VicHealth will invest $21 million in partnerships with councils, Aboriginal organisations and community groups across Victoria under a new program designed to improve health and wellbeing by addressing local needs.
The Partners in Place initiative will support 23 councils and community coalitions across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria, with projects ranging from food security programs in Melbourne’s north and west to youth wellbeing and recreation initiatives in regional communities.
The program comes as governments and health agencies place greater emphasis on preventing chronic disease through improvements to the environments where people live, work, learn and socialise, rather than relying solely on treatment after illness develops.
VicHealth Chief Executive Officer Professor Anna Peeters said healthy communities were shaped long before people entered hospitals or clinics.
“Hospitals and clinics play a vital role in caring for us when we’re sick. But good health is built long before that, in our local neighbourhoods, schools, sporting clubs and community spaces,” Professor Peeters said.
She said each partnership would be driven by local priorities, with VicHealth providing evidence, expertise and long-term support rather than directing projects from the centre.
“Local communities understand their challenges and opportunities better than anyone. Our role is to bring evidence, expertise and long-term partnership so those local ideas can deliver lasting improvements in health and wellbeing.”
Alongside the funding, VicHealth has launched a Place-Based Resource Hub, giving councils and community organisations access to more than a decade of prevention research, practical guides, toolkits and case studies to help develop local health initiatives.
Professor Peeters said sustained partnerships were essential to improving health outcomes over time.
“Healthy communities don’t happen by chance. They are created through strong local leadership, trusted partnerships and sustained investment. That’s what Partners in Place is designed to support.”
The funded projects include Healthy Plates, Strong Cultures in Whittlesea, Connected Hume, Growing Together Geelong, Bass Coast Youth Connect & Lead, Food V.I.B.E.S in Horsham and neighbourhood wellbeing programs across regional Victoria. Aboriginal-led partnerships will also receive support, including the Campaspe Coalition, delivered through Njernda Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with Campaspe Shire Council.
VicHealth said the long-term initiative also supports delivery of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan by helping communities develop local solutions to improve health and reduce inequities.
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