Project Purpose
The need to undertake this project is driven by:
- Community aspiration for the Shire to lead advocacy for increased and improved mental services.
- Desire from community groups and local organisations to improve sense of collaboration by measuring the collective impact in supporting local health and wellbeing.
- The need to meet the requirements of the Public Health Act 2016.
Get Involved
Residents have opportunity to participate in the development of the Community Wellbeing Plan by completing the Boddington Health and Wellbeing Survey by Monday, 11 September 2023. The Survey covers three main areas of interest to the Working Group:
- Community perceptions of local alcohol, other drug, mental health and suicide related issues.
- Understanding of what alcohol and other drug (AOD), mental health (MH) related services would be/are accessed by community.
- Strategies to address these issues that would be supported by the community.
Community groups and local organisations with an active role in supporting the health and wellbeing of Boddington residents and interested in joining the Community Wellbeing Plan Working Group are encouraged to contact the Shire.
Project Progress
In November 2022, Holyoake facilitated an interactive workshop with local organisations and community groups to scope out the potential of co-designing a Community Wellbeing Plan in Boddington during 2023. The group received an overview of the state and national priority areas for health and wellbeing and examples of other Wheatbelt communities benefiting from having their own Community Wellbeing Plans, before exploring the capacity of organisations to be involved in shaping one for Boddington.
During May 2023 the Working Group identified existing capacity in the community by undertaking community mapping and gapping of existing services, programs and events being delivered, as well as identify opportunities for new collaboration and partnership.
The Working Group met again in June 2023 to explore health and wellbeing data specific to Boddington to identify local priority areas, as well as plan the launch of a Community Perceptions Survey for the broader community to provide input into the Plan. Submissions for the Community Perception Survey closed in November 2023.
The Working Group reconvened in December 2023 to collate the results. This was undertaken in conjunction with the health and wellbeing data gathered to determine strategies and actions to inform the Community Wellbeing Plan during February and March 2024.
What's Coming Up
Holyoake are currently drafting the Boddington Community Wellbeing Plan and the Working Group are considering final revisions prior to public release. It’s anticipated the actions will commence from the 2024-25 financial year.