Life Life Well: Initiatives in NSW
During the coming months, you will be hearing and seeing more about Live Life Well and the initiatives and programs that will help you to make healthy lifestyle changes.
For information about Live Life Well initiatives in your local area, click on to the Area Health Service websites below.
Northern Sydney/Central Coast
South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra
Sydney South West
Sydney West
Greater Southern
Greater Western
Hunter/New England
North Coast
Below is a short snapshot of some of the things happening across the state to help you Live Life Well:
Providing information
This website contains a wide rage of easy-to-understand information about ways to Live Life Well. If you’re after more information, check out the consumer information on the NSW Health website at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/living/index.html, or visit the Healthy Kids website at: http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/
Support and advice lines
Most people are familiar with the Quitline (Ph: 13 7848), which offers support to people attempting to quit smoking. NSW Health has plans in place to establish a similar healthy lifestyle advice line. Keep any eye out for this in the future.
Obesity prevention trial
NSW Health is funding the largest childhood obesity prevention trial anywhere in Australia. Running over the next few years, this extensive pilot aims to identify the best ways for children and their families to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The project is being conducted in the Hunter New England area of NSW. Stay tuned for results of the trial as it progresses.
Local projects
NSW Health runs a grant scheme that funds Area Health Services to test a range of approaches to encouraging healthy lifestyles. Some of the current projects are looking at things like reducing smoking in Aboriginal communities, the influence cycling infrastructure has on people being active, and reducing falls in older people through exercise programs.
NSW Health also funds the Healthy Local Government Grants Program. More details about this can be found at: http://www.lgsa.org.au/www/html/268-healthy-local-government-grants-program.asp
Changing the law and policies
Sometimes the best way to make it easy for people to live a healthy lifestyle is to change laws. Legislation such as the Smoke Free Pubs and Clubs Act makes it easier to be healthy by providing us all with more smoke-free environments.
When legislation is not appropriate, ensuring there are healthy policies can help people to Live Life Well. The soft drink ban in schools, which takes effect from term one 2007, is an example of a healthy public policy.
Working with Health Professionals
It’s important that GPs and other health professionals have they skills and information they need to help you live a healthy lifestyle. These professionals are now more focused on helping you to stay well rather than just treating your symptoms when illness sets in. NSW Health is working closely with organisations like the National Heart Foundation to ensure health professionals are up skilled in prescribing you a healthy lifestyle. Check out the Foundation’s website at: www.heartfoundation.com.au
Making communities a healthier place to live
NSW Health is a proud supporter of the Premier’s Council for Active Living which works closely with a wide range of government and non-government agencies to ensure healthy urban design principles are incorporated into state, regional and local plans and policies. For more information, check out the Council’s website at: www.pcal.nsw.gov.au.