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Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy 2013-2017

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Page 1: Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategythe Climate Change Act 2010 and the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015 when preparing a health and wellbeing plan. A

Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy

2013-2017

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iiiWellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy 2013-2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary 4

Background 5

Introduction 5

Bayside community 6

Government policy and legislation context 8

Environments supporting health and wellbeing 9

How the strategy was developed 11

Strategic principles, goals and objectives 15

Underlying principles 15

Goal 1: An engaged and supportive community 16

Objectives 16

Why is this important for Bayside? 17

Goal 2: A healthy and active community 18

Objectives 18

Why is this important for Bayside? 19

Goal 3: Safe and sustainable environments 20

Objectives 20

Why is this important for Bayside? 21

Implementation, monitoring and evaluation 22

Action Plans 23

Implementation and community engagement 23

Monitoring and evaluation 23

Acknowledgements

Bayside City Council would like to express its appreciation and thank all organisations and individuals in the community and within Council who provided input in the development of this strategy. This collaborative project was delivered by the following Council units; Policy and Planning, Family Services, Youth Services and Community Partnerships.

Bayside acknowledges the financial support of the Department of Health Southern Metropolitan Region towards the development of the Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Action Plans.

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Executive SummaryBayside City Council has developed a comprehensive new strategy that will promote wellbeing for people of all ages and abilities, so that people can live better lives in Bayside.

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy 2013-2017 meets the requirements of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 whilst streamlining Bayside’s community services planning for health and wellbeing from early childhood, through to youth, adult lives and older years.

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy is part of a strategic framework suite of documents that includes the City of Bayside: Health and Wellbeing Profile 2013-2017, the Community Engagement Report 2013 and actions plans for identified population groups.

Following extensive research and consultation with individuals and organisations, the following three goals and 14 objectives were identified as areas of focus:

Goal 1: An engaged and supportive community

1.1 Strengthen volunteerism in Bayside

1.2 Support opportunities that build social networks and community connections

1.3 Promote positive mental health in the community

1.4 Advocate for affordable, accessible and appropriate services in Bayside

Goal 2: A healthy and active community

2.1 Support opportunities for physical activity that are inclusive

2.2 Increase Bayside residents utilising active transport

2.3 Improve Bayside infrastructure that supports physical activity

2.4 Increase healthy eating practices of the Bayside community

2.5 Increase participation in health assessments and self care

Goal 3: Safe and sustainable environments

3.1 Reduce rates of risky drinking in the Bayside community

3.2 Support programs and services that address family violence and its impacts

3.3 Decrease road accidents and injuries in Bayside

3.4 Strengthen community perceptions of safety in public places and in the home

3.5 Improve Council and community’s capacity to respond to extreme weather events

Objectives under each goal inform the strategies and actions for identified population groups. Over the coming four years, Council and its partners will work together to support and deliver the actions plans to improve the health and wellbeing of the Bayside community. Clear measures will be reported through an annual review and through the final evaluation plan.

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Background

Introduction

Encouraging people to lead healthier lives – and building environments that help them to do so – is an important challenge for our whole community. The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy is a new approach that integrates our planning for wellbeing across all the life stages for all Bayside residents.

This strategy has been developed in conjunction with community members, as well as the organisations that provide health, care, education, social supports and services to people of all abilities, from early childhood throughout their youth, adult lives and older years.

It is based on evidence about our current and future community and their needs. Most importantly it also reflects the views that community members have expressed, in telling us how the environments in which they live can best support engaged, healthy, active, safe and fulfilling lives.

The strategy outlines community needs and policy contexts and identifies broad goals and objectives for wellbeing for four years to 2017. Action plans will support the achievement of these goals and objectives.

Figure 1: Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and Action Plans

This strategy, together with its supporting action plans, will enable not only Council, but all relevant organisations and individuals to plan and advocate for the infrastructure, services, programs and supports that will help our community to enjoy the best standard of health and wellbeing that we can achieve.

Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy

Ageing Well Action Plan

Early Years Action Plan

Disability Action Plan

Youth Action Plan

Healthy Community Action Plan

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Bayside community Bayside’s 96,700 residents enjoy the leafy surrounds of the municipality, the foreshore and beaches on Port Phillip Bay, and beautiful parks and open spaces. Bayside is also characterised by its major retail centres in Brighton and Hampton, the yacht and sailing clubs along the foreshore and the golf course precinct in the southern part of the municipality.

Many Bayside households are family households (71 per cent) comprising couples with children, and older couples without children. The largest age groups in the Bayside community are the 40-49 year olds and the 50-59 year olds. Many Bayside families have school-aged children, attracted to the area by the quality schools and houses, and ample recreation opportunities.

