Help Yarra Ranges Council create next Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Yarra Ranges Council is encouraging community members to share their voices for the next Health and Wellbeing Strategy. (File: 418469)

Yarra Ranges community members are encouraged to provide their thoughts on what issues are influencing their health and wellbeing as part of the development of Yarra Ranges Council’s next Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2029.

The four-year strategy will act as a roadmap for the council to support optimal health and wellbeing of communities across the municipality. It will reflect and leverage where the council has responsibility, capability, influence, roles, and resources to support health and wellbeing of the community.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Cr Jim Child said he was looking forward to seeing Council build on the momentum created from the previous Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025.

“A lot was accomplished through the previous plan, and the input into it from the community went a long way towards determining its success,” Cr Child said.

“Just a small sample of these achievements included rolling out free mental health first aid training to over 480 community members and volunteers, supporting community groups to run events and programs through our Grants for Community program, providing Child Safe Standards training for community organisations and supporting social connection and physical activity for our older residents through events held during the annual Over 50s Festival.

“We have a lot of health data already for the Yarra Ranges, not just from government departments and local health providers, but also from our own community on health-related issues from the recent community engagement on our upcoming Council Plan.”

Community members can ‘follow’ this project via the Yarra Ranges Shaping Page to keep informed.

Community members are invited to have their say online at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/health-wellbeing-strategy-2025-29

Community are also invited to come and speak with Council in-person at a range of pop up events, in townships such as Healesville, Chirnside Park, Kilsyth, Seville, Warburton, Lilydale and Tecoma.

Community members have until Sunday 15 December to provide feedback.

Further consultation on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2029 will happen again in 2025.

“Now we’d like community to help us rank identified health issues in order of importance to them,” Cr Child said.

“We’d also like to hear from community about what keeps them healthy and well and what would better support community health and wellbeing?’

“While every local council in Victoria must have its own health and wellbeing plan, this is more than just a legislative requirement to us, we want to ensure we’re doing all that we can to enhance the health and wellbeing of our community which is why it’s crucial to hear from them about what their\ needs are, as the landscape is ever-changing.”

In-person engagement dates

These dates may be subject to last minute changes.

Sunday 24 November, 10am to 4pm

Kilsyth Festival

Elizabeth Bridge Reserve

Thursday 28 November, 10am to 2pm

Seville Shopping Centre

Outside Seville Woolworths – Warburton Highway Seville

Friday 6 December, 4pm to 8pm

Christmas Warburton Waterwheel Market

Warburton Highway, Warburton

Sunday 8 December, 9am to 3pm

Lilydale Melba Festival and Street Fair

Main Street Lilydale