| The
North East Health Promotion Centre has a pivotal role in supporting and resourcing its
agencies to provide effective health promotion programs within their local
communities. The North East Health Promotion Centre is not directly involved in the
delivery of health promotion programs to the community. When the centre was established, the Centre's
participating agencies agreed that the Centre would focus on three key areas : The North East Health Promotion Centre is currently reviewing the future of these priority areas. |
| Health Promotion In Schools Health Promoting Schools was seen as a priority area for the North East Health Promotion Centre’s participating agencies. The North East Health Promotion Centre received funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation to fund two projects focusing on health promotion in a schools setting. A project worker was employed to coordinate both these projects. Project activities1998-1999 Healthy Eating in Schools Project (4 primary schools & 2 secondary schools) Each participating school developed a range of strategies to address a number of issues relating to food and nutrition at their school. Current policies and practices were reviewed with the aim of providing more opportunities for children, staff and parents, to participate in activities designed to have a positive impact on the nutritional status of the whole school community. 1999-2000 Mental Health in Schools Project (7 primary schools) The schools involved explored issues relating to emotional health and well being at their school. This included positive relationships, resilience and staff health and well being. Each school is reviewing its current policies and practices with a view to implementing a range of strategies to enhance the health and well being of the whole school community. SuccessesAll the schools in both projects used the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework to address the issues relevant to their school’s participation in the project. The HPS framework (endorsed by the National Health & Medical Research Council) is an approach, which looks at the following areas of school life:
School Focused Youth Service Northern Schools Mental Health Network Healthy Environments for Learning Project (HELP) Gatehouse Project, Centre for Adolescent Health Victorian Health Promoting Schools Project Northern Metropolitan Region Health Promoting Schools Planning Team Department of Education, Employment and Training Top
Men’s Health Promotion Since the early 1990’s, men’s health increasingly has become a burgeoning area of concern and activity in Australia. A number of approaches have been taken; some are more critical and reflective than others. Many lend themselves to good health promotion practice; others do not. Consequently, creating a framework to guide strategic intersectoral and collaborative planning and action for men’s health promotion became a concern of the Centre’s participating agencies in 1997. Funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) allowed for the development of a year long participatory action research process in 1998. The work was carried out in the sub-region comprised of Banyule, Darebin, Nillumbik and Whittlesea. The project published a Strategic Framework for Men’s Health Promotion in March 1999. In 1999, the project helped participating agencies implement relevant aspects of the Framework in their organisation. Additionally, funding allowed from a number of workshops to be held around the State to disseminate the findings. Successes The key findings of the original research was that in safe, well-facilitated groups associated with their networks, men are willing to talk openly and extensively about their understanding of health and their own health concerns. They are also able to identify, through group literacy processes, the key biomedical, psychosocial, cultural and structural issues affecting them. Finally, the men were able to suggest collaborative, pro-active processes to address their concerns. It was clear that the emotional and social well being of the men were particularly salient issues. The project was a finalist in the 1999 Annual Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Awards in the category of Community Health Promotion. Partnerships The four categories of men deemed to be at relative health risk were identified as:
Partnerships were created with a number of agencies working with men and boys in these categories. A full list of participants and partners can be obtained in the original framework document. The Framework The original research made a number of suggestions in terms of fruitful emphases for men’s health promotion, as well as critical principals and practices. Building organisational and community capacity were viewed as essential. In terms of organisational capacity, the Framework recognised the growing consensus that organisational development, workforce development and resource allocation were salient areas of concern. Additionally, in terms of community capacity building, it tentatively suggested that enhancing groups and networks, extending literacy and leadership, and establishing partnerships and alliances were crucial. The Framework identifies three important settings beyond clinical health service providers that for working with men:
Future VicHealth is in the processes of publishing a revised version of the framework tentatively entitled, "Getting Better All the Time: Developing Sub-regional Strategic Frameworks for Men’s Health Promotion." This edition elaborates the issue of men’s health more fully, explains the key issues to a greater extend, and provides important stories from workers and community partners to demonstrate the impact of such frameworks. VicHealth has also provided further funding for additional workshops and seminars through October 2000. La Trobe University is developing undergraduate and post-graduate subjects in men’s health promotion that will be available in 2001.
The aim of the Mental Health Promotion Working Group is to develop a shared understanding of mental health promotion, recognise services/activities/programs that are already happening, and identify possible areas for future collaborative action. The Mental Health Promotion Working Group acknowledges that mental health and well being are fundamental to the quality of life of the individuals and communities. The group consists of representatives from each of the Centre's participating agencies along with other mental health services in the region. 1997 – Current: Form working group: A working group was formed with representation from a diverse range of sectors to share information sharing and develop our understanding of mental health promotion. 1998: Conduct mapping exercise: A workshop was held where working group members and their colleagues provided information about current activities that enhance mental health and or prevent mental illness. 1999: Development of a Mental Health Promotion Framework for the North East Region: A framework was developed to identify broad direction, recognise current activities and highlight some opportunities for further action in relation to mental health promotion. 2000: Decision to explore the area of Depression: A decision was made to focus our efforts on the area of Depression. While a brief is yet to be developed, there is widespread interest in pulling together reports, articles and information about what works when dealing with depression across the care continuum. Successes The framework has helped a diverse range of agencies understand mental health promotion and its role across the care continuum. Partnerships Working Group members represent Community Health Services, Local Government, Divisions of General Practice, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Area Mental Health Services and NEAMI Inc. Futher partnerships will be established in relation to the area of Depression. |