In percentage terms Bayside has fewer adults in the ‘young workforce’ (25 to 34 years) than metropolitan Melbourne, as they tend to leave Bayside seeking more affordable housing or areas closer to work and entertainment opportunities.

Bayside is an ‘older’ community compared to metropolitan Melbourne – the average age of Bayside residents is 42 years whilst the Melbourne average is 36 years. There is a substantially higher percentage of frail aged persons (85 years and over) than in metropolitan Melbourne.

It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the overall number of persons with a disability in Bayside in the next twenty years. About 4 per cent of Bayside residents reported that they needed assistance in their day-to-day lives due to disability, long-term health condition or old age. Nearly 8,800 Bayside residents were providing unpaid care to family members or others because of a disability or illness.

Nearly a quarter of Bayside households are lone persons. Over the next four years it is expected that there will be substantial growth in the number of residents aged 70-84 years and in the number of lone person households and couples without children.

Eight out of 10 Bayside residents speak English at home (82 per cent) and the main non–English languages spoken at home are Greek, Italian and Russian.

Overall, the Bayside community is relatively advantaged in socio-economic terms, when compared to other areas of Melbourne. However it is recognised that Bayside has small scattered neighbourhoods experiencing substantial disadvantage, which are masked by the affluence across the municipality. Almost all of the more disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Bayside are public housing estates. Residents living in public housing in Bayside are generally older than the general community and almost all residents receive a pension or benefit as their income source.

Bayside community characteristics are further explored in the City of Bayside: Health and Wellbeing Profile 2013-2017 which is based on information from the Census (2011) and other data sources. The full profile is available via: www.bayside.vic.gov.au/waaa

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Brighton

Brighton East

Hampton

Sandringham Highett

Black Rock

Cheltenham

Beaumaris

North Road

Bay Street

GlenHuntlyRoad

Dendy Street

South Road

WillisStreet

Fewster Road

Bridge Street Highett Road Highett Road

Bay Road Bay Road

Royal Ave

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Weatherall Road

Balcombe Road Balcombe Road

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Bayside CityCouncil Area

Figure 2: Map of Bayside

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Government policy and legislation context

The issues included in the Wellbeing for all Ages and Abilities Strategy are all complex areas of public policy, with different levels of responsibility, funding and regulation by all tiers of government as well as private sector and not-for-profit community sector involvement.

Over recent years, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has been pursuing a national reform agenda across policy areas including:

• Health and ageing

• Early childhood education

• Skills and training

• Disability care and support

The potential impacts of these reforms have been carefully considered in developing the four-year Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and Actions Plans. As commonwealth and state government policies are constantly evolving, each action plan considers relevant government policies and legislation affecting Bayside in more detail and will be updated as required to reflect major policy changes.

Victorian government legislation places particular emphasis on the role of local government. Council is required by the Local Government Act 1989, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, the Disability Act 2006 as well as by its own council and community plans to advocate and plan for community wellbeing.

The Victorian Disability Act 2006 requires local governments to prepare a Disability Action Plan which promotes inclusion and participation of people with a disability in the community

The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) outlines councils’ role to: ‘protect, improve and promote public health and wellbeing within the municipal district’. Councils are required to develop a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan every four years. The plan must be based on evidence, involve the community in its development, and set out goals and strategies for people to achieve maximum health and wellbeing, in partnership with the Department of Health and other community agencies. Councils are also required to consider the Climate Change Act 2010 and the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2011-2015 when preparing a health and wellbeing plan.

A partnership agreement between the Municipal Association of Victorian and the Victorian Government Department of Education and Early Childhood Development supports the development of a Municipal Early Years Plan by Councils.

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and action plans meet the above requirements and will replace the: Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan; Disability Strategy and Action Plan; Municipal Early Years Plan; and Youth Strategy and Action Plan.

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Environments supporting health and wellbeing

Plans developed by local governments to improve community health and wellbeing are not about the doctors, hospitals and other services that people go to when they are ill. They are about promoting and enabling healthy lifestyles and social supports. They are based on the ‘Social Model of Health’ that recognises the range of factors influencing wellbeing.

Source: Dahigren and Whitehead 1991

Genera

l socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditionsLiving and working conditions

Social and community influences

Individual lifestyle factors

Age, genderand hereditary

Figure 3: Social Model of Health

The strategy and action plans look at the four environments that are most important for wellbeing; the built, natural, social and economic environments.

