Country to Coast, QLD is urging residents and visitors across the Wide Bay to speak up about what boosts their health and wellbeing where they live.
Country to Coast, QLD board chair Dr Peter Dobson said the My Healthy Community Survey 2024 was the best way for people to influence a new approach to driving better health outcomes in their community.
“As a health professional myself, I know many things can influence someone’s health and wellbeing before they even come to see me – their social connections, access to green spaces, their sense of neighbourhood security – all these factors contribute to health outcomes for our community,” said Dr Dobson.
“In designing health programs, we have access to comprehensive national and state data on the health status of our region, such as statistics on diabetes, cardiovascular risk or reported mental health conditions.
“But we don’t have local information on all the other “quality-of-life” factors that can affect health and wellbeing outcomes, such as people’s perceptions of housing access, stable employment available in their community, good transport connections or even whether they feel their community can deal with natural disasters.
“The My Healthy Community Survey 2024 will help fill that gap and set a new direction for designing and planning responses to local health issues.”
Country to Coast, QLD chief executive Julie Sturgess said the My Healthy Community Survey was one of the most important community health consultation exercises across the region in recent times.
“The research shows that many social and environmental factors influence health and wellbeing well before people start to look for a GP,” said Ms Sturgess.
“Being physically active and eating well are obvious healthy habits, but truly impactful health outcomes can only be achieved by looking at all the possible barriers or stepping stones to good health.
“We definitely want to hear about the community’s perceptions of health services in their area and whether people find health information confusing, but we also want to know whether they enjoy strong neighbourhood connections or whether spiritual health is important to them.
“It’s this feedback that will help us dig deep and develop a new approach to build healthier communities in the short, medium and long-term.
“Over the next five weeks, the Country to Coast, QLD team and I will be out and about encouraging people to speak up and have their say.
“You’ll also see and hear our messaging in social media and over the airwaves because we want to give people the best chance possible to participate.”
The My Healthy Community Survey 2024 is open to all residents and visitors who are aged 18 years and over, and all responses are anonymous and confidential.
By simply sharing their views, everyone who completes the survey can enter the prize draw to win one of 20 x $100 grocery cards. Terms and conditions apply.
“Fifteen minutes is all it takes to tell us what really makes you feel you’re on the path to better health,” said Ms Sturgess.
My Healthy Community Survey 2024 closes Sunday 14 July.
