Health Communities Initiative

Healthy Communities Initiative

Through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health the Australian Government is providing $71.8 million over four years from 2009-10 under the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) to support Local Government Areas (LGAs) in delivering effective community-based physical activity and healthy eating programs, as well as developing a range of local policies that support healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Local Government Area Grants

Under the HCI, $61.5 million is available in grants to 92 LGAs across Australia to increase the number of adults predominantly not in the paid workforce engaged in physical activity and healthy eating programs and activities.

The LGA Grants will:

support a Healthy Communities Coordinator within LGAs to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Initiative within target populations; AND any combination of:
- subsidise the costs to individuals of participating in healthy eating, physical activity or healthy lifestyle programs; AND/OR
- purchase or run community based healthy lifestyle programs; AND/OR
- purchase or subsidise training for community members to run community based healthy lifestyle programs where this does not contradict professional or accreditation requirements of specific programs.

LGA Grants were awarded in three phases commencing with Phase 1 in April 2010. Phase 2 in June 2011 and Phase 3 commenced in December 2011.

Phase 1 LGA Grants

Under Phase 1, $410,130 (GST exclusive) per grant was awarded to 12 Pilot LGAs for the period April/May 2010 – June 2011. Additional funding of $566,042 (GST exclusive) was provided to the Pilot LGAs to progress to an extension phase of funding (July 2011 – June 2013). This extension was based on an assessment of performance against agreed performance criteria. The 12 LGAs funded under Phase 1 are:

City of Palmerston, NT;
ACT Health;
Cradle Coast Authority, TAS;
City of Playford, SA;
Shire of Derby/West Kimberley, WA;
City of Wanneroo, WA;
Hume City Council, VIC;
Central Goldfields Shire Council (including the Pyrenees Shire), VIC;
Fairfield City Council, NSW;
Narrandera Shire Council, NSW;
Whitsunday Regional Council, QLD; and
Maranoa Regional Council, QLD

Phase 2 LGA Grants

Under Phase 2 of the HCI, funding of $703,607 (GST exclusive) per grant was awarded to 33 LGAs across Australia for the period June 2011 – June 2013. The 33 LGAs funded under Phase 2 are:

Alice Springs Town Council, NT;
Darwin City Council, NT;
Glenorchy City Council, TAS:
City of Marion, SA;
City of Salisbury, SA;
District Council of Mount Remarkable, SA;
Mid Murray Council, SA;
City of Bunbury, WA;
City of Cockburn, WA;
City of Geraldton – Greenough, WA;
Shire of Manjimup, WA;
Cardinia Shire Council, VIC;
City of Greater Dandenong, VIC;
Glenelg Shire Council, VIC;
Greater Shepparton City Council, VIC;
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, VIC;
Maribyrnong City Council, VIC;
Warrnambool City Council, VIC;
Brewarrina Shire Council, NSW;
Clarence Valley Council, NSW;
Eurobodalla Shire Council, NSW;
Great Lakes Council, NSW;
Greater Taree City Council, NSW;
Holroyd City Council, NSW;
Kempsey Shire Council, NSW;
Wollongong City Council, NSW;
Aurukun Shire Council, QLD;
Fraser Coast Regional Council, QLD;
Ipswich City Council, QLD;
Logan City Council, QLD;
Moreton Bay Regional Council, QLD;
South Burnett Regional Council, QLD; and
Sunshine Coast Counci, QLD.

Phase 3 LGA Grants

Under Phase 3 of the HCI, funding of $566,042 (GST exclusive) per grant has been awarded to 47 LGAs across Australia for the period December 2011 – June 2013. The successful LGAs under Phase 3 are:

Canterbury City Council (NSW);
Auburn City Council (NSW);
Liverpool City Council (NSW);
Queanbeyan City Council (NSW);
Mid-Western Regional Council (NSW);
Griffith City Council (NSW);
Bega Valley Shire Council (NSW);
Lismore City Council (NSW);
Guyra Shire Council (NSW);
Murray Shire Council (NSW);
Nambucca Shire Council (NSW);
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (NSW);
Walgett Shire Council (NSW);
Kingston City Council (VIC);
City of Darebin (VIC);
Moreland City Council (VIC);
Wyndham City Council (VIC);
Melton Shire Council (VIC);
City of Whittlesea (VIC);
Bass Coast Shire Council (VIC);
Moorabool Shire Council (VIC);
Baw Baw Shire Council (VIC);
Swan Hill Rural City Council (VIC);
Mount Alexander Shire Council (VIC);
Brisbane City Council (QLD);
Toowoomba Regional Council (QLD);
MacKay Regional Council (QLD);
Gold Coast City Council (QLD);
Bundaberg Regional Council (QLD);
Rockhampton Regional Council (QLD);
Tablelands Regional Council (QLD);
Central Highlands Regional Council (QLD);
Cook Shire Council (QLD);
City of Belmont (WA);
City of Armadale (WA);
City of Rockingham (WA);
Shire of Kalamunda (WA);
Shire of Katanning (WA);
Town of Narrogin (WA);
City of Mandurah (WA);
City of Whyalla (SA);
City of Tea Tree Gully (SA);
City of Holdfast Bay (SA);
Campbelltown City Council (SA);
City of Onkaparinga (SA);
Renmark Paringa Council (SA); and
Central Highlands Council (TAS).

