The current plan, ‘Bayside's Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy’ 2017-2021, is in its fourth and final year. The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 requires Councils to develop a municipal public health and wellbeing plan every four years, within 12 months of each general election of the Council. The next municipal public health and wellbeing plan is due in October 2021.

Each plan should explain and demonstrate the significant role of Council in improving the health and wellbeing of people who live, work, study and play in the municipality. When looking to the Health & Wellbeing of Bayside residents this plan should aim to address key health priorities and long term community aspirations identified by the Bayside community.

With this feedback Council will be able to further understand and give context to which areas need to be prioritised over the next four years and how this is best achieved.

All engagement activities will enhance our aim to create a plan that is inclusive and identifies with the majority of our community.

As the level of Government closest to our community, we play a key role in identifying issues and service gaps, instigating programs, facilitating partnerships, developing policy, implementing local law, providing support and services directly to residents and undertaking important infrastructure developments.

The health and vitality of a community has far reaching impacts on the social and economic wellbeing, workforce participation, productivity and overall wellbeing of Bayside residents.

Feedback we collect will help will work towards addressing identified priority health areas that our key to improving the overall health and wellbeing of our community.

Examples of where we can influence and activities we have previously delivered include:

• Volunteering
• Community safety
• Mental health initiatives
• Healthy eating and implementing healthy food options at sporting club canteens
• Healthy ageing
• Inclusion and access
• Improving social connectedness and engagement with vulnerable community members
• Reducing family violence

As the first step in updating the Plan, Metropolis Research completed a survey of 400 residents in November 2020 to understand their views on how Council can best support improved wellbeing within Bayside. The data collected from the telephone survey has been used along with Census data to develop Bayside's Health and Wellbeing Profile 2021 - 2025.

Key Bayside Health Facts

For the most part Bayside residents are a healthy, connected and resilient community

• Just over half of Bayside residents agreed (50.3%) that they lived in a close-knit community and felt a strong sense of belonging to the community (53.7%).
• Bayside residents (96.1%) feel safe walking in their neighbourhood during the day and walking at night in the local area (66.7%)

• Bayside residents exercise at levels above the Victorian Average:
  • 64% exercise more than 4 times per week
• The majority of residents (83.2%) rated their mental health as either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’

However,

• Just under half of Bayside residents (42.3%) are considered overweight (pre-obese) or obese. Males more likely than females to be considered overweight or obese.
• Nearly half of Bayside’s adult population (45.7%) drink more than two standard alcohol drinks two to three times per week
• It is estimated that 7,500 (9%) of Bayside residents live in poverty ‘not having enough available income to afford life’s necessities such as food, clothing or healthcare’
  • women comprise the majority of Bayside adults living in poverty (57%)
  • And those with a disability comprised a third of those living in poverty (31%)

We have developed a snapshot of Bayside's health profile. You can find out more by viewing the health profile uploaded in the document library.

Health and wellbeing is everybody’s business.

Bayside’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan provides direction for the whole of community. Actions will involve or be led by a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including: various council departments, health organisations, community centres and volunteer groups.

Council’s role in implementing the Plan and associated Action Plans will include:

• Direct programs and services
• Facility planning and coordination
• Partnerships and strengthening community capacity
• Advocacy and information

Bayside’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan and Action Plans will operate in conjunction with other key Council strategic documents to guide work across Bayside to improve health and wellbeing.

Action Plans

Two action plans have been developed:

• Health and Wellbeing Action Plan; and
• Disability Action Plan (addresses the Disability Act 2006)

The Action Plans will include high level strategic activities that will be taken to Council and other partners to achieve the goals and objectives set out in Bayside’s Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan.

Progress against the Action Plans will be monitored, with annual reports made to Council and the community on their achievement as per legislative requirements.

The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021 -2025 highlights four key goals and fourteen objectives all with their own actions: