Released 24/06/2019
Twelve community organisations are set to benefit from over $2.4 million in grant funding to tackle poor health outcomes that affect the Canberra community.
The funding is part of the latest Healthy Canberra Grants round, with programs focussed on tackling alcohol-related harm and diabetes. Another range of programs through the Health Promotion Innovation Fund will focus on reducing overweight and obesity to support healthy ageing.
“We want to shift the focus from treating illness, to preventing illness and keeping people well,” Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris said.
“That’s why, through these grants we are deliberately targeting specific lifestyle factors that need attention to help improve our health as a community and change the way we live.”
A number of local organisations were successful through the grants round, including the AIDS Action Council of the ACT, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Asthma Australia (ACT) and Diabetes NSW & ACT.
“This funding will go towards targeted programs that will make a real difference to the health of our community, and hopefully help keep people well and out of hospital,” said Minister Fitzharris.
In the ACT, 53.1% of adults reported that they had at least one chronic disease, while 23.2% had two or more. Among persons aged 45 years and older, 44.8% stated that they had at least two or more chronic diseases.
Alcohol consumption also remains a concern with some groups drinking at levels that put them at risk of ill-health and harm in the short and long term.
“We can’t escape ageing, but we can tackle how we age so that as a community we support our population with health and social programs that keep older Canberrans active, healthy and socially connected. All of which is fundamental to living longer,” Minister Fitzharris said.
Grant recipients
Healthy Canberra Grants: Focus on reducing alcohol-related harm
- AIDS Action Council of the ACT with $184,468 over two years for the Not So Straight Up program;
- Australian Red Cross Society with $170,577 over two years for the save-a-mate (SAM) program;
- Canberra Health Services with $154,400 over two years for the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Canberra Outreach program;
- Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) with $762,940 over two years for the Preventing Alcohol-Related Chronic Disease – PARK-D program; and
- Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services Limited with $476,200 over two years for the Winnunga AHCS - Reducing alcohol-related harm for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples program.
Healthy Canberra Grants: Focus on preventing diabetes
- Asthma Australia (ACT) with $74,360 over one year for the Preventing Diabetes in Women of Reproductive Age (16-44 years) Who Have Asthma in the ACT program;
- Companion House with $82,305 over one year for the Women’s Healthy Life program;
- Diabetes NSW & ACT with $702,300 over one year for the Healthy Women, Healthy Mums, Healthy Families program;
- Nutrition Australia ACT with $77,665 over one year for the Nourish 'n' Nurture program; and
- Tuggeranong Child and Family Centre with $24,975 over one year for the Live Life Well program.
Health Promotion Innovation Fund
- The Australian Talented Youth Project with $13,706 for the Moon Moves project; and
- The Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association with $10,000 for the Supporting Healthy ACT Apprentices - Phase 2 project.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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