Welcome to our monthly newsletter. This newsletter is intended for our Pillar partners, and provides updates on the Pillars current projects and health & wellbeing news from across the region. Your feedback on the content and format are always welcomed and appreciated.
The forum is free-of-charge, acknowledging a very tough year!
Keynote speaker is international journalist and author Stan Grant who will talk on indigenous affairs and the broader political and social landscape. For details and to register: https://bit.ly/3kHPEmH
G21 HWB PILLAR UPDATE - DECEMBER 2020
DIRECTOR'S UPDATE
Hello all,
Today we celebrate International Day of People with Disability. Today is a United Nations observed day celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with a disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
G21 shares a valued partnership with Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV), hosting the Community Leadership Network Hub (the Barwon Hub) at our G21 Office (when not working remotely). The Barwon Hub Liaison Officer, Deb Haygarth works tirelessly across the Barwon region to empower women with disabilities and to celebrate their contributions to the region.
The annual G21 Stakeholder Forum is set for this Friday 4 December from 9.30am to 11.30am (that’s tomorrow!). You can find details on how to register above or by visiting the G21 website www.G21.com.au. This year’s Forum is being live streamed and is free of charge for all registered participants. When registering, in lieu of charging a fee, participants have the opportunity to donate to several local respected charities that support the community in the G21 Region.
The G21 Region Social Housing Project is progressing at a rapid rate. The Social Housing Project is vital to ensure that we work with the Victorian State Government on the life changing “Big Housing Build”, which will inject $5.3b into the Victorian economy to build and upgrade social housing across our state. Some $215m has already been committed to our region.
The Project also includes building a vision and longer term plan for social housing within the G21 Region.
The G21 Health and Wellbeing Pillar Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Initiative is well into the final year actions, which are part of the 4 year G21 Regional HEAL plan. This includes ensuring the impacts and implications of the pandemic are woven into priority areas. As restrictions ease, we are again seeing the increase in capacity of partners to achieve meaningful outcomes over the next 12 months in HEAL. All the latest information is available on the G21 website.
Work continues to steadily progress on the “Growing up in G21” project. In November, we have conducted far reaching consultation with service providers from key Early Year’s services and settings across the G21 region, as well as with the Department of Education(DET) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
The “Growing up in G21” document is anticipated to form the basis of Early Years Plans for LGAs which are due for renewal in 2021. This work will also include known impacts of the pandemic on 0-8 year olds in the G21 region.
In November, the G21 HWB Pillar was pleased to support the “Local and Vocal” Youth Summit as part of the ‘Connected Community’ project. The Summit was attended by over 100 young people from across the G21 region. Young leaders were instrumental in the design and facilitation of the summit which explored social isolation, as well as provided brainstorming activities to look at ways of reducing, minimising and resolving disconnection in youth within our region. Guest speakers included Jason Trethowan, CEO of Headspace and Irene Verins, Manger of Mental Health and Wellbeing at VicHealth.
Our website is updated daily with links around the latest COVID-19 advice and updates from DHHS, as well as comprehensive links around mental health and wellbeing, how to prevent infection and spread, and emergency relief to support those experiencing financial distress.
Finally, as we draw near to the end of 2020, the G21 Health and Wellbeing Team would like to acknowledge and express our deepest appreciation and thanks to our CEO Elaine Carbines, who is retiring at the end of this month. Elaine has led G21 over the past decade, advocating tirelessly for those whom too often do not receive a public voice, addressing disadvantage, and championing for increasing the health and wellbeing of people living within the G21 Region. As we navigate our way through the strangest of times during a worldwide pandemic, we celebrate a wonderfully influential, kind, and caring leader. We thank you and wish you the very best for the future.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will be separated into two new departments to allow for a dedicated focus on our health system and on the social recovery of our state. The new Department of Health (DoH) and the new Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) will commence operation from 1 February 2021.
IDPwD is a United Nations observed day celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions. For more information click here
To explore the housing story for the G21 region through understanding housing supply and demand, housing diversity, affordability and availability click here
The City of greater Geelong's 'MY STORY' Project has captured stories from 119 community members on their experiences and insights of life living with a disability or mental health challenges.
Encompass Community Services is recruiting and employing 40 new staff members, supporting the road to recovery in response to the Corona virus pandemic job losses in our region.
Please join us from 7.30 to 9pm on Wednesday 9 December 2020 to learn more about the 16 Days of Activism as we welcome media personality, comedian and author Nelly Thomas.
GEN VIC’s 2020/2021 Pre-Budget Statement calling for the Victorian Government to build back better for a gender equal recovery from COVID19 is now available and can be accessed below.
As part of 16 Days of Activism the SAFVC are pleased to offer a Wellbeing and Sustainability for Primary Prevention Practitioners training module, on Thursday 10 December, at no charge.
The Victorian Government is building a family violence memorial in the heart of the city that pays tribute to victim survivors and puts their stories out into the open.
Golden Plains Shire Council is seeking public feedback on its Draft Community Engagement Policy as part of its commitment to improve how engagement is undertaken by Council.
Get your paint brushes, pencils and cameras out and start creating a piece of artwork to enter into the Virtual Youth Art Competition!
Submit a piece of work by the 15 December to go in the running to win a $200 prize thanks to Victorian Youth Week!
As part of the Surf Coast Shire Climate Emergency response, a survey is now available to share your experiences, impacts and actions. For more information on the Climate Emergency response and to take part in the survey, click here
Thanks to telehealth, Colac Area Health is able to provide safe, personal, effective and connected care, without patients having to leave their home or community.
Victoria’s achievement in bringing down daily coronavirus numbers from 700 new cases a day in August to currently no new active cases has led Ireland and other European countries to seek our experts’ advice on how the state did it.
