Young people will have a voice in the decision-making process as City of Ballarat works to create its next municipal public health and well-being plan.
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VicHealth has partnered with City of Ballarat and 15 other councils to ensure young people's voices help shape planning for an active and healthy future.
City of Ballarat Mayor Daniel Moloney said key projects within the project would focus on the eight to 14 age group.
Some of the projects will look at improving healthy food and drink options at sports clubs and venues and increasing options for being active in natural settings and through flexible recreation programs.
By giving children greater opportunities to influence decisions which affect their health and wellbeing, we are aiming for greater participation and better outcomes.
- Cr Daniel Moloney
City of Ballarat will also look at providing opportunities for young people which encourage social connection, leadership opportunities and good mental health.
Cr Moloney said there was likely to be a number of different engagement opportunities and models like forums, online platforms, projects and events.
"It's important to involve children's voices in planning," he said.
"They're the current users of much of our sporting infrastructure, and they'll be the players, coaches and administrators of the future.
"By giving children greater opportunities to influence decisions which affect their health and wellbeing, we are aiming for greater participation and better outcomes."
Actions through the project and key outcomes will be based on feedback during the consultation process.
A VicHealth survey shows four in every 10 Victorians aged 18 to 24 had difficulties staying connected to others in 2020, up from three in 10 before the coronavirus pandemic began.
The survey revealed four in 10 respondents were concerned about their job prospects and two in 10 said they did not trust their neighbours.
VicHealth chief executive Dr Sandro Demaio said this new partnership model would create a more consistent and long-term approach to health improvement across Victoria.
"By offering meaningful opportunities where young people's voices can be heard, we can support young people to reconnect and inspire more creative local solutions," he said.
The VicHealth Local Government Partnership involves developing evidence-based health promotion models for councils with input from academics, community organisations and people with lived experiences.
Participating councils will have the opportunity to inspire, learn and collaborate with each other, as well as with community experts and young people, to amplify the voices of children and young people in decisions.
VicHealth will focus on providing support in funding and capacity building to strengthen local workforce, collaboration with expert partners and data and monitoring support.
VicHealth will look to expand the program into other communities as the program grows and all councils will have access to evidence-based health promotion models.
All Victorian councils are developing a four-year Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan for 2021-2025 due for completion in October.
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