illawarra region.
Four steps
The Health Promotion Service developed and provided training for health professionals on an educational package called 'Four Steps Towards Equity: a tool for health promotion practice'. The package has since been used at the local and state level across NSW.
More information
For more information on equity work of the Health Promotion Service, please contact us.
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