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Supporting locals in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley to eat well, move more and stay connected

Funding that ensures Victorians health and wellbeing is being supported and well taken care of.

By news@gippsland - 18th June 2021 - Back to News

Five local organisations, clubs and groups in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley will share in $3 million of VicHealth funding to help their communities reconnect and improve their health following the impacts of coronavirus and the Victorian bushfires.

Physical distancing required to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but it is important that we stay socially connected to family, friends, and neighbors as we physically distance ourselves from others

Receiving the grants

These organisations are among the organisations to receive a VicHealth Reimagining Health Grant to:

• Help locals build better social connections with each other and the community
• Provide greater opportunities for physical activity
• Increase access to healthy, affordable food

Grant recipients

Grant recipients in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley include:

• Traralgon Imperials Cricket Club has received $3,001 to create a project to engage young children in cricket during the winter seasons to create ongoing engagement with cricket rather than the summer seasons only.
• Morwell Cricket Club has received $9,998 to set up an already purchased electronic scoreboard and more easily update the scoreboard through the My Cricket Application. Funding will also be used to live stream games to better connect the club with the community
• Yallourn Yallourn North Football Netball Club has received $3,000 to engage local business owners to improve meal options provided to Junior netballers and footballers during the season. Healthy meal options will be provided alongside healthy eating sessions to promote healthy choices at home
• Morwell Pegasus Soccer Club Inc has received $3,000 to create the Morwell Pegasus Soccer Club All Abilities program for people (aged 5 to 65 years). This will provide an all abilities soccer program which will occur monthly through soccer-based activities and small sided games
• The West Gippsland Hockey Association has received $3,000 to create a project called Let’s Move and Get Back to Hockey. This program is a 7-week program for children (aged 5 to 12 years) to engage them in physical activity and to engage in hockey

Support for health and wellbeing

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing stands committed to supporting those in the community who need it most. "This much-needed funding from VicHealth aims to ensure local organisations can continue supporting our community to get their health and wellbeing back on track in 2021 and beyond."

Deliver locally-led solutions

Ms Shing said, "Grassroots organisations in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley understand our communities’ needs and can deliver locally-led solutions to empower local residents to improve their health and wellbeing in the wake of the pandemic."

Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and actually improve our immune systems, it is what VIctorians need to maintain their wellbeing

Helping Victorians

VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said community organisations play a vital role in helping Victorians hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic and the Victorian bushfires to connect and take care of their wellbeing.

Pictures from Family friendly East Gippsland Facebook page and West Gippsland Football Netball Competition Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com