Healthy country, healthy people

Notes

There is no question we all benefit from the example our Australia First Nations people gave us. A significant strategy for improving the health of the peninsula is working with these people to build pride in our shared history and learn more about caring for our country.

The Victorian Government’s strategic plan says:

Our vision is to continue to ensure Victoria remains a great place to live, work and play by supporting Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world6.

City of Greater Geelong’s strategic plan says:

By 2047, Greater Geelong will be internationally recognised as a clever and creative city-region that is forward looking, enterprising and adaptive, and cares for its people and environment.7

The Geelong ‘Youth Council’ is important too:

Initial priorities for the Youth Council include social and community connections, mental health and wellbeing, and capability (such as skill development, education and employment). The young people will provide advice to the Council on specific issues, plan and run a Youth Summit and provide advice on priority work for the Youth Development Unit.8

The Council’s plan and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing plan have been integrated so that “the health and wellbeing of our community is central to everything we do”. Among the goals is to “provide facilities that foster and facilitate positive health and wellbeing outcomes”9. High on the agenda is the physical and mental health of the community.

CoGG has a number of strategies that are available to the public10. The Environmental strategy tells us that “Providing green spaces within and between urban areas was one of the highest-rated community ideas from CoGG’s ‘Our Future’ engagement process”. A number of objectives are listed that should also inform a Rabbit Sweep strategy. One goal of a Rabbit Sweep group might be to ensure these strategies are also known and observed by the RPE group affected by the DAL.

With a focus on diversity, inclusion, mental health and more, the attributes of the natural features of the Bellarine can contribute significantly to making the Bellarine a healthy place for all. For many on the Bellarine today, there is little access to health-giving nature due partly to the pressures of everyday life and lack of ease for accessing nature, but often because people are not educated to understand the value of engaging with nature on the peninsula. A huge asset for the Bellarine is that engagement with nature can take many forms – scientific, historic, entertaining, fitness, socialisation, and more – not just weeding!

Activities and participation in nature activities should be accessible regularly at least to all children and many of the elderly. We need a strategy that brings them out and includes them because they choose to value the benefits. (Landcare has a special role to play here because it is primarily about educating and supporting people to do healthy country caring.)

If the Bellarine is to be one of the healthiest places to be, it must have an identity. Currently, Bellarine folk think of themselves by association with local towns or estate developments, … A ‘Bellarine’ image is needed so that all people can unite in benefits and responsibility.

There is clear evidence that the Bellarine houses many who are struggling economically yet there are many who are very privileged. Bringing benefits to all is a huge priority.