Sunday March 30, 2025

Recently the Barwon South West Public Health Unit hosted the fourth regional forum in Camperdown, on Djargurd Wurrung country.

The event was opened with Welcome to Country by local Eastern Marr man Joey Chatfield-Berg and brought together stakeholders and partners from across the Barwon South West region to mobilise the public health ecosystem to optimise health outcomes for regional communities. The aim of this forum was to explore climate change and impacts on health.

Attendees were able to hear from special guest Vanora Mulvenna, Manager Climate and Health Department of Health, who spoke of the connection between climate change and health, spanning the full public health continuum from protection to prevention.

Guests were also able to hear from stakeholders and case studies from across the region with presentations from Mark Dekker (Wathaurong Community Member), Elvira Hewson (South West Healthcare), Kylie McIntyre (Barwon South West Health Service Partnership), Nerissa Lovric (Warrnambool City Council), Professor Eugene Athan OAM (Barwon South West Public Health Unit) valuable in showcasing examples of local action to manage climate change and health risks and realising collective opportunities across the Barwon South West.

These forums are part of the commitment of the Barwon South West Public Health Unit to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for the region through genuine partnership, shared decision-making and working collectively to achieve agreed outcomes in areas of shared priority.

SEE THE PRESENTATION PACKAGE HERE:

Photo: (L-R) Professor Eugene Athan OAM (BSWPHU), Anita Thomas (BSWPHU), Venora Mulvenna (Department of Health), Deb Kay (BSWPHU), Dr Akhtar Hussain (BSWPHU).