Friday June 27, 2025

Barwon South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) recently partnered with the Wellbeing Promotion Office (Department of Health) and Prevention United to deliver a forum focused on promoting wellbeing on 24 June on Djargurdwurrung Country.

The Public Health Strategy for the Barwon South West Region identifies psychological distress, social isolation, and loneliness as key risk factors for poor health and wellbeing outcomes. Consequently, strategies to improve health and wellbeing should include actions to reduce loneliness, social disconnection, and isolation.

The forum provided a great opportunity to create collective understanding of the current knowledge and frameworks to support an evidence-based and systematic approach to optimising wellbeing across the region.

The event began with a Welcome to Country by local Eastern Marr man Shane Harrison, and brought together stakeholders and partners from across the Barwon South West region to create collective understanding of the current knowledge and frameworks to support an evidence-based and systematic approach to optimising wellbeing across the region.

Guests came together to hear from special guest Monica Kelly State Wellbeing Promotion Adviser and Executive Director, Mental Health and Wellbeing Division Department of Health, who spoke about strengthening our focus on wellbeing in Victoria.

Monica was joined by Maja Havrilova, Head of Knowledge Translation, Prevention United who introduced wellbeing promotion and the key concepts and frameworks, and Jon Kanoa who spoke of his work in the wellbeing of First Nation’s people.

Barwon South West Public Health Unit’s Epidemiologists Dr Bridgette McNamara and Dr Michael Muleme also provided an overview of the Population Health Data Directory –a newly developed on line that will provide partners with improved access to the most up-to-datedata to support evidence informed planning, implementation, and evaluation. The data directory will be trialled with external partners over coming weeks prior to  being live on the BSWPHU website.

Presentations were also given by local cases studies including Amy Lewis and Jesse Shannahan (Live4Life Southern Grampians), Michelle Gerdz (Read the Play), Jackie Elliot (Library & Learning Hub, Warrnambool City Council), Emily Mercer (Camperdown Community House) and Debra Smith (Simpson and District Community Centre) valuable in showcasing examples of local action to support wellbeing 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:

Presentations: