Council Media Pack
Newsletter Articles
Table of Contents
Introduction and Instructions
Sample Article 1: General Newsletter Article
Sample Article 2: Customisable Article
Sample Article 3: Short Customisable Article
Sample Article 4: Mentally Challenge Your Brain
Sample Article 5: Physical Activity
5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Introduction and Instructions
Your Brain Matters is a program that guides you on how to look after your brain health. It is based on scientific evidence that a number of health and lifestyle factors are associated with brain function and the risk of developing dementia.
Being brain healthy is relevant at any age, whether you’re young, old or in between. Importantly, scientific research suggests that living a brain healthy life, particularly during midlife, may reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia. However, there are no guarantees as dementia cannot yet be prevented or cured.
There are 5 Simple Steps to Maximise Brain Health:
Step 1: Look after your heart
Step 2: Do some kind ofphysical activity
Step 3: Mentally challenge your brain
Step 4: Follow a healthy diet
Step 5: Enjoy social activity
We have developed these sample newsletters to help you educate your community aboutthe 5 Simple Steps to Maximise Brain Health, and to encourage people to get involved with your existing ‘brain healthy’ council initiatives and services.
The sample newsletters in this document are intended to be used in your print newsletters, online news items, e-news items, or in any other format that you use to connect with your community. We have developed a range of articles, so that you can choose the format that best suits your publication.
Most of the articles are customisable, and there are spaces (highlighted in yellow) where you can insertdetails of your council’s brain healthy initiatives and services. For advice about whichservices and initiatives are applicable for each of the 5 Simple Steps, see the section ‘5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services’ at the end of this document.
Thank you for your interest in the Your Brain Matters Program. In supporting the health and wellbeing of your community, we very much hope that you take up this unique opportunity to increase awareness of brain health.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Sample Article 1: General Newsletter Article
This sample newsletter article describes Alzheimer’s Australia’s Your Brain Matters program in 300 words. This article can be inserted into a newsletter as is, with no need for customisation.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Sample Article 2: Customisable Article
This sample newsletter article describes Alzheimer’s Australia Your Brain Matters program and also provides an option to insert details of your council’sown brain healthy activities. Under each of the 5 Simple Steps, insert one or two brain healthy activities that are available in your area, as well as a link to additional information online, wherever appropriate. For a list of the types of brain healthy council activities that you could insert, please see ‘5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services’ at the end of this document.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Sample Article 3: Short Customisable Article
This sample newsletter briefly describes the Your Brain Matters program and provides an option to insert details of your council’s brain healthy activities.
Under each of the 5 Simple Steps, insert two or three brain healthy activities that are available in your area, as well as link to more information online, wherever appropriate. For a list of the types of brain healthy council activities that you could insert, please see ‘5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services’ at the end of this document.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Sample Article 4: Mentally Challenge Your Brain
This article focuses on Step 3 of the 5 Simple Steps - Mentally Challenge Your Brain.
In the highlighted list, insert mentally challenging activities that are available in your area, as well as a linkto more information online, wherever appropriate. For a list of the types of mentally challenging council activities that you could insert, please see ‘5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services’ at the end of this document.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
Sample Article 5: Physical Activity
This article focuses on Step 2 of the Your Brain Matters 5 Simple Steps –Do Some Kind ofPhysical Activity.
In the highlighted list, insert physical activities that are available in your area, as well as a link to more information online, wherever appropriate. For a list of the types of physical activities that you could insert, please see ‘5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services’ at the end of this document.
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1
5 Simple Steps: Council Initiatives and Services
Many initiatives and facilities run by councils align with the Your Brain Matters 5 Simple Steps and can be used to promote brain health. The following table includes a list of council initiatives and facilities that may be relevant for each step. Note that some initiatives and facilities are relevant for multiple steps.This is great as it gives people the opportunity to engage in activities which are brain healthy in multiple ways.
1. Heart health / 2. Physical activity / 3. Mental challenge / 4. Diet / 5. Social activitiesInitiatives that promote heart health / X
Initiatives that improve management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity / X
Access to accurate and current health information / X
Promotion of smoke-free environments / X
Smoking reduction initiatives / X
Availability of outdoor green spaces / X / X
Council run leisure centres / X / X
Sporting facilities / X / X
Information about local leisure and sports options / X / X
Local walking groups / X / X
Walking and cycling tracks / X
Promoting the use of public transport to increaseincidental exercise / X
Initiatives that enable lifelong learning / X
Neighbourhood house programs / X / X / X / X
Library services / X / X
Participation in the arts / X / X
Easy access to healthy food choices / X
Community gardens / X / X / X
Healthy eating and food workshops / X / X / X
Information about growing fruit and vegetables / X / X / X
Promotion of local farmer’s markets / X / X
Initiative that encourage connected communities and create opportunities for social connection / X
Internet access to encourage social connectedness and social networks / X
Volunteering opportunities within the community / X / X / X
Social table tennis programs / X / X
Book groups / scrabble clubs / X / X
Participation in music and cultural events / X
Neighbour day activities / X
Men’s sheds / X / X / X
yourbrainmatters.org.au/Council-Media-Pack1