National Program Grants

The HCI also provides $6.52 million for National Program Grants (NPGs) to enable not-for-profit organisations to expand their healthy lifestyle programs across Australia. The aim of the NPGs is to ensure these programs are available nationally, including to a majority of the LGA’s participating in the HCI.

Six organisations have been selected and funded to deliver a variety of community-based healthy lifestyle programs until June 2013. A description of each program is below.

All of the programs train community members and/or qualified fitness or health professionals to deliver programs in the local communities. Individuals who are interested in being involved in program delivery are encouraged to contact the NPG recipients directly for more information.

National Heart Foundation of Australia – Heart Foundation Walking is Australia’s largest network of free community based walking groups led by volunteer community members. Currently there are over 910 Heart Foundation Walking groups stepping out each week with over 12,500 participants involved in the program.

Participation in the walking groups is free. Each walking group is led by a community member (Walk Organiser) and groups are coordinated at a local level by community agencies (Area Coordinator).

The Heart Foundation trains and supports Area Coordinators to administer, support and promote the program. The Heart Foundation provides professional development opportunities, support materials, merchandise, hard copy resources and promotional tools at minimal cost to the Area Coordinators.

Walk Organisers are community members who volunteer to lead their walking group in their neighbourhood. No specific qualifications are required as they receive the required minimum training from their Area Coordinator.

Walkers register for free and are encouraged to join the Walker Recognition Scheme that provides incentives and recognition at particular walking milestones (e.g., 25 walks). There is the option of receiving the quarterly newsletter and participating in regular walking events.

For more information, visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/walking

Australian Diabetes Council – Beat It! Physical Activity and Lifestyle (Beat It) Program – The Beat It program is an evidence-based exercise and lifestyle education/modification program that consists of twice weekly physical activity training plus fortnightly lifestyle education and nutrition sessions. This safe and effective group based, semi structured program is suitable for adults with or at risk of chronic diseases or with conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The Beat It program includes:

motivational interview and goal setting;
individual initial assessment and lifestyle modification consultation;
twelve weeks of twice weekly, one hour group exercise classes with individualised program modification for each participant, and involving progressive resistance and aerobic training; and
fortnightly lifestyle education and modification sessions focusing on healthy active living, including good nutrition.

Beat It can be implemented in a wide variety of settings, from gymnasiums right through to community centres with very limited or no access to exercise equipment. There is a maximum of 15 participants in each program.

Beat It uses a train-the-trainer model to teach Certificate IV Personal Trainers and other exercise and health professionals the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver the program. With NPG support, the training courses and associated accreditation are provided for free. Some travel subsidies will also be made available to assist with costs associated with attending training.

For more information, visit www.beat-it.com.au

Fitness Australia (with Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute) – Lift for Life – The Lift for Life program, developed by researchers at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, is an evidence-based resistance training program for people with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes or other chronic diseases. It is available to adults of all ages.

The Lift for Life program is provided through licensed health and fitness businesses and other community organisations, including but not limited to fitness centres, personal training studios and physiotherapy clinics. Participants undertake an initial assessment and an individualised program is then developed for each person. The Lift for Life program is conducted in small groups of up to 12 people over six months, with three distinct eight week phases. These are:

Phase 1 (Bronze) – two supervised sessions per week; and
Phase 2 (Silver) and Phase 3 (Gold) – two supervised sessions per week plus one unsupervised session.

Follow-up assessments, program reviews and modifications are undertaken after each eight week phase and a progress report is provided to participants.

Lift for Life is licensed to private health and fitness businesses who manage or have access to a range of progressive resistance equipment required to deliver the program. Only businesses with use of the appropriate equipment and whose staff have undertaken the accreditation course can be licensed to deliver the program.

Lift for Life uses a train-the-trainer model to accredit Certificate IV Personal Trainers, Exercise Physiologists or Physiotherapists in the program delivery. These exercise professionals are required to undertake a 20 hour training course covering the special needs of the programs target group in order to be accredited to deliver the program. With NPG support, the training course and accreditation are provided for free to successful applicants.

