Get involved – Health and wellbeing
There are many ways you can help achieve our vision for Health and wellbeing. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started.
Individuals and families
- Get active—five hours of exercise each week can make a real difference to your health and wellbeing.
- Contact your local council to find out about free and low cost recreation facilities and activities in your area.
- Learn about ways to improve the health of your mind and body to get more out of life.
- See your doctor early to help prevent a small health problem becoming a bigger one.
- Quit smoking or support someone else trying to quit.
- Prepare for pregnancy and parenthood by attending education classes run by your health centre or hospital.
- Cook more meals at home from fresh ingredients rather than buying take-away.
- Drink alcohol responsibly at low risk levels.
- Practice the five sun-safe behaviours—wear a hat, shirt, sunscreen, sunglasses and seek shade.
Community
- Start a community garden that can grow into a community kitchen and share healthy meals.
- Spend time with people who make you laugh—they say laughter is the best medicine.
- Make community connections by joining a local sports or social club.
- Start a walking group with your neighbours.
- Ask your local gym or recreation centre to sponsor a neighbourhood weight loss or physical activity challenge.
- Check in with your friends and neighbours—be aware of the signs of mental illness and where to find help within your community such as help lines and support groups.
- Offer to help someone in your street with gardens and lawns.
- Get a group together and apply for a grant to improve local opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle.
Business and industry
- Offer flexible and innovative working arrangements to improve work-life balance.
- Provide facilities to encourage walking or cycling to work and exercising during lunch.
- Assess the health needs of your employees and create a plan to address them.
- Provide health management programs such as quit smoking support, flu vaccinations, corporate weight loss challenges and counselling services.
- Make sure your business is accessible for people with a disability.
- Encourage healthy options at office morning teas, meetings, corporate events and celebrations.
- Think about registering a corporate team to take part in a fun run for charity or sponsor employees who are participating.
Government
- Ensure policy and legislation supports active and healthy lifestyles.
- Consider more connected bikeways, walking paths and gym equipment in public spaces to encourage active lifestyles.
- Promote health screening programs and provide the community with information about wellbeing on government websites.
- Continue to provide schools with useful tools such as tuckshop menu planners to encourage healthy eating.
- Assist organisations, charities and not-for-profits that provide health and wellbeing support to vulnerable members of the community.
- Make sure green space is factored into planning for urban areas.