West Wimmera Shire Council
Municipal Public Health &
Wellbeing Plan
2013
WWSC Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Revision:
4th of July 2013
1st of August 2013
19th of September 2013
Assembly of Councillors –
Councillor Forum
Ordinary Council Meeting
Ordinary Council Meeting
17th of October 2013
Ordinary Council Meeting
Discussion of priorities
1st Draft to Council
Draft endorsement for public
display
Plan Adoption by Council
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:........................................................................................................................ 3
COUNCIL VISION ............................................................................................................................... 4
COUNCIL MISSION STATEMENT ........................................................................................................ 4
COUNCIL VALUES .............................................................................................................................. 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 5
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 6
PURPOSE OF THE MUNICIPAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN ........................................... 7
ROLE OF WEST WIMMERA SHIRE ................................................................................................... 7
LINKS WITH COUNCIL PLANS.......................................................................................................... 8
VICTORIAN PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN 2011 – 2015 ................................................. 10
REVIEW AND EVALUATION ............................................................................................................. 11
COMMUNITY PROFILE .................................................................................................................... 11
THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE LIVING IN WEST WIMMERA ................................................................... 12
STATISTICS FOR WEST WIMMERA SHIRE COUNCIL ......................................................................... 14
PRIORITIES ...................................................................................................................................... 17
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COUNCIL VISION
West Wimmera Shire delivers the very best experience and opportunity that rural
living has to offer.
COUNCIL MISSION STATEMENT
West Wimmera Shire Council will work in partnership with the community and
government to develop and enhance a productive, healthy and safe community by
providing leadership, services, advocacy and good governance.
COUNCIL VALUES
We will consult and engage our communities in all key issues
We will act honestly, ethically and with fairness
We will act innovatively to provide quality services and strong advocacy
We will ensure professional and effective levels of Council governance
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The health and wellbeing of our community is strongly related to the social, economic
and built environments around us. This plan looks towards these factors within the
community of the West Wimmera Shire and how Council along with external
stakeholders can improve these environments to better the health and wellbeing of our
communities. This plan not only aims to reduce the burden of disease on our
communities, but promotes a healthy lifestyle to work on a preventative approach
rather than working reactively once our community is already suffering, putting undue
stress on our health care system.
A number of priority areas have been developed with reference to current health
statistics for the West Wimmera Shire in conjunction with the health priority areas for
the Victorian State health and Wellbeing Plan 2011 – 2015.
The Priority areas for West Wimmera’s plan for 2013 – 2017 include:
Food Safety
Healthy Environments
Healthy Eating
Physical Activity
Tobacco
Immunisation
Social Connection
Mental Health
Youth Education and Employment
It is acknowledged that West Wimmera Shire have limited resources to achieve these
goals independently and will rely on building and strengthening relationships with
community partners that have similar goals in regards to the health and wellbeing of
our communities.
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INTRODUCTION
Health is about a lot more than just being ill. The World Health Organisation defines
health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity.”
The WHO recognises that the conditions under which people live have vital influence
on the state of their health and that health cannot be achieved or sustained without a
supportive environment.
The social, economic, built and natural environments in which we live have
profound effects on our health. By identifying actions that will bring about positive
changes across all of these dimensions, we can foster environments which are
supportive of health and in turn help create a healthier community.
The World Health Organisation believe that the context of people’s lives determine
their health and it is often likely that individuals are unlikely to be able to directly
control many of the determinants of health such as those mentioned above.
Figure 1.
The social model of health includes:
Recognition of the broad social, economic and environmental determinants of health and illness
The importance of health promotion and disease prevention
The importance of community participation in decision making
The importance of working with sectors outside of health
An understanding that equity is an important outcome of health service intervention.” (DHS)
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PURP OS E O F T HE MUN ICI P AL PU BLIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
PLAN
It is a requirement of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Section 26) that every
Municipal Council prepares a Public Health Plan which identifies and assesses actual and
potential public health risks in the municipal district.
This plan will identify and reflect the current state of community health within West
Wimmera and outline programs and strategies that will help prevent and minimise public
health risks and encourage and enable people to achieve maximum wellbeing.
