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Celebrate rural health and nominate your local champions
Tasmania’s’ Inaugural Rural Health Week 2007 kicks off!
 
 
Health and Human Services Minister the Hon Lara Giddings today (28th March 2007) encouraged rural Tasmanians to nominate champions of health and wellbeing in their communities and to use funding available for health and wellbeing activities when she announces the format for the Inaugural Tasmanian Rural Health Week, a joint initiative of the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
 
“Rural Health Week, will run for the week of 3-9 September, and is a chance to recognise and acknowledge communities and individuals as champions of rural health. It is about grass roots action – about what rural communities are doing for themselves to promote good health and wellbeing,” said Professor Allan Carmichael, Dean of Health Science, University of Tasmania.
 
Ms Giddings acknowledged the enormous work our rural communities are doing for their health and wellbeing and is keen to support activities that promote health in our rural communities.
 
“Increasingly primary health care and health promotion are being emphasised at all levels of government as we focus on keeping people well, rather than just treating the sick. These models reflect the underpinning philosophy of both Rural Health Week and the Meander Valley Health and Wellbeing Mapping project,” remarked Ms Giddings.
 
At the ceremony at the Westbury Community Health Centre, UDRH Director A/Prof Sue Kilpatrick said that communities will be invited to nominate health professionals and individuals whose work has made a significant difference to the health and wellbeing of people in their community.  In recognition of their outstanding efforts, awards to these special individuals will be presented on 2 September when the Rural Health Week will be rolled out.
 
A/Prof Kilpatrick further added that there will be up to $2,000 available to the Rural Health Week regional planning groups to stage health and wellbeing activities in their communities. These activities will be held during Rural Health Week which will run from 3 to 9 September.  Rural Health Week is an opportunity for rural communities to celebrate their achievements in health and wellbeing under the theme "Celebrating Rural Health". It aims to:
 
  • Promote and celebrate rural health as an important component of state-wide health priority areas;
  • Increase awareness within rural communities about rural health issues and the importance of a preventative approach to their health through Rural Health Week activities and established programs within the community;
  • Provide an opportunity for communities to showcase programs and activities aimed at improving health and wellbeing; and
  • Acknowledge the achievements of rural communities in enhancing the health and wellbeing of their communities.