Ever wondered what helps people stay healthy? It’s more than regular visits to the doctor or hospital. Good health is also about having places to connect with others, opportunities to be active, affordable access to healthy food, and supportive communities. Community health promotion focuses on strengthening these foundations, helping people build healthier, happier lives.

Rather than waiting until people become unwell, community health promotion works ‘upstream’ to address the factors that influence health and wellbeing in everyday life.

Each year, Dhelkaya Health receives funding from the Victorian Department of Health to deliver initiatives aligned with state priorities and the Mount Alexander Shire (MAS) Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan. These priorities recognise that good health is shaped by many factors, including social connection, access to healthy and affordable food, opportunities for physical activity, mental wellbeing, safe and inclusive environments, and reducing harms associated with smoking and alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

Health promotion in our community

At Dhelkaya Health, community health promotion is delivered by a multidisciplinary team working across healthy eating, active living, health equity, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, social connection and preventive health.

Supported by staff and volunteers across Dhelkaya Health, the team works alongside local organisations, community groups and priority populations to improve health and wellbeing across the Shire. This includes strengthening health literacy, building social connections, creating supportive environments and reducing barriers that can prevent people from participating in community life.

One initiative many community members will know is Dhelkaya Health’s long-running social walking groups. These groups offer a simple but powerful way for people to stay active, meet others and support their wellbeing

During 2025-26, Dhelkaya Health worked with schools, neighbourhood houses, Men’s Sheds, community groups, LGBTQIA+ networks and correctional settings to bring health promotion activities directly into the places where people learn, connect and seek support.

Looking ahead to 2026-27

Building on this year’s achievements, Dhelkaya Health’s 2026-27 Health Promotion Plan will focus on seven key priority areas:

• Healthy eating: Improving access to affordable healthy food and building knowledge and confidence around healthy eating across the Shire.  
• Active living and social inclusion: Increasing participation in regular physical activity while strengthening social connection and reducing isolation among priority population groups.
• Reducing harm from tobacco, e-cigarettes and AOD: Preventing and reducing the prevalence and impacts of tobacco, e-cigarette and alcohol and other drug use through education, awareness, early intervention and partnerships, including programs delivered in schools across the Shire.
• Safe, respectful and connected communities: Addressing the gendered drivers of violence while strengthening social and emotional wellbeing through connection, resilience and prevention initiatives.
• Prevention, health literacy and early intervention: Working acroos the health and community service system to reduce structural barriers, improve integration, and break down silos, creating more equitable and connected pathways to care.
• Supporting First Nations community members: Supporting First Nations self-determination, cultural connection and cultural safety across Mount Alexander Shire, while building on the strengths of First Nations organisations and their programs.
• Supporting organisational capability and health-promoting practice: Strengthening Dhelkaya Health’s capacity to deliver effective, equitable and evidence-informed health promotion through workforce development, organisational learning, communication, partnership development and continuous improvement.

Health starts with community

Ultimately, community health promotion is about more than preventing illness. It is about creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy, connected and supported.

Through partnerships, local knowledge and evidence-informed practice, Dhelkaya Health will continue working alongside the Mount Alexander community to create the conditions for better health and wellbeing.

You can keep an eye out for upcoming activities through the local newspapers and our social media channels.