The Bendigo Community Health Services Health Promotion team has won the Outstanding Health Promotion category at the 2021 Victorian Health Promotion Awards.
The statewide awards recognise organisations and individuals who are making their communities happier and healthier.
Bendigo Community Health Services was recognised for the 5 Ways to Wellbeing program.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing project works with key community leaders to deliver mental health promotion in a wide range of settings - including schools, early learning centres, community organisations and workplaces.
The project improves the mental wellbeing of the Bendigo community through the 5 key action areas; Connect, Take Notice, Be Active, Keep Learning and Give.
That includes the 5 Ways to Wellbeing ‘October Action Calendar’ during Mental Health Month and promotion during VicHealth’s ‘This Girl Can’.
BCHS Senior Health Promotion and Community Engagement Officer, Siobhan Sullivan, says it’s an ‘amazing achievement’ to be recognised for the project, which has had significant impact.
“The 5 Ways to Wellbeing Program is a collective effort from the health promotion team at BCHS over the past 4 years,” she said.
“It has been adapted and strengthened from building great partnerships with other local organisations, schools, and community groups - resulting in a great impact on our community.
“These actions are communicated and shared across multiple initiatives and campaigns to boost mental wellbeing. We are excited to see what the 5 Ways Network can do next.
BCHS acknowledges this work would not be as rewarding or impactful without our community partners, and the 5 ways network members.
Those partners include: YMCA Bendigo, Women's Health Loddon Mallee, Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre, Kalianna School, Bendigo Loddon Primary Care Partnership, Heathcote Health, City of Greater Bendigo andLoddon Shire Council.
You can find out more about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing initiative and how to get involved on our website here: https://bit.ly/FiveWaystoWellbeing