The Vic Kids Eat Well , Achievement Program and Healthy Eating Advisory Service teams are energised after our state-wide Healthy Places Forums in four locations in July and August. From Melbourne to Sale and from Ballarat to Shepparton; we would like to thank over 120 attendees who represented community health organisations, local public health units, secondary school nurses and government.
An important theme from the Forums was “flexibility”, and being able to adapt to unique local contexts and respond to needs expressed by local organisations. Proposed program enhancements were seen as having the potential to support increased flexibility into the future.
Many Forum guests shared stories of community organisations wanting to prioritise health and wellbeing but being time poor and needing to respond to multiple complex challenges. This highlighted the value of support provided by health promoters and school nurses in implementing positive changes.
Overall, all attendees said the most wonderful thing about the Forums was being together – in person! This allowed everyone to collaborate, further build peer networks and share ideas about best delivering Vic Kids Eat Well and the Achievement Program to benefit children and young people in their communities.
We’re now pumped to shape the next 3 years for our recently renewed initiatives.
Keep an eye out for upcoming program enhancements in the coming months and please reach out if you’d like to continue to be involved in shaping our future.
Thanks for your valued input folks!