Healthy Loddon Campaspe

In 2016, the community told the Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership that it was concerned about health statistics and outcomes in the region. They also believed that health is everyone’s business, not just that of health services and professionals.

To address these concerns, a series of design workshops were undertaken involving over 100 stakeholders from local government, health services, primary care partnerships, universities and state government departments to develop what was originally known as the Healthy Heart of Victoria and is now known as the Healthy Loddon Campaspe implementation framework.

Subsequently, in 2018 Stage 1 of the initiative was funded $5M.

A workforce of localised Health Brokers work within the six Loddon Campaspe Local Government Areas to help build knowledge about health and wellbeing.

The Health Broker’s role is to make health everyone’s business – developing relationships between Council, local organisations and community groups to help build knowledge and influence decision making with respect to health and wellbeing.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe is implementing place-based activations focusing on physical activity and healthy eating. Projects will continue to focus on those parts of the community that are the least supported to help encourage healthy eating and get more people, more active, more often.

Active Living Census

The 2019 Active Living Census (ALC) provided important information about the health and wellbeing of community members in the Loddon Shire. The report helps us to target our programs and infrastructure to support people of all ages and abilities to be more active, healthy and happy.

The ALC was based on a similar census conducted by the City of Greater Bendigo in 2014. The paper survey was distributed to all households by post, however residents were encouraged to complete the survey online if possible. The survey was open from 16 May to 23 June 2019 and was completed by over 24,500 people throughout Loddon Campaspe, including 11.5% of the population in Loddon Shire.

The findings provide reliable evidence at a local level, and allow us to compare the data between the Shire’s different townships, as well as age and gender groups. The survey has also shown us what will help our residents meet guidelines for healthy eating and exercise, and support our efforts to reduce obesity, chronic disease and high-risk health behaviours.

What are the main findings in Loddon Shire?

• Walking is the most popular type of physical activity, followed by swimming, active play, tennis and bushwalking.
• On average, people have to travel 21 kilometres to participate in their physical activity.
• 3 out of 4 adults are overweight or obese.
• 56% of females and 53% of males want to exercise more.
• 1 out of 9 households do not have enough to eat- they are ‘food insecure’. In some areas, this increases to 1 in 6 households.
• Only 1 out of 7 adults eat enough vegetables daily.
• Food insecure and low income households report:
  • lower levels of health and wellbeing
  • higher rates of overweight and obesity
  • higher rates of health-risk behaviours, for example drinking alcohol and sugary drinks and smoking
  • lower rates of health-protecting behaviours, for example eating fruit and vegetables and exercising.

Where can I find the report?

We encourage all residents, organisations and community groups to download the reports. They are available for anyone to access and can be used in a variety of ways such as to support grant applications and funding submissions, inform event planning or better understand local health and wellbeing.

To download the Loddon Shire selected findings report: ALC-Loddon-Selected-Findings(PDF, 8MB)

For the Loddon Shire full report: ALC-Loddon-Topline-Report.pdf(PDF, 4MB)

You can also access the Loddon Campaspe regional reports here.

The video below will help you to use and understand the findings.

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Through the Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative, Council has worked with local partners to install outdoor fitness equipment around Loddon Shire. There are 3 outdoor fitness pods located in along the Nardoo Trail in Wedderburn. You can view the map of the trail with the locations of the exercise pods below. In addition, there are single outdoor fitness pods located at Nolens Park in Boort, Kelly Park in Pyramid hill and at the Recreation Reserve in Inglewood.

The equipment is freely accessible to all community members and designed for people of all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome.

To help you use the Wedderburn, Boort, Pyramid Hill and Inglewood outdoor fitness equipment in your own time, you can download a free guide and watch the videos below. Follow these exercises and stretches to make safe and proper use of the equipment.

No matter what your fitness level is, there is a program for you. There are three to choose from:

Beginner is for someone who does not do a lot of exercise but wants to be more active.

Intermediate is for someone who does some exercise already but would like to become more active or try something new.

Advanced is for someone who is already active and has good fitness.

Wedderburn fitness programs

Beginner(PDF, 1MB)

Intermediate(PDF, 1MB)

Advanced(PDF, 1MB)

Boort, Inglewood and Pyramid Hill fitness programs

Beginner(PDF, 799KB)

Intermediate(PDF, 782KB)

Advanced(PDF, 771KB)

Exercise videos

For videos on how to use the cycle seats and step up platform at pod 3 in Wedderburn, please visit:

Cycle seat and Set up platform.

Videos for all other equipment can be found here. 

Important health and safety advice

We recommend that you: 

Talk to your GP if you haven’t exercised in the past six months or have any health conditions or injuries, as you might need a different program to the ones above.

Do each exercise slowly and carefully when trying them for the first time.

Stop immediately if you feel any dizziness, sickness or pain. If you do not feel better within a couple of minutes, seek help from a medical professional.

It is best to avoid exercising in extreme weather conditions and UV levels. The safest time to exercise outdoors is before 10am or after 4pm. Once UV levels reach 3, sun protection is needed.

Remember to bring a water bottle when you’re exercising, and a small towel and alcohol-based spray so you can clean the equipment after use.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe Adventure Bingo

Explore walks across the Loddon Campaspe region with Adventure Bingo!

Get physically active while having some fun at the same time by taking part in Adventure Bingo – an initiative from Healthy Loddon Campaspe.

Adventure Bingo encourages residents to get involved by walking one of six trails across the Loddon Campaspe region. Through the initiative, participants spot points of interest listed on a grid during their walk and once they’ve spotted three items in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line, they’ve got Bingo!

Where

Little Lake Boort in Boort

How

Join in online by clicking here

OR

Download and print of the Little Lake Boort map(PDF, 771KB)  and mark off the sites with a pencil!

Where else?

Other Adventure Bingo walks are located across our region in Gunbower, Dunolly, White Hills, Romsey and Maldon.

Following the positive impact of Stage 1 of the initiative on health outcomes in the Loddon Campaspe region, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian State Government provided further funding for an additional four years as part of the 2022 State Budget.

The initiative will continue to work within the region by:

• Implementing place-based activations focusing on physical activity and healthy eating. Projects will continue to focus on those parts of the community that are the least supported to help encourage healthy eating and get more people, more active, more often.

• A workforce of localised Health Brokers in each Local Government Area focused on developing relationships to help build knowledge about health and wellbeing.

• Utilising and sharing the findings from the Healthy Loddon Campaspe Active Living Census to help ensure that investments, infrastructure, programs and services across the region are what is needed and where it’s needed.

Planning is currently underway for the implementation of Stage 2 of the Healthy Loddon Campaspe initiative, with new projects to be announced in early 2023.