Health Promotion
Health promotion is all about helping people live healthier lives. It’s providing tools and knowledge to stay well and avoid getting sick. In remote areas where healthcare might not be as easy to access, health promotion is super important. It serves as a protective barrier against diseases and helps us feel our best. Much like regular maintenance for a car to prevent breakdowns, health promotion emphasises proactive measures over reactive responses.
Health promotion includes things like eating nutritious food, being physically active, getting regular check-ups, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking or excessive drinking.
Health Promotion Programs
Aboriginal Health Workers in Pharmacy
In 2024 HealthWISE launched the Aboriginal Health Worker in Pharmacy pilot program to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, thanks to $70,000 in seed funding from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
How We Can Help:
HealthWISE Aboriginal Health Workers are co-located in pharmacies in Tamworth and Gunnedah once a week, reducing cultural barriers and supporting better health outcomes for First Nations communities through;
- Culturally safe and respectful health checks.
- Support to understand and manage prescriptions.
- Referrals to other HealthWISE and social services.
- Stronger connections between pharmacies and communities.
Find your nearest Aboriginal Health Worker in Pharmacy here.
myTechWISE
Did you know that HealthWISE is tech-wise too? In addition to our commitment to creating healthier communities, HealthWISE offers digital education workshops to help individuals navigate health technology with confidence. Designed with vulnerable populations, including seniors, in mind, these engaging two-hour workshops cover essential topics such as cyber security, telehealth access, using health apps, and setting up emergency contacts. Delivered in safe and accessible locations, these workshops empower participants to embrace technology for better health management.
What We Offer
Two-hour digital education workshops designed for vulnerable people, including seniors.
Content includes:
- Cyber security and scam education
- Setting up emergency contacts
- How to use the Health app to track movement and sleep
- Accessing telehealth using apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime
- How to use Medicare, HotDoc, Service NSW, myGov apps
- Using your phone calendar for appointment or medication reminders
- Downloading and using emergency apps such as Hazards Near Me, Readi – Fires & Floods Near Me, Emergency+ and ABC listen app
- How to make an emergency call from your mobile phone
Workshops are held in safe and accessible locations such as libraries, community centres, or aged care facilities.
Interested?
Contact HealthWISE for your digital education needs. Call (02) 6766 1394 or email comms.team@healthwise.org.au
NEST Regional
At HealthWISE we understand that regular access to healthy food is a key part of your overall health. We are tackling food insecurity in our service footprint by teaming up with OzHarvest to run NEST Regional workshops to teach participants how to cook healthy food on a budget.
We are the first to bring NEST to rural areas, and the success of our pilot program has inspired OzHarvest to develop a NEST Regional program.
What is NEST?
Nutrition Education Skills Training (NEST) is a six week workshop led by a HealthWISE dietitian to provide easy to understand nutritional education using games and trivia. Educational content is aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
The group then prepares a healthy, low-budget meal to share together, encouraging social connection and reducing isolation in regional communities.
Our workshops are free, and all the food, equipment and educational materials are provided. Everyone who takes part receives a take home toolkit, including infographic fact sheets and the OzHarvest Everyday Cookbook.
For more information, please contact Sarah Dean at sarah.dean@healthwise.org.au
Students As LifeStyle Activists (SALSA)
At HealthWISE we’re dedicated to creating healthier communities. That’s why we are delivering the SALSA Regional program. We’ve teamed up with experts from the Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) to bring SALSA Regional to New Engalnd North West NSW. The pilot was made possible by the NSW Government’s ‘Our Region, Our Voice’ Regional Youth Investment Program, and partnerships with the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health and five local high schools.
What is SALSA?
Students As LifeStyle Activists (SALSA) is a peer-led mentor program designed to motivate students to increase physical activity and improve diet. It empowers students to become leaders and make better choices for their health. SALSA prepares students for the future through practical experience in communication and leadership.
It encourages high school students to lead healthier lives. SALSA shows how physical and mental health go hand in hand. Feeling good in your body and mind helps you do better in school and work. It’s like one friend inspiring another friend to choose a nutritious snack instead of junk food.
Why is SALSA Important for Rural Communities?
Rural and regional communities often face unique health and employment challenges. SALSA Regional plays a crucial role in addressing these issues by promoting health and wellbeing among young people, regardless of their socio-economic status. The program equips high school and university students with valuable work-ready skills like leadership, teaching, communication, and team building.
For more information, please contact Sarah Dean at sarah.dean@healthwise.org.au
Social Prescribing
Free Training for Health and Social Care Professionals
HealthWISE offers free training to equip health care and social service providers with the skills and tools needed to implement Social Prescribing.
Why Social Prescribing?
Social Prescribing connects patients with community resources to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing, by addressing the social determinates of health, such as social connection, housing, financial support, etc. This training will help you:
- Understand Social Prescribing and its impact.
- Gain practical strategies for implementation.
- Enhance your ability to support clients and communities.
The training is ideal for health care and social service providers, staff, and volunteers seeking to better understand the challenges in their communities. Participants will gain valuable insights into the social determinants of health and receive resources to integrate Social Prescribing into their services.
For more information, contact: Kritika Jain at kritika.jain@healthwise.org.au
HealthWISE is demystifying menopause through educational events for women and men in our rural communities.
Our events include presentations from health experts on the impacts of perimenopause and postmenopause on your physical and mental health in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Guest speakers include:
- Mental Health Professionals
- Dietitians
- Women’s Health Physiotherapists
- General Practitioners
For more information, please contact Sarah Dean at sarah.dean@healthwise.org.au