For more information, visit www.liftforlife.com.au

Cycling Australia (with the Amy Gillett Foundation) – AustCycle – AustCycle aims to equip people with the skills and confidence to cycle regularly through the provision of cycle training. The types of training courses range from beginner programs through to skills for riding in more challenging situations, including coping with traffic and riding safely in groups. AustCycle training courses are designed to teach participants of all ability levels how to ride in on-road and off-road environments and can be targeted for new cyclists or people who have ridden before and wish to increase their activity and bicycle use. Programs can cater for between three to eight students per Teacher depending on the skill, confidence and attitudes of participants.

The program uses a train-the-trainer model to train people to become accredited AustCycle Teachers who then deliver cycling training to the community through their own businesses or for an accredited AustCycle Provider (e.g., cycling school). AustCycle Providers are independent licensees able to run training courses that their Teachers are accredited to deliver. AustCycle Providers are usually small businesses, but can also include community groups, cycling clubs and local councils.

The AustCycle Teacher training course includes elements on nutrition, achieving a healthy weight through exercise and developing programs for individuals and groups to address healthy weight and fitness objectives.

For more information, visit www.austcycle.com.au

Sydney South West GP Link (SSWGPL) – Healthy Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) Program – HEAL is an eight week nutrition and physical activity program that primarily targets adults who are at risk of developing lifestyle diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Participants undertake an initial assessment, then join HEAL at any week in the cycle, continuing for eight consecutive weeks. The program includes a one hour group based exercise session accompanied by one hour of nutrition education each week, with participants reviewed upon program completion and again at five and 12 months. Individuals who participate in the HEAL Program are also provided with a basic home-based exercise program for exercise uptake in between sessions.

HEAL uses a train-the-trainer model to train two tiers of facilitators:

1. Qualified exercise physiologists and dietitians are trained over two days as Tier 1 HEAL Facilitators to deliver the program to community members, as well as become trainers of the future Tier 2 HEAL Facilitators.

2. Tier 2 HEAL Facilitators are trained by Tier 1 HEAL Facilitators to deliver the HEAL program to community members. Qualified exercise physiologists, exercise scientists, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers can complete the one day training course for Tier 2 HEAL Facilitators.

With NPG support, Tier 1 training courses, travel costs for Tier 1 training, and accreditation are provided for free. Travel subsidies may also be available to assist with costs associated with attending Tier 2 training courses. Some subsidies may be provided to each Tier 1 and Tier 2 Facilitator to support the implementation and establishment of the HEAL Program within their own community following training.

For more information, visit www.sswgpl.com.au

National Heart Foundation of Australia – NSW Division – Heartmoves – The Heart Foundation Heartmoves program focuses on delivering low-to-moderate intensity exercise in small groups. The program is designed to safely build strength and fitness, as well as improve balance. Heartmoves is suitable for anyone who has not done any exercise in a while. Heartmoves is evidence based and incorporates components of aerobic activity, weight-bearing or resistance exercise, balance and stretching.

Heartmoves caters for all adults, and is specifically designed to be safe for people who may have risk factors (such as obesity) or health conditions (such as arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes). The program is offered on an ongoing basis (i.e., not time limited) and there is scope in the program to include seated versions of all exercises to accommodate participants of all levels and abilities or to be delivered as a water-based program, if necessary.

Heartmoves leaders are trained and accredited exercise professionals who are ready to tailor exercises to each individual’s needs. A two day training course, plus online component, open to a range of health professionals, provides the skills to deliver the program to small groups in community settings. Certificate III or IV fitness leaders, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists, diabetes educators and other health professionals can be trained as Heartmoves leaders. With NPG support, a subsidy will be made available to reduce costs associated with attending the training course.

For more information, visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/heartmoves

Through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health the Australian Government is providing $71.8 million in government grants over four years from 2009-10 to support Local Government Areas (LGAs) in delivering effective community-based physical activity and healthy eating programs, as well as developing a range of local policies that support healthy lifestyle behaviours.

The Healthy Communities Initiative aims to help reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity within the target populations of participating communities by maximising the number of adults engagd in physical activity and healthy eating programs.

The Health Communities Initiative targets individuals not predominantly in the paid workforce and at risk of developing chronic disease.

Local Government Area Government Grants

Under the Healthy Communities Initiative, government grants will be provided to LGAs to increase the number of adults predominantly not in the paid workforce engaged in physical activity and healthy eating programs.

The LGA Government Grants will:

support a Healthy Communities Co-ordinator within local government to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Healthy Communities Initiative within the LGAs target population; AND any combination of:
subsidise the costs to individuals of participating in healthy eating, physical activity or healthy lifestyle programs; AND/OR
purchase or run community based healthy lifestyle programs; AND/OR
purchase or subsidise training for community members to run community based healthy lifestyle programs where this does not contradict professional or accreditation requirements of specific programs.