Public Health plans are prepared every 4 years with yearly reviews during that time.
RO LE O F W EST W IMMER A S HIRE
Council does not work in isolation to achieve the goals set out in this plan. Many different
agencies are involved and work collaboratively to provide health outcomes for the
communities within West Wimmera. It is important for Council to develop and foster
partnerships across the region, however, there are a number of areas that have been identified
for council to play a role in the current plan including:
Planning
Advocacy
Leadership
Promotion, Information and Awareness.
Facilitate
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The below table displays the environments for health and how they fit with areas within the
Council and public context.
Factor
Context for Public
Examples of Council Service Areas
Built/Physical
Environment
Provision of infrastructure such
as amenities, parks, roads,
footpaths, street lighting,
residential development
Land use planning
Transport & Traffic
Management
Recreation facilities services
Social
Environment
Sense of belonging and
participation in the community,
and safety
Economic
Environment
Economic policy, industrial
development, employment
opportunities
Community support
Art & Cultural Development
Library Services
Community Building &
Community Development
Recreation Services
Economic Community
Development
Access and equity to services
Natural
Environment
Geography, air and water
quality, native vegetation,
Sustainability
Water Quality Waste
Management Energy
Consumption
LI N KS W IT H COUNCIL P LAN S
Integrated planning is key for the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan process,
aiming to better link services and save from duplication both internally and externally.
This plan reflects the current vision of Council and is linked in many ways to the goals of the
council plan which are:
Increase economic activity
Increase community amenity
Improve communication and community engagement activity
Increase community confidence
Deliver quality human services
Strengthen the culture and equitable governance of council
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Many action areas within the council plan for 2013-2017 relate to areas that improve the
environments for health in West Wimmera including providing business opportunities,
offering grants, improving childcare and town amenities.
Internally the plan will link with other plans including the Early Years Plan, Improved
Liveability of Older People Plan (ILOP) and the Emergency Management Plan. Externally
the plan will integrate with plans from the Wimmera Primary Care Partnership, Edenhope
and District Memorial Hospital and West Wimmera Health Service. Input from and
consultation with these services has occurred through the planning process for the West
Wimmera health Plan to ensure that the Whole of the municipality is working towards similar
health related goals for this plan period.
A Draft plan has been released to the public for their consultation prior to this plan being
finalised by council. Further community input has been received via community consultation
utilised for the Municipal Public Health Plan, Early Years Plan and ILOP plan. Community
input feedback that was provided to external services such as the Edenhope and District
Memorial Hospital, West Wimmera Health Service and the Wimmera Primary Care
partnership has also been utilised.
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VIC TORI AN PU BLIC HEALTH AND WE LLBE I NG P LAN 2011 –
2015
The West Wimmera Shire health Plan will be integrated with the Health Plan developed by
the state government of Victoria, this allows council to utilise the resources that the state
government
will
develop
for
the
promotion
of
the
priority
areas.
Below are the priorities as set by the state government:
Continue to Protect the
Health of Victorians
Communicable disease
preventionand control
Immunisation
Environmental health
Food safety
Incident and emergency
response
Keep People Well
Healthy eating
Physical activity
Tobacco Control
Oral Health
Alcohol and other
drug use
Strengthen
Preventative
Healthcare
Cancer screening
Newborn screening
Early intervention
Sexual and
reproductive health
promotion
Mental health
promotion
Injury prevention
Skin cancer prevention
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REVIEW AND EVALUATION
The plan will be reviewed on an annual basis to identify the progress with the identified priority
areas. The Below format will set the basis for how the plan will be reviewed in conjunction
with indicated measures and timeframes within the ‘priorities’ section of the plan.
This will be an evidence based process which will be a collaborative approach between
council and other involved services including health services. Consultations will occur with
community groups, schools and other organisations regarding their input to the review and
evaluation of the plan.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
West Wimmera Shire is situated along the Victoria - South Australia border is truly the
“Land of Diversity” - diversity of land use and suitability, business enterprise opportunities,
climatic conditions and country lifestyle, as well as the 21st century technology opportunities
available to people and businesses in metropolitan and regional cities.
