Prevention in Victoria as we ease coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions


Monday 16 November, 2020

 

Together with VicHealth we delivered an online event on health prevention in Victoria amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

 

The online event was a Q&A panel discussion with thought-leaders who shared their prevention insights, strategies and approaches, and a short case study presentation on prevention in action by Sunraysia Community Health Services.

 

Watch the recording

 

 

Q&A with the audience

As restrictions continue to ease in Victoria, now is a good time to reflect on the popular audience questions, which have been answered by our panel members below.

 

Question

How do we change the built environment and commercial determinants of health to reduce the availability of unhealthy foot outlets, particularity fast food? And how do we ensure a consistent approach across Australia?

 

Response

Jane Martin, executive manager of Obesity Policy Coalition and Alcohol and Obesity Programs at Cancer Council Victoria, shared her insights.

 

It would be ideal to have a national approach, however this regulatory reform is not amenable as the placement of chain fast food outlets and other commercial businesses is set either by the state or by the by the state or territory’s planning legislation to local government, which is the case in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

 

Although, there are a number of ways this could be addressed through a legislative change. In Victoria, if the objectives of the Planning Act included health and wellbeing that would enable objections to be brought against the placement of fast food outlets in communities based on health grounds, which is not available at present. 

 

Read more on the potential levers, Visit: https://bit.ly/30lymmv  

 

In the city of London, a group of diverse professionals are addressing childhood obesity by working to modify the food environment, particularly for school students in the most deprived areas. The group’s aim is to encourage fast food outlets to stop promotions aimed at young people, to restrict unhealthy food sales and to improve the quality of the food available for school students.

 

Read more on the initiative, Visit: https://bit.ly/2AV198y    

 

So, there are opportunities for improvement!

 

Question

I see community education as early intervention and prevention as being the lobbying for socio-economic equality. Firstly, do you agree and given the growing inequalities, does COVID-19 provide a unique opportunity to move this forward?

 

Response

Todd Harper, CEO at Cancer Council Victoria and president of the NCD Alliance, provided his insights.

 

Yes, it should. Almost every health issue has a socio-economic influence that must be addressed by health promotion programs. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is no different and has highlighted the importance of universal health coverage, particularly for vulnerable populations. It also emphasises the need for population health programs as well as policy goals to address the social determinants of health.

 

Question

Do you think this longer-term view of prevention will be supported by key organisations in terms of funding? Short-term funding has always been a challenge to health promotion work.

 

Response

Todd Harper, CEO at Cancer Council Victoria and president of the NCD Alliance, provided his insights.

 

We must think long term with our health issues, look at the success of programs like SunSmart, Quit, TAC and WorkSafe. When we fund for the long term, we are able to develop capacity, evaluate and innovate, which are key ingredients for success.

 

Question

I'm interested to hear the panel's take on the prevention opportunities in community health (where there isn't power over licensing / local environment), particularly as we come up to a new strategic funding period from DHHS.

 

Response

Sarah Carn, health promotion officer at Sunraysia Community Health Services, shared her insights.

 

Continue to be adaptive and tailor existing initiatives and opportunities to a COVID-19 approach. Collaborate to shift outcomes for community with community from the very beginning. By listening, adapting and modifying during COVID-19 for example in-service delivery, provides a great opportunity for a continuation of changes in practice where practical, which demonstrates your capacity when the new funding period arrives.

 

Share learnings: data, insights and ideas across organisations, this provides a strong backbone for health promotion initiatives. These better ways of working can be embedded at both an organisational level and community access level. It is vital that we keep positive and do not revert to business as usual or our default settings. Maintain relationships with stakeholders to align existing resource flows that expand reach and have the ability to welcome new funding opportunities.