About the Project
Local Government Community Health and Wellbeing Project
This three-year project is a partnership between LGAT and Public Health Services in the Tasmanian Department of Health. Both organisations recognise that Local Government plays a key role in providing for the health and wellbeing of local communities. This role is also recognised as a function under the Tasmanian Local Government Act 1993 . Tasmanian councils are doing some great work in supporting their communities. However, they carry out this role in diverse ways, reflecting factors such as financial resources, staffing, community expectations, historical legacies as well as geographical and demographic factors.
Project Vision
To facilitate the development of Tasmanian Councils as local place makers where community members know that their councils prioritise health and wellbeing in all aspects of their work.
Intended Project Outcomes
Short to Medium Term
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Increased capacity of Local Government to support health and wellbeing initiatives
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Councils take a more structured and strategic approach to addressing the determinants of health in their communities
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Health and wellbeing initiatives are considered and included in council resourcing decisions
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Increase in councils’ use of local, meaningful and current data as a tool for service planning and delivery
Longer Term
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Greater understanding and consideration of the determinants of health across council teams, departments and program areas
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Improvement in the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians
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Stronger communities which support and encourage each other to make changes to achieve better health
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Better integrated systems to promote health and wellbeing
LGAT employed a project officer who commenced work in January 2018. The project officer consulted with council staff responsible for the area of health and wellbeing, to understand more about the work already being done in communities and discuss how the project can best support them in their activities. Three areas of focus for the project were identified:
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the facilitation of a series of Local Government forums on topics related to community health and wellbeing;
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support for councils interested in developing community health and wellbeing plans; and
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LGAT acting as a conduit for sharing information between councils and from external organisations .
This information sharing role has included providing councils with material on funding opportunities, training, locally available data and services. S everal councils have develop ed Community Health and Wellbeing Plans in 2018 . LGAT has actively supported this work by sharing information and documents and has also facilitat ed a scoping session for two councils interested in developing a Community Health and Wellbeing Plan for their Local Government areas. T wo forums have been held in the North and South of the state on Creating and Funding Great Playgrounds and Playspaces . These forums bought together a diverse range of council officers and elected representatives with an interest in the health and wellbeing of their communities . Further information, short films and presentations from the Creating and Funding Great Playgrounds and Playspaces forums is available here . A series of forums is being planned for 2019.