LGA government grants will be awarded in three phases and commenced with a Health Communities Initiative Pilot Phase in April 2010. Funding for Health Communities Initiative Phase 2 LGA Grants is expected to commence in April 2011. The application period for Phase 3 is expected to be advertised in the second half of 2011. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor this website for details on the application process.

LGAs funded in Phases 2 and 3 will be required to target individuals not predominantly in the paid workforce and at risk of developing chronic disease. Within this group, preference should be given to disadvantaged individuals, whilst ensuring that the reach of the project maximises the effectiveness of the grant. In this context, target populations could include:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;
recently or long term unemployed;
part-time or casual employees not sufficiently serviced by workplace programs run through the Healthy Workers initiative;
older Australians;
people from Non English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB);
new wave migrants;
carers; and
people with a disability.

What will be funded?

Health Communities Initiative funding from this government grant may also be used to support the following activities:

undertake community consultations with direct relevance to Healthy Communities;
adapt or design programs that specifically address the needs of the target population;
run community events that support the aims of the initiative (for example Measure Up themed showcase of community dietary education and physical activity service providers);
promote the local activities being undertaken as part of the Initiative;
purchase or subsidise equipment (not including information technology) to support the roll out of the initiative;
fund the development and maintenance of sustainable community gardens where this is linked to initiatives to educate the community about the benefits of healthy eating;
undertake strategic planning for healthy lifestyles, and creating environments conducive to making healthy lifestyle choices;
travel expenses directly associated to the delivery of Healthy Communities;
support the development of local policies that encourage, promote and facilitate healthy lifestyle behaviours;
fund minor infrastructure investments of up to 10% of the grant funding amount to promote, encourage or facilitate healthy eating, physical activity or healthy lifestyle behaviours consistent with the aims of Healthy Communities; and
fund activity to assist in evaluating the project.

Applicants may also apply for the alternative use of Health Communities Initiative funds to support innovative approaches for reducing overweight and obesity in the target cohort, but will need to demonstrate how the proposed use of funds would meet the objectives of the program in their community. Building or purchase of capital infrastructure (facilities) would not be eligible for such alternative funding.

What will not be funded?

The Health Communities Initiative grant does not provide funding for the following:

activities that have no link to Healthy Communities;
programs or activities currently funded through existing resources or external funding sources that have not been redesigned or expanded to meet the objectives of the initiative;
projects already receiving funding from the Community Infrastructure Grants Program;
clinical services such as General Practitioner visits or referral visits to allied health professionals and individual diagnostic testing (blood tests and diagnostic imagining);
on-going individualised case management;
individuals to participate in commercial weight loss programs where the primary focus is on profitability and which are not part of a broader healthy lifestyle program in the community;
infrastructure projects greater than 10% of the grant unless negotiated with the Commonwealth;
the purchase or lease of land, facilities or vehicles unless negotiated with the Commonwealth;
programs that only address food security, such as the on-going provision of food, and which are not linked to programs that aim to educate the community about healthy eating;
subsidise profits of a commercial entity;
core organisational operating costs; and
organisations that utilise sponsorship or support to promote food or beverage products considered to be high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, tobacco or alcohol.

This list is not exhaustive and the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) reserves the right to exclude programs, activities or services deemed to be inappropriate or counter to the aims and objectives of Healthy Communities.

Funding and Grant Distribution

Total Health Communities Initiative funding of $703,607 per grant (GST exclusive) will be made available to successful LGAs over a period of 27 months (April 2011 – June 2013). This is based on a base rate of $275,130 per grant (GST exclusive) per annum indexed at 1.019% p.a.
The provisions of the Australian Taxation Office’s GST Ruling GSTR 2006/11 Goods and services tax: Appropriations (“GSTR 2006/11″) enable such payments to be treated as outside of the scope of GST. Therefore, GST is not payable on these grants.
Health Communities Initiative applications will be assessed on a state / territory by state / territory basis. Grants will be distributed proportionally across the jurisdictions up to as follows:

New South Wales 8 grants
Victoria 7 grants
Queensland 7 grants
Western Australia 4 grants
South Australia 4 grants
Northern Territory 2 grants
Tasmania 1 grant
Australian Capital Territory nil (sole LGA already funded in the pilot phase)
TOTAL 33 grants

If an insufficient number of Health Communities Initiative applications of an adequate quality are received from within a state or territory, grants may be re-allocated to other jurisdictions where demand and application quality exceed expectations.

Further Information

For assistance in preparing Health Communities Initiative applications please:

Be Sociable, Share!

Posted on 3rd December 2010 - No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the information presented above