Wellbeing Scripts System Building Project

26/06/2023

Neighbourhood Houses in the Central Highlands Region offer some of the best value around - connecting people, supporting healthy lifestyles, encouraging active living.
Referral to your local Neighbourhood House can support people to engage in a wide range of community based activities.

26/06/2023

The first Wellbeing Scripts projects have wound up - but the work continues - as does the incredible contribution of Neighbourhood Houses across the Central Highlands.

More than $3.7M of Social Connections value to Central Highlands region Posted on June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 By Jane Grimwood No Comments on More than $3.7M of Social Connections value to Central Highlands region Uncategorized Neighbourhood Houses across the Central Highlands region continue to do i...

09/08/2022

And just like that our first project phase has come to an end! Challenges, insights, outputs... and what next - read about it all here in our latest Wellbeing Scripts Blog!

Health Futures Australia

That’s a wrap for the first stage of Wellbeing Scripts in Central Victoria Posted on August 4, 2022August 4, 2022 By Jane Grimwood No Comments on That’s a wrap for the first stage of Wellbeing Scripts in Central Victoria Uncategorized “I think wellbeing grabbed my attention, which I think is r...

04/08/2022

We have been buzzing away for some time now preparing a new suite of regional Wellbeing Script Resources - and they are now reaching fruition!

We are excited to reveal our new short film for Health Practitioners, introducing social prescription, neighbourhood houses and how to support patient wellbeing through referral to community based activities. Check it out!

Health Futures Australia
Digital Storytellers

A short introduction for health practitioners - What are Neighbourhood Houses and how to support patient wellbeing through referral in the Central Highlands ...

07/03/2022

Even without people walking through their doors, neighbourhood houses are where people can seek connection, find support, and build healthier, resilient lives - creating an often-unseen benefit for the health sector.

Data collected during some of the most COVID challenged days of 2021 showed that over 4 days in August, hamstrung by restrictions, Neighbourhood Houses in the Central Highlands region delivered an amazing $113,443 in community value - principally through social connections ($36,791) and social services ($35,444) - averaging at just over $200 worth of community value, per house, per hour.

With face to face and online programming back on in 2022 (with amazing workshops, groups and courses and good ole' social cuppa tea happening right now around our region), Neighbourhood Houses offer many opportunities for improved patient outcomes and wellbeing.

04/03/2022

Recently we were thrilled to gather (in person!!!) for an immersion in the work underway in our collaborative Wellbeing Script System Building initiative in Central Victoria. Professor Rob Moodie, Chair of Health Futures Australia, and global public health leader provided inspiration for the importance and timeliness of social prescribing in Australia followed by a showcase of the many experiments that are underway in Central Victoria that connect medical practitioners to Neighbourhood Houses in prescribing wellbeing and a range of preventative activities.

GPs, Specialists, Neighbourhood House leaders and health system collaborators came together over a beautiful meal provided by Ballarat Neighbouhrood Centre's very special Our Kitchen Social Enterprise. Experiments in referral letters, to prescription pads, to flyers with QR codes and so much more are underway. Exciting times to see such wonderful innovation and partnership working.

Health Futures Australia Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre Darley Neighbourhood House & Learning Centre Creswick Neighbourhood Centre Clunes Neighbourhood House Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre Sarah Greenwood-Smith

17/02/2022

Impact is one of the great unsung songs of Neighbourhood Houses - and yet a little digging demonstrates the deeply beneficial life changing outcomes local people experience when they participate in the sorts of homegrown initiatives found in the Neighbourhood House sector. Some inspirational reading to be found in the stories of individuals whose lives have changed through the power of community in Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre 2021 Annual Report: (https://www.ballaratnc.org.au/images/Committee%20Documents/BNC%20Annual%20Report%202021.pdf)

"Kathleen's outlook changed massively from a scarcity mindset to seeing a brighter better future ahead"

"Joanne feels a deep sense of community and support"

"Greg often says that Ballarat Neighbourhood House saved his life"

Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre = creating community impact

Health Futures Australia

14/02/2022

Neighbourhood Houses are an ideal partner in social prescription for local GPs - they are specialists in social inclusion and community-based activities.

Did you know each Neighbourhood House in a community provides an array of local opportunities - many of which are ideal to support individual wellbeing, social connection and life skill development? We have hand-picked some prime examples from the Neighbourhood Houses in the Central Highlands region in 2022 - you can find Art Therapy in Darley, Free Group Exercise in Clunes and Adaptable Cooking in Ballarat.

Look local, for local solutions!

Adult Art Therapy (Darley): https://lnkd.in/gy-6ZANM

Adaptable Cooking (Ballarat East): https://lnkd.in/gVDKvuuq

Group Exercise (Clunes): https://lnkd.in/g3NDgPDU

Health Futures Australia

20/12/2021

So many benefits to realise from social prescribing, in fact ‘co-benefits’ that are social, health, and economic!

The overlap between these outcomes and what you might find in your local Neighbourhood House - such as community groups, skill and workplace training, volunteering opportunities and social and civic programs for young and old - has make working with one of the 401 Victorian Neighbourhood Houses a cost effective and sustainable way to start a local social prescribing initiative in your community!

Act local!

Health Futures Australia

15/12/2021

We could not agree more that ‘Social prescription is an idea whose time has come’, but how do we build a system where the practice of social prescribing is what everyone does, and is a part of everyday practice, not a time limited project? Lots of insights gleaned from the Wellbeing Scripts project co-design process.

Cross sector - community and health creating together - co-design is one such key insight.

Health Futures Australia

09/12/2021

We are thrilled to be announced as a finalist for the Building Back Better Category in the 2021 Victorian Health Promotion Awards.

We’re incredibly proud to have been recognised amongst the many extraordinary organisations making a vital difference to the health and wellbeing of our community.

Our complete admiration to the doctors and neighbourhood house staff, and to our partner Health Futures Australia, who have all collaborated with such dedication and creativity in this wonderful initiative.

Health Futures Australia, VicHealth Victoria

More at https://bit.ly/31dfQkI

21/11/2021

The evidence is building to support social prescribing as a contribution to increased social connection and better health outcomes, it will only get stronger as we come out of the experience of the last two years.

Now more than ever we need to socially reconnect, it’s good for our health! Luckily we have over 400 Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria, where people can meet and become involved in community - through skills based workshops and courses, meet ups, volunteering, events and just a good old fashioned cup of tea.

Social prescribing + Neighbourhood Houses = stronger, happier, healthier.

Health Futures Australia