Noted for its natural attractions and many unique and exciting country events West Wimmera
Shire boasts generous open spaces, low density housing, complemented by significant natural
vegetation and a number of lakes including Lake Wallace in Edenhope.
We offer some of the most envied qualities of rural living in Australia - space, freedom,
climate and opportunity with some of the best farmland in the state.
Our Shire is approximately 9,108 square kilometres with a population of 4,521 (2011 ABS).
It is centrally located in the South Eastern Australian "food bowl" between Melbourne and
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Adelaide and stretches along the Victorian and South Australian borders from the Big Desert
in the North to Chetwynd in the South.
The main townships are Edenhope and Kaniva with smaller rural areas including Harrow,
Goroke, Serviceton, Dergholm and Apsley.
Along with all areas of Australia, the Wimmera is experiencing climatic changes. This is
showing an ongoing increase in average temperature, with more days over 30 degrees Celsius
in the summer months. Evidence is predicting a declining rainfall and that rain that is
expected will fall in heavier downfalls bringing with it higher chances of flash flooding.
THE HE ALT H O F PEO P LE LI VIN G I N WES T W IMMER A
Our Region’s Health Se rvice s:
Kaniva is serviced by West Wimmera Health Service (WWHS), and has a hospital and
associated services, and ancillary services visiting from Nhill (WWHS’s headquarters).
Obstetrics services are provided at Nhill, as are a limited number of visiting specialists.
Kaniva has a Doctors surgery and a pharmacy within the township, but no dentist. The
nearest public dentist is within the townships of Nhill or Bordertown.
Edenhope is serviced by the Edenhope & District Memorial Hospital, which provides
Accident & Emergency, Acute Care, Surgery, Aged Care and a range of Community Health
and support services.
Kaniva & Edenhope operate 24 hrs Ambulance branches. These are run by professional
paramedics who are supported by volunteer community officers (ACO's). These branches
provide service to the whole of West Wimmera Shire.
Prenatal and postnatal care is provided at hospital, with no maternity services available at the
hospital but Maternal and Child Health Services through the Shire are available. This also
impacts on the accuracy of population figures between census dates, due to the morbidity
outside of our shire and the reporting practices. Edenhope is serviced by a Doctors surgery
and a pharmacy, as well as a dentist that services both private and public patients
Goroke Community Health Centre serves the small community of Goroke, and is part of the
West Wimmera Health Service. Doctor’s visit twice a week from other nearby towns, and a
wide variety of other services are provided at set intervals.
Harrow Bush Nursing Centre provides district nursing, accident & emergency nursing,
visiting GP services and other ancillary services at set intervals.
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The Harrow Bush Nursing Centre also encourages other activities which impact the health
and wellbeing of the community eg. Book Club, Men’s Shed, Neighbourhood House, Kinder
Gym, Line Dancing, Singing Group
E x t e r n a l He a l t h Se r v i c e s
Community members may have to make appointments to Horsham, Ballarat, Mt Gambier (SA),
as well as Melbourne or Adelaide to see specialists. This has been an ongoing concern from
members through-out the Shire. This can be difficult for those unable to drive, but services are
available to assist with this, such as the community car service.
M at e r n al & C hi l d H e al t h
The Shire has a highly dedicated maternal and child health nurse who provides a service to new
mothers, including regular health checks for babies and small children, home visits where
required, immunisation, referral to other services such as postnatal depression groups, and a
listening professional ear. The dedication of the maternal and child health nurse sees the West
Wimmera have high immunisation rates throughout the shire.
H om e & C om m u n i t y C ar e
Home and Community Care (HACC) is provided through both the Shire and local health
services, providing assistance to the frail aged and other people with disabilities in their homes.
Meals on Wheels are provided as part of this service.
Me n ’s S h e d
Council supports the ongoing work of the Men’s Sheds with there being four groups within the
Shire at Edenhope, Kaniva, Goroke and Harrow. Providing men in the shire a place to get
together and work on projects with there being scope to discuss men’s health issues at these
informal gatherings as well.
