We deliver health promotion and disease prevention programs focusing on keeping people healthy. Our team supports the integration of state and national programs into our service delivery, as well as developing and implementing projects to increase our capacity to reduce preventable illness.

The Gold Coast holds a long and proud identity as an active and healthy city. Driven by lifestyle, opportunity and innovation, the Gold Coast offers a work-life balance unachievable by most of the world’s major cities. However, like many of the world’s major cities, the Gold Coast has experienced an increase in preventable health conditions that negatively impact Gold Coast locals, their families and the greater community. Therefore, the health and wellbeing of our community is everyone’s business and in everybody’s interest.

To help individuals improve their own health we have collated a Healthier You page that provides information on a range of different health topics and links to free and low-cost programs and services. Making small lifestyle changes can improve health and wellbeing and reduce risk of illness.

Projects

Prevention Tracker was undertaken in collaboration with the Australian Partnership Prevention Centre in 2017-18.  This research project looked at key problems in our prevention system that could be critical to improving our approach to chronic disease prevention. Initial findings uncovered aspects of the systems that are important for affecting change.  Final report is due in early 2019.

A Community Jury was held in 2017 to better understand community preferences and views toward potential obesity solutions. The jury included 14 Gold Coast community members, who participated in two days of expert information about the key issues to consider, question and answer time with industry experts, and opportunity for discussion, deliberation and reflection. The jury provided recommendations to Gold Coast Health, City of Gold Coast and Gold Coast Primary Health Network for future planning and delivery of healthy community services.

The Active and Healthy Recovery project was funded by Partners in Recovery and developed to create sustainable opportunities for people with a lived experience of mental illness to be able to reconnect with the community through physical activity. Public Health has worked in collaboration with the Active and Healthy Alliance Gold Coast Inc and City of Gold Coast to build better referral options and support for mental health wellbeing.

Project evaluation is underway. For more information on health promotion email: GCPHU-HP@health.qld.gov.au.