Figure 4: Environments for health

Social Environment• Literary services, festivals cultural events, safety

• Clubs, senior activities, children’s services

Built Environment• Walking and bike paths, roads, playgrounds

• Sports facilities, community halls, accessible facilities

Natural Environment• Beaches, foreshore, water and air quality, sustainability

• Waste management, native vegetation, climate change

Economic Environment• Local business, employment, education, tourism

• Farmers’ markets, income support, affordable accessible services

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How the strategy was developed

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy was developed taking into account a wide range of inputs and information.

A cooperative working group undertook comprehensive research including working in partnership with the Kingston Bayside Primary Care Partnership. The process included:

• Evaluating previous plans

• Surveying 400 residents regarding health issues and behaviours

• Reviewing and analysing state and federal policies and relevant literature

• Developing a comprehensive health and demographic profile

• Workshopping themes with Council departments, local health services and agencies

A discussion paper was created, based on this initial research and evaluation. Three main themes were identified to form the basis of the next stage of community consultation in Bayside.

Over 650 Bayside residents, services and organisations covering all ages and abilities were engaged, including:

• Bayside Older Adults Advisory Group

• Children at kindergartens

• Community members including parents

• Council Officers

• Education and care providers and teachers

• Home and Community Care clients

• People with disabilities

• Public housing residents

• Services and agencies

• Students at primary schools

• Young people at secondary schools and train stations

A variety of community engagement methods were used to involve people of all ages and abilities.

Children identified what they like, don’t like or what they want in Bayside through an interactive visual map activity. The map was specifically designed to engage young children in this process. A secondary graphics map was used with young people and adults. Several different forums were held, including five forums run in conjunction with the Kingston Bayside Primary Care Partnership. Community members, health, education and service providers were invited to explore current issues, trends and potential actions around health and wellbeing in Bayside

The Bayside Older Adults Advisory Group, residents of a Bayside public housing estate, members of professional network groups and some primary school classes participated in small group or one-on-one discussions on health and wellbeing.

Kindergarten children and primary school students provided feedback through a role playing activity. Students dressed up as the ‘Mayor’ and were interviewed about what they would do if they were ‘Mayor for the Day’.

Kindergarten children and primary school students completed a ‘hands-up survey’, young people completed a survey on an iPad and older adults completed paper-based surveys. The health and wellbeing surveys differed to ensure age appropriate questions and methods.

Officers across Council departments were invited to attend workshops to ensure the strategy reflects their experiences with the community. Councillors were also engaged in a workshop and were presented with the findings from research and community engagement processes.

A report on the community engagement is available on Bayside’s website via: http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/waaa

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There is a “lack of healthy food options in Bayside”

- Participant at forum for people with disabilities

We could create a safe community through the “community looking out for each other”

- Public housing resident

I want “Violence and graffiti to stop. More police”

- Primary school student

Bayside needs “better co-ordination and integration of services with regard to volunteers...”

- Participant at stakeholder forum

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“I like to play at parks, I’d like tunnels and swings and balancing”

- Joshua, 4 year old kindergarten child

Young people in Bayside rate “depression, pressures around school and cyber bullying” as the most important issues facing young people

- Youth iPad survey

When it comes to improving health “...a large contribution comes from access to open space gardens, parks and the foreshores for which we are blessed in Bayside.”

- Home and Community Care survey

“We need to have health and wellbeing as part of the conversation when we are talking about planning and development in Bayside”

- Council Officer

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Strategic principles, goals and objectivesUnderlying principles

Six principles underlie the goals and objectives and will guide implementation of the Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and Actions Plans.

• Addressing the broader determinants of health, recognising that health is influenced by more than genetics, lifestyles and provision of health care, and that political, social, economic and environmental factors are critical;

• Basing activities on the best available data and evidence, both with respect to why there is a need for action in a particular area and what i s most likely to effect sustainable change;

• Acting to reduce social inequities and injustice, helping to ensure every individual, family and community group may benefit from living, learning and working in Bayside;

• Emphasising active community participation, to enable and encourage people to have a say about what influences their health and wellbeing and what would make a difference;

• Empowering individuals and communities, through information, skill development, support, advocacy and structural change strategies, to be able to mobilise resources necessary to take control of their own lives; and

• Working in collaboration, through partnerships, to build on the capacity of a wide range of sectors to deliver quality actions; and to reduce duplication and fragmentation of effort.

