Our work is delivered across two key domains:
1. Build an impactful Prevention and Population Health Ecosystem for effective, efficient and equitable health promotion and primary prevention action where partners are supported to achieve collective impact across agreed priority areas.
We work to strengthen the region’s prevention and population health ecosystem by building capability, supporting collaboration, and improving access to public health tools, data, evidence, and expertise. This includes supporting workforce development, shared learning, systems-based approaches, monitoring and evaluation, and collective action across regional priority areas. Through strong partnerships and connected governance, we support an effective, efficient, and equitable prevention system that can respond to current and emerging public health challenges.
2. Communities are supported to live healthier lives through place-based prevention and population health initiatives delivered in partnership with local organisations.
We work alongside communities and partner organisations to support prevention and population health action across agreed priority areas outlined in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. Using place-based and evidence-informed approaches, this work supports communities to live healthier lives and addresses the broader social determinants of health. The Public Health Unit provides leadership, coordination, and strategic support to strengthen locally informed prevention initiatives that are responsive to community needs, culturally appropriate, and grounded in equity.
Across all areas of work, health equity and self-determination for First Nations communities are central to our approach. We are committed to strengthening partnerships, amplifying good practice, and supporting sustainable improvements in health and wellbeing across the Barwon South West region.
Read the Public Health Strategy for the Barwon South West Region here.
To join any of our networks please email [email protected] and one of our team will get back to you.
The Prevention Collaborative provides a platform for local and regional place based prevention and planning organisations to:
- Enhance collaboration and partnership
- Share learnings and challenges and explore opportunities for an enhanced prevention system and
- Build local and regional capacity by for planning, implementation and evaluation
The Collaborative is hosted by the Community Partnerships team three time per year.
If you work in Health Promotion in the Barwon South West and interested in attending the Prevention Collaboration please register your interest at [email protected]
Meetings and shared public documents
The Health Service Health Promotion Practice Exchange brings together health services across the Barwon South West Region who deliver health promotion. The Practice Exchange aims to:
- Support a shared understanding of health promotion planning, implementation and evaluation
- Provide a forum for health services that enables peer learning and supports evidence-based health promotion practice and
- Identify opportunities for collaboration and brokering connections across the Barwon South West.
The Health Service Health Promotion Practice Exchange is hosted by the Community Partnerships team 4 times per year.
If you work in Health Promotion in a health service in the Barwon South West, and interested in attending the Health Service Health Promotion Practice Exchange please register your interest at [email protected]
Resources
The local government planners network assists local governments with development, implementation, and evaluation of their municipal public health and wellbeing plans.
If you work in Health Promotion at a local government in the Barwon South West, and interested in attending the local government please register your interest at [email protected]
Resources
The South West Health Promotion Network is a peer support and learning network for health promotion practitioners working in health services across the South West region of Victoria. The network is designed to:
- Foster peer-to-peer support and shared learning
- Provide a space for discussion around Community Health – Health Promotion (CHHP) funded initiatives and
- Enhance collaboration across health services to strengthen health promotion and prevention strategies in the region
The South West Health Promotion Network is hosted by the Community Partnerships team monthly.
This free training delivered by the Community Partnerships team at the BSWPHU will support you to learn the fundamentals of preventative health, key concepts and frameworks that are used to promote health at population level, including strategies to empower individuals and communities and create supportive environments for health, evidence-informed and equitable practice.
To register your interest in attending one of our sessions please contact [email protected] the or check out the latest community partnerships bulletin to register – subscribe here.