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STATISTICS FOR WEST WIMMERA SHIRE COUNCIL
Popu lation – 2011
AGE
POPULATION
% TOTAL
LGA
POPULATION
0-14
803
18.7%
18.2%
15-24
396
9.2%
13.9%
25-44
854
19.9%
29.1%
45-64
1,314
30.6%
24.8%
65-84
793
18.5%
12.1%
85+
129
3.0%
1.9%
TOTAL
4289
100%
100%
% TOTAL
STATE
POPULATION
(ABS)
Income – Median Ho usehold Weekly Inco m e
2006
2011
% Difference
West Wimmera
$729
$815
11.8%
Regional Victoria
$820
$945
15.2%
Victoria
$1,022
$1,216
19%
(ABS)
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Smoking - %of smokers residing in West Wimmera
Males
Females
Total persons
West Wimmera
24.7%
24.1%
24.4%
Victoria
21.9%
17.8%
19.8%
(Wimmera PCP Population Health and Wellbeing profile)
Fruit and Vegetable intake
2 or more serves of fruit per day
5 or more serves of vegetables per day
West Wimmera
42%
8.2%
Victoria
48.6%
7.7%
(Wimmera PCP Population Health and Wellbeing Profile)
Overweight and obese
MALES
FEMALES
Overweight
Obese
Overweight
Obese
West Wimmera
37.1%
22.0%
23.9%
19.3%
Victoria
35.7%
18.0%
22.6%
16.0%
(Wimmera PCP Population Health and Wellbeing profile)
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Enteric disease rates per 100,000 population
West Wimmera
Victoria
Camphylobacter Infection
Salmonellosis
261.0
174.0
133.4
51.9
(Wimmera PCP Population Health and Wellbeing profile)
Vector borne disease rates per 100,000 population
Ross River Virus
Barmah Forest Virus
West Wimmera
1022.2
13
Victoria
25.7
4.5
(Wimmera PCP Population Health and Wellbeing profile)
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PRIORITIES
GOAL: Promote and Maintain Food Safety
STRATEGY
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS
INVOLVED
MEASURE AND
TIMEFRAME
Ensure all class 1,2 and 3 food
premises are inspected annually
EHO
Department of Health
Quarterly Department of Health
reports
Will occur annually through life of
plan
Complete required annual food
sampling program
EHO
Department of Health
OMIC Australia (analysis lab)
Quarterly OMIC sample statements.
Will occur annually through life of
plan
Promote Department of Health
Streatrader website for temporary
and mobile food businesses to
ensure compliance with registration
EHO
Local Business owners
All mobile/temporary food
businesses at events will be
registered
Promote food safety in council
newsletter and social media
EHO
Health Services
Relevant article in newsletter each
Spring
Prepare a hard copy ‘Emergency
Food Procedures’ document for
times of emergency and incident
management
EHO
Community food providers
To be completed before 2013/2014
summer, updated annually
Community groups running markets
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GOAL: Create, Promote and Maintain Health y Environments
STRATEGY
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS
INVOLVED
MEASURES AND
TIMEFRAMES
Ensure all beauty, hair and
accommodation premises are
registered and inspected annually
EHO
Business proprietors
Occurs annually, measured by
number of inspections completed
Ensure installation of septic tanks are
in accordance with the EPA
guidelines
EHO
Department of Health
Plumbers
Ongoing, number of tanks installed
LCA assessors
Shire Building Inspector
Respond to nuisance complaints
under the Public health and
Wellbeing Act
EHO
Shire Communities
Complaints registered in Health
manager system, occur as required
Promote awareness of mosquitoes
and the transmission of infections, by
utilising shire newsletter
EHO
Health Services
Concentrate in lead up to and through
summer time. Measure by evidence
of promotional materials being
dispersed
Promote heatwave health to
community with a target to
vulnerable populations
EHO
Health Services
Schools Sporting
Clubs Community
Groups
Ongoing through hot months with
review of annual heatwave plan
throughout cooler months
HACC
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GOAL: Promote an d Encourage Health y Eating
STRATEGIES
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS INVOLVED
MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Raise awareness of healthy food
choices available to the community
through social media
EHO
Food Businesses
Supermarkets
Schools
Increased consumption rates as
detailed in Vic Health Population
Health Survey. Yearly/ongoing
Increase people’s knowledge of
preparing healthy foods
EHO
Health Services – Dietician
Increased consumption rates as
detailed in Vic Health Population
Health Survey. Yearly/ongoing
School groups
Council to ensure healthy meal
options are available in the delivery
of its Meals on Wheels program
HACC
Health Services
Health Service Dietician’s
accreditation. Ongoing
Encourage schools to promote
healthy eating through regular classes
and other programs such as
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Program
Youth Officer
Shire Schools
Increased consumption rates as
detailed in Vic Health Population
Health Survey. Yearly/ongoing
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GOAL: Increase an d Strengthen Partnerships with Health Ser vi ces
STRATEGIES
Meet with Health Services t o
d is cuss shared programs and
services offered t o t he
community.
