Derwent Valley Health & Wellbeing Social Profile 2024

The Derwent Valley Health and Wellbeing Social Profile is a guide to help us understand and address our community’s health and wellbeing needs. It emphasises that Derwent Valley residents can achieve a fairer and more prosperous future with the right social, health, education, and infrastructure investments. This profile lays the groundwork for future planning, advocacy, and action. It urges communities, governments, and service providers to prioritise the wellbeing of people in our community.

The insights and suggested priorities in this document are drawn from quantitative data, community stories, and feedback. They focus on:

• Child and Adolescent Health and Wellbeing - Improve supports and resources for early childhood development, and prioritise the wellbeing of young people, including mental health support.

• Adult Health and Wellbeing - Increase access to mental health services, improve care for chronic diseases, reduce tobacco and alcohol use, and promote healthy lifestyles.

• Older Adult Health and Wellbeing - Expand local healthcare services, improve public transport, increase access to social connections, teach digital skills, promote physical activity, and ensure safe, diverse, and affordable housing.

• Lifestyle and Behaviour - Promote healthy eating, increase preventive health measures, create more opportunities for physical activity, reduce substance abuse, and encourage community activity and engagement.

• Social, Cultural and Economic Conditions - Focus on economic development, education, and training. Foster social inclusion. Support more affordable and diverse housing options and strengthen community networks.

• Built and Natural Environment:  Invest in upgrading community infrastructure, improving public transport, protecting the natural environment and green spaces, and developing and maintaining recreational facilities.

We need to think beyond short-term fixes to create lasting positive change in our community. This involves listening closely to the community and understanding their needs. We need a comprehensive approach to understand the causes and patterns that lead to current social outcomes and identify areas where change can be made. It also means being flexible and making continual improvements as we work towards change.

This profile is NOT an action plan. Instead, it serves as a snapshot in time that can inform the Council, community, service providers, and other stakeholders. It highlights where the priorities are and where future efforts should be focused to improve social outcomes.

With this document there is hope that it will be a catalyst for aligning all parties toward addressing the needs of our community so that together, we can build a healthier, more resilient Derwent Valley where everyone can thrive.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to creating this Health and Wellbeing Social Profile for the Derwent Valley. This document is a culmination of the collaborative efforts and unwavering support from many individuals and organisations dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our community.

We would like to thank the 20 community members who hosted dozens of kitchen table conversations with residents. Your dedication to engaging with your neighbours and gathering their stories has provided invaluable insights that form the foundation of this profile. We also thank the youth who engaged with us through various channels over the last 12 months. Your voices are critical in shaping the future of our community, and we are grateful for your active participation. Our deepest gratitude goes to Healthy Tasmania for providing the grant through their Lift Local grant program.

Please view Derwent Valley Health & Wellbeing Social Profile 2024