Capturing All Ages: Health Promotion Approaches in Central West Cassandra Whatley, Health Promotion Officer, NWRH Longreach Office Snapshot: CWQ Health Promotion Background and context Strategic Approaches Programs • Central West region covers 22% of Figure 1: Geographical boundary of the Central West Qld Region • Limited and isolated Health Promotion team to cover entire area: Queensland’s total land mass; 382,800km’s • Health Education Reaching Blokes and Sheilas • Strategic planning includes a Health Promotion • Population of approximately 12 433, with program (HERBS) Framework launched across organisation Winton 11.2% Indigenous population • Healthy Kids program • Improved collaboration within team, including upskilling Boulia • Very remote, 17 communities with Aramac • The Reading Bug staff with health promotion procedures; orientation surrounding properties, 7 LGA’s serviced by Longreach Jericho packs; working alongside clinical team, and supporting Barcaldine Alpha • The Library Pack project NWRH Central West Office • NWRH Workplace Pedometer Program health promotion activities they have capacity to deliver Stonehenge Isisford • 27.4% employed in Agriculture Bedourie Blackall • Capacity development in communities: upskilling DoNs Jundah • Initiatives for creating supportive environments & • Health Promotion is delivered predominantly Yaraka Tambo healthy policies: and nurses to deliver health education programs with by car Windorah Birdsville • Healthy Options (HOP) support from NWRH Health Promotion team • Edible Walkways • Advocating for external initiatives to be brought to Target Areas • Example: PEACH Program in 2014 Program Outcomes • Consistent and functioning communication plan for • High levels of preventable diseases evident in Central West internal and external health professionals region • Increased awareness of healthy behaviours • Health Promotion focus is on: evident in school children targeted by Healthy Kids and • Funding variations: • Early intervention: lifestyle related disease Reading Bug programs • Continuous improvements to reporting mechanisms prevention • Focus on capacity development initiatives for • Increasing health literacy and healthy lifestyle • Increased access to NWRH services and referrals from harder communities as well as NWRH staff behaviours to reach populations as a result of the HERBS program (e.g. • Supporting and creating healthy environments Council work camp crews from Longreach and Diamantina • Transience of communities and workplaces: • Capacity building shire) • Continuous relationship development and maintaining • Increasing access to services communication with communities and partner • Stronger partnerships with communities and stakeholders, organisations enabling increased uptake of health promotion activities and • Using effective marketing mechanisms: social media, Snapshot: Health Literacy increased reach of services Council newsletters, radio, community events

• Baseline data collected as part of NWRH’s Health Literacy Promotion (HeLP) Initiative, using Deakin University’s validated Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ): Key Partnerships Future Directions • 272 responses, results comparable to national health • Fellow NWRH staff (across organisation) • Strengthen uptake of Health Promotion Framework across literacy data • External Health Service Providers: CWHHS, RFDS, Indigenous organisation • 27% identified they lacked sufficient information to Health Officers manage their health; are unable to engage with • Local Multi-Agency Networks (other service providers) • Maintain consistent service delivery through capacity development healthcare providers; don’t have a regular provider • Local Government initiatives and potential trial of volunteers and/or University and/or have difficulty trusting health care providers as • Schools, Child Care Centres and Playgroups student placements a source of information/advice • Libraries • 22% didn’t see their health as their responsibility, nor • Primary Health Clinics • Continue to maintain strong partnerships and communication with were engaged in their health care • Community leaders and event organisers (volunteers) stakeholders, to encourage unified preventative health approach • 32% have difficulties understanding most health • Local media (e.g. ABC, 4LG West FM, Council newsletters, across region information and get confused with conflicting information local newspapers) • 47% felt unable to advocate on their own behalf; and • External health service providers: admitted having difficulties finding someone to help them • NAQ Nutrition use the healthcare system

NWRH respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners, and Elders past and present as Custodians of the lands across which we deliver Health and Wellbeing Services