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
GM CC S
OTHER PARTNERS INVOLVED
Health services
MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Twice yea r l y meetings to occur
GOAL: Increase the Physical Acti vity Levels of S h ire Communities
STRATEGIES
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS
INVOLVED
MEASURE AND
TIMEFRAMES
Promote physical activities offered
within the shire through use of shire
newsletter
EHO
Health services
Increased participation. Measured
through club and school participation
numbers
Develop and improve new and
existing recreational facilities and
programs
EHO
Sporting Clubs
Community Groups
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Evidence of further facilities,
Playground Audit. Ongoing
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GOAL: Provide Tobacco Education an d Surveillance
STRATEGY
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS
INVOLVED
MEASURE AND
TIMEFRAME
Complete routine inspections and
complete 6 monthly reports to
Municipal Association of
Victoria(MAV) in accordance with
service agreement
EHO
MAV, Department of Health
Reports lodged each 6 months and
grants from MAV received
Business proprietors
GOAL: Maintain High Levels o f Immunisation Rates
STRATEGY
Continue to promote and support the
Maternal and Child Health Services
within the shire
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
MCHN
OTHER PARTNERS INVOLVED
Schools
Kindergartens
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MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Quarterly statistics provide by
MCHN. Ongoing
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GOAL: Promote the Benefits of Increased Social Connections
STRATEGIES
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
OTHER PARTNERS
MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Work in partnership with service
clubs to promote the benefits of
involvement in the community
GMCCS
Service Clubs
Sporting Clubs
Western Victoria Volunteers
Volunteer rates. Ongoing
Encourage and support community
access, participation with alternative
activities by advertising through
newsletter
GMCCS
Service Clubs
Recreational Clubs
Participation rates in community
groups. Ongoing
Continue to acknowledge the work
that is completed by volunteers in the
shire
GMCCS
Western Victoria Volunteers
Nominations and support for
Volunteer awards. Ongoing
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GOAL: Provide Services and Activities to A ddress Mental H ealth in a Region al Setting
STRATEGIES
Provide school focused youth
counselling sessions for students and
parents
Support the work of Wimmera
Uniting Cares Rural and Remote
Engagement Officer
Promote and support the Men’s
Sheds within the shire as a place for
men to gather
Provide and support counselling
services to assist with hardship
through fire/flood/drought and other
emergencies
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
Youth Officer
OTHER PARTNERS
Schools
Local families
Counselling services / psychologists
Health Services
MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Once per 2 years
EHO
GMCCS
Men’s sheds
Local men
Grant application numbers. Ongoing
GMCCS
Health Services
Counselling services
Referral Numbers to Counselling
Services.
EHO
GMCCS
Referral numbers. Ongoing
GOAL: Support Education and Employment Opportunities for Young People within the Shire
STRATEGIES
Continue to provide awards to the
three secondary colleges within the
shire.
Work with schools to identify youth
not engaged with education or
employment.
SHIRE DEPARTMENT
EACEO
OTHER PARTNERS
Local Secondary Colleges
MEASURES AND TIMEFRAMES
Yearly award presentation.
Youth Officer
Local Schools
Referrals to and from the Youth
Officer. Ongoing
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