Update on HW PCP – NH Shared Vision for the North – Outer Northern Prevention Taskforce
HWPCP and 22 partners came together 30/9/2015 for a full day session to explore a coordinated catchment based approach to Health Promotion (HP) and Prevention work across Melbourne’s outer Northern Growth corridor. This exciting and important event was facilitated by Dr Helen Keleher and held at the Hume Global Learning Centre, Craigieburn (a world class venue!) Most importantly this planning forum represented such a timely opportunity for all HP / Prevention services in the outer Northern growth corridor to come together for the first time and better understand the importance of shared prevention systems thinking and terminology as well hearing about a range of Integrated HP / Prevention programs in the catchment.
The session was also about prevention service providers from across Hume, Whittlesea & Mitchell Local Government Areas (LGAs) meeting to explore catchment based planning ‘outside’ of our immediate boundaries, that is – what does this look like in practical terms ? Helen further invited the audience to examine a number of critical and provocative reform questions such as - if we are looking at the key issues for children and families then what do we know? What are the gaps in our knowledge? What sectors and settings are currently doing preventative work on those determinants / factors? Which sectors are the most appropriate for what types of actions?
The day was an exciting platform for all attendees to showcase initiatives which reflected both the rich diversity and quality of local prevention work. It also highlighted those opportunities where greater shared effort was both possible and necessary between all prevention services (including PCP, hospital, community health, council, education, state government and PHN) in order to address future growth demand.
Key comments received from the day:
“long overdue – sincere thanks”
“reignited my enthusiasm for cross LGA collaboration”
“yes!! Appreciate leadership being provided from PCP (When asked: Is there a need for further work around aligning current prevention plans across the catchment?)
Strengthening the Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchellprevention system via effective and catchment based planning by services, was a key commitment from forum members. To meet and support this direction, the HW PCP confirmed that it be able to provide project leadership support and guidance in the establishment of the proposed Outer Northern Prevention Taskforce. The Taskforce will be seeking to convene its first meeting before the end of 2015 and aims to set a framework to coordinate catchment focused prevention planning.
Since the session, the HW PCP has also confirmedproject worker funding support for the Taskforce. The PCP has also commencedpractical design work with Dr Helen Kelleher and Shared Vision for the North Project Worker Rebecca Woodyatt in the development of a Prevention Action Framework to support the Healthy Children and Families initiative. The report detailing the findings of the initial workshop and proposing the Prevention Action Framework is currently still in draft form but the work to-date clearly articulates the next practical steps in the establishment of the proposed taskforce, Changes to key staff in this work have recently occurred, with Rebecca Woodyatt taking a leadership role in prevention with the City of Melbourne and her vacant SVN portfolionow being taken up on an interim basis by Ms. Chelsea Simpson (Director, Planning Northern Health). As part of these leadership changes and the expected end of year rush, Chelsea is in the process of familiarising herself with the SVN initiative and the PreventionTaskforce strategy.
Both NH and the HW PCP are very excited about services co-investing in a partnership approach to developing a common prevention frameworkand a catchment based prevention planning approach across the outer northern growth catchment. In working with Dr Helen Kelleher in finalising the report and action framework, we are anticipating that the report will be finalised over the next two-weeks with the final report emailed to all participants who registered on the planning day.