FAQ

Manningham has been recognised as one of the healthiest communities in Victoria. The residents are generally mindful of their wellbeing and the importance of keeping themselves healthy. The services and facilities across the municipality also provide people with many opportunities to get active, belong and connect. 

The Manningham’s Healthy City Plan 2013/17 (Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan) has been reviewed in partnership with a number of local and regional organisations with an aim to improve the population’s health and wellbeing by leading, promoting and supporting good social, cultural and environmental conditions that influence health.

Local Government is required under the Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 to develop a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan every four years.  The plan was required to identify and assess the actual and potential health and wellbeing issues affecting the community by consulting with the community, researching data and trends and by considering the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (external link). 

Manningham’s Healthy City Plan 2013/17 has a health and wellbeing statement, six guiding principles, five strategic priority themes and a suite of realistic and often innovative actions that will be delivered by Council and its partners over the next four years. Please see page 10 of the draft Plan for details

Acting at a local level, Manningham and its partners in the Healthy City Plan agreed to address the social determinants which will have the greatest influence on the health and wellbeing of the community.  These include factors like municipal planning, social support, transport, employment, community participation, service delivery and appropriate programs and access.

In developing Manningham’s Healthy City Plan 2013/17 the following was undertaken:

• Extensive consultation with community, local and regional organisations, networks and Council
• Research and analysis of data across the four environments of health.
• A draft paper: “The State of our City – Manningham Municipal Health and Wellbeing Research Paper” was developed.
• Evaluation of the Municipal Public Health Plan 2009/13 which considered the key achievements, impacts and any outcomes deliverd over the last four years.

A Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP) is a legislative requirement under the Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Each Local Government is required to prepare, plan, implement and evaluate a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. The plan is also required to:

• Include an examination of data on the population’s health status and on the health determinants
• Identify goals and strategies based on evidence
• Provide for involvement of people in the local community in the development, implementation and evaluation of the plan
• Specify how Council will work in partnership with the Department of Health and other agencies to improve health outcomes
• Include an evaluation framework to measure outcomes from the plan
• Consider the Victorian Government’s health and wellbeing priorities
• Take into account the Climate Change Act
• Be developed within 12 months of Council elections.

Reviewing the current Municipal Public Health Plan and developing the new Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan entails the following:

• Evaluation report of existing plan - A review includes benchmarking health and wellbeing measures, reporting against each action item and the evaluation of a number of specific projects undertaken during 2009/13
• Health Status Profile – research and data analysis is undertaken to determine health and wellbeing trends and issues within Manningham and the region 
• Consultation – extensive consultation is undertaken across Council and the community to inform the priorities of the plan
• Literature Review – research is undertaken into the Federal and State Government’s strategic direction to inform the priorities of the plan. In addition, a review of evidence based actions that have been demonstrated to improve health outcomes is completed
• Development of the plan – a document that includes background information and health planning frameworks, an overview of health issues, broad health and wellbeing priorities and an action plan is completed and endorsed by Council.

Council’s can contribute to the health and wellbeing of the entire community. Population planning takes into account everyone in the community, including those who are more vulnerable to poor health and ensures that actions address health inequalities that may exist. This occurs at a range of levels and provides a focus for Council:

Population action areas: Promotion of Health and Wellbeing across many of the social determinants of health which include legislation, transport, roads, parks, waste, land use, housing and urban planning, recreation and cultural activities, safe public spaces, health education, affordable housing, social capital, access and equity.

Targeted action areas: Prevention of illness and social problems impacting on certain population groups in the community e.g. youth, aged, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, low income, socially isolated.

Specific action areas: Health planning may involve targeting certain settings that can be supported with preventative messages e.g. sporting clubs, or service the most disadvantaged members of the community through respite support services, emergency housing.

Population health planning involves integrated and collaborative cross sectoral planning. Council is aware that it often requires community and whole of government engagement and partnerships to action a broad range of determinants that shape health and wellbeing.

The Social Model of Health identifies that there are many factors (social determinants) to building healthier communities.  The social determinants are often the economic, environmental and social conditions that influence individuals and group differences in health status. The image below demonstrates the layers associated with improving health outcomes to people in the community.

Manningham has one of the highest life expectancy rates in Victoria but presents with the following health issues:

• Overweight and obesity rates in males (53 per cent) and females (38 per cent)
• Less than half of the population is meeting daily fruit and vegetable consumption requirements
• More than a third of people do not meet the daily requirements for physical activity
• More than a third considers themselves as psychologically distressed
• Increases in the cancer rates (breast and prostate), depression, heart disease, diabetes and dementia.

Manningham residents are one of the healthiest groups in Victoria, with the municipality receiving Heart Foundation awards over the last couple of years.

In general, prevention includes a wide range of activities or interventions aimed at reducing risks or threats to health. These are usually grouped into three categories.

Primary prevention
Here the goal is to protect healthy people from developing a disease or experiencing an injury in the first place. For example:

• education about good nutrition, the importance of regular exercise, and the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
• education and legislation about proper seatbelt and helmet use
• regular exams and screening tests to monitor risk factors for illness
• immunization against infectious disease
• controlling potential hazards at home and in the workplace

Secondary prevention
These interventions happen after an illness or serious risk factors have already been diagnosed. The goal is to halt or slow the progress of disease (if possible) in its earliest stages; in the case of injury, goals include limiting long-term disability and preventing re-injury. For example:

• telling people to take daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent a first or second heart attack or stroke
• recommending regular exams and screening tests in people with known risk factors for illness
• providing suitably modified work for injured workers

Tertiary prevention
This focuses on helping people manage complicated, long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The goals include preventing further physical deterioration and maximizing quality of life. For example:

• cardiac or stroke rehabilitation programs
• chronic pain management programs
• patient support groups