(source: Integrated Health Promotion: A practice guide for service providers. State Government of Victoria 2003. Available at http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phkb)

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Goal 1: An engaged and supportive community

Objectives

1.1 Strengthen volunteerism in Bayside

1.2 Support opportunities that build social networks and community connections

1.3 Promote positive mental health in the community

1.4 Advocate for affordable, accessible and appropriate services in Bayside

An engaged and supportive community is one where people feel valued, respected and are able to have their basic needs met. At one level it represents the degree to which individuals feel

connected with their communities however more broadly it is the strength and resilience within communities and organisations that sustains positive mental health.

Engaging people in their community promotes good social relationships, enables people to have a voice on decisions that affect them and helps build strong social networks. Social inclusion and ‘connecting people’ has been highlighted as an important way to improve the health and wellbeing of the community. The natural and built environment plays a key role in supporting communities’ sense of place.

An engaged and supportive community allows people, from all ages and abilities, access to services and resources that enhance their wellbeing and enables them to live a fulfilling life.

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Why is this important for Bayside?

Information gathered through research and from the community has highlighted the following issues and concerns

• Compared to all Victorians, Bayside residents are more likely to be affected by long commute times to work, always or often felt rushed or pressed for time and struggle with work life balance. Community feedback says that this results in adults spending less time at home and children overscheduled.

• Mental health is a key issue for young people within Bayside. Young people who were clients of the public mental health system, had higher rates of conditions such as anorexia nervosa, chronic depression and anxiety disorder compared to all clients aged 10-25 years in the Southern Metropolitan Region.

• It is anticipated that there will be a substantial increase to the number of lone person households due to: ageing of the baby boomer generation; delayed marriage; more persons remaining single; and increasing levels of separation and divorce.

• Survey results from 2008 and 2011 show that there have been decreases in the percentage of Bayside residents who: can turn to neighbours for help; like the look and feel of their local area; and feel a strong sense of belonging in the community.

• Community expressed a strong interest in there being a coordinated approach to volunteering in Bayside.

• Bayside residents express the importance of opportunities for social connections including intergenerational activities, programs for vulnerable population groups and young people.

• Bayside residents with disabilities report barriers such as affordability and accessibility prevent them from making a contribution to their community.

• Some young children in Bayside presented as developmentally vulnerable in the areas of ‘emotional maturity’ and ‘social competence’.

• Community report a need for better access to information, education and support about programs and services, particularly for our vulnerable population.

• Professionals expressed a need for quality care and education, including additional support during the transition periods such as from early childhood to school, primary to secondary school and secondary to employment or further education.

• Bayside has a shortage of affordable housing and community members and professionals identified the need for more options to access appropriate housing for people with different needs.

• Community feedback and government policy suggests a focus on planning for Age Friendly Cities and Child Friendly Cities.

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Goal 2: A healthy and active community

Objectives

Good nutrition benefits people across all age groups and helps the body function at optimal efficiency and maintain a healthy weight. Barriers to nutritious food choices are rising including: increased access to cheap junk food; less time to cook and prepare food at home; work life balance; increased television viewing times; and less time spent with support networks such as family and friends.

Being active constitutes one of the major components of a healthy lifestyle. There is now strong evidence that regular physical activity provides people of all ages with substantial physical, social and mental health gains throughout life. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality, and the development of the major non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and some cancers.

By improving the built environment we can have a major effect on people’s physical activity. Well-designed walking paths, bike tracks and parks offer affordable and equitable opportunities for people to be active.

Eating well and being physically active is important to maintaining and protecting the longevity of good health and wellbeing.

2.1 Support opportunities for physical activity that are inclusive

2.2 Increase Bayside residents utilising active transport

2.3 Improve Bayside infrastructure that supports physical activity

2.4 Increase healthy eating practices of the Bayside community

2.5 Increase participation in health assessments and self care

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Why is this important for Bayside?

Information gathered through research and from the community has highlighted the following issues and concerns

• Bayside residents had high levels of weekly physical activity however sedentary activity, particularly in the workplace, is a concern. Four in 10 Bayside residents reported that they sit for seven hours or more each weekday.

• Community members expressed a need to improve public transport systems. Many Bayside young people also reported that they don’t walk to school because it is too far or their parents drive them.

• Bayside residents daily consumption of fruit and vegetables could be improved, particularly for males and those aged under 45 years. Residents report that there is a lack of affordable healthy food options in the community particularly for our vulnerable population.

• Professionals report a need for education programs around nutrition particularly for families with young children and for young people. Professionals and government policy direction supports a need to continue to focus on supporting breastfeeding.

• Bodyweight issues in Bayside predominantly concern adult males – there was a higher percentage of overweight men compared to Bayside women, and also compared to all men across the southern region of Melbourne.

• The increase in diabetes in Victoria is being described as an “epidemic”. There has been a substantial increase in diabetes cases within Bayside, doubling in the last 10 years.

• Professionals state that earlier identification of developmental concerns with young children could be further enhanced through ensuring assessment and monitoring at regular intervals.

• Bayside residents expressed the need to increase physical activity opportunities by providing improved inclusive infrastructure and programs to meet community need. Primary school students identified the most common ‘want’ in Bayside was recreational facilities such as water parks, playgrounds, bmx tracks and basketball courts.

• Whilst some Bayside residents walk or cycle when taking short trips, there is still scope to reduce car use for trips of less than one kilometre.

• Bayside residents have lower rates of cholesterol testing and diabetes or blood glucose testing. Fewer 18-49 year olds in Bayside had a blood pressure check, compared to the southern region.

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Goal 3: Safe and sustainable environments

Objectives

A safe environment where people can live, work and play has a direct impact on the community’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Whilst Bayside is one of the safest municipalities in Victoria, issues relating to crime, road safety,

family violence, safety in the home and in public places do occur and can have an impact on individuals, families and the community.

Risky behaviours that can have a negative effect on individuals, their families and other community members include excessive and inappropriate use of alcohol and other drugs, smoking and problem gambling.

Extreme weather events relating to climate change may also impact on the safety of the community, specifically vulnerable groups such as babies and young children, older adults and economically disadvantaged residents. Health impacts of rising temperatures may include: increases in heat stress and dehydration; changes in the incidence of infectious diseases; and changes in fresh food production and consumption.

Being and feeling safe is a basic and fundamentally important need and is crucial to health and wellbeing.

3.1 Reduce rates of risky drinking in the Bayside community

3.2 Support programs and services that address family violence and its impacts

3.3 Decrease road accidents and injuries in Bayside

3.4 Strengthen community perceptions of safety in public places and in the home

3.5 Improve Council and community’s capacity to respond to extreme weather events

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‘Working together, Council and the community will use this strategy to achieve the highest standard of health and wellbeing in Bayside’.

Why is this important for Bayside?

Information gathered through research and from the community has highlighted the following issues and concerns

• Perception of safety is relatively high, however, women and older people, are less likely to feel safe. The general community is more likely to feel unsafe at foreshores, parks, reserves and in and around public transport at night time. The community state particular areas of concern are poorly lit areas and public toilets.

• Family violence incident reports continue to increase in Bayside, a trend reflected across Victoria.

• Bayside residents report concerns around cyber safety and online bullying. Older adults are also concerned about identity theft and dishonest door knockers.

• Bayside has a higher than average proportion of persons who consume alcohol at risky or high risk levels, of particular concern is consumption of alcohol by females.

• Community state there are issues of safety around school pick up/drop off zones, on shared cycle/walk paths and road safety. In Bayside one cyclist is injured every week on average.

• Climate change may affect Council infrastructure and property (i.e. community centres, libraries and sporting pavilions) which may restrict access and impact on the community’s ability to use Council assets for social and physical activities.

• Bayside residents report a need for increased police presence in public i.e. shopping strips, train stations and a positive presence at public housing estates.

• Climate change may directly affect the health of Bayside residents. Climate change may lead to: heat related illnesses and death; asthma and airway diseases; vector-borne diseases; cardiovascular disease and stroke; foodborne diseases and nutrition; waterborne diseases; and mental health and stress-related disorders

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Implementation, monitoring and evaluationHealth and wellbeing is everybody’s business. The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy provides direction for the whole of community. Actions will involve or be led by a wide range of stakeholders in the community, including: health organisations; care and education providers; and community centres and volunteer groups.

Council’s role in implementing the strategy and action plans will include:

• Direct programs and services

• Facility planning and coordination

• Partnerships and strengthening community capacity

• Advocacy and information

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and Action Plans will operate in conjunction with other key Council strategic documents that guide work across Bayside. These are shown in figure 5.

Action Plans

Action Plans have been developed for the whole community and for particular groups. These include the steps to be taken by Council and other partners to achieve the objectives set out in the strategy.

Progress against the action plans will be monitored, with reports made to Council and the community on their achievement.

Implementation and community engagement

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and action plans will be implemented in partnership with networks, organisations and groups who contributed to its development and with the broader community, in line with Council’s Community Engagement Policy.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and its goals and objectives will be measured and monitored through a separate evaluation plan. The strategy will be reviewed annually, in conjunction with action plans and will inform the Council’s service planning cycle. The annual review will consider the relevance of the Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and respond to any emerging health and wellbeing needs. A detailed evaluation will be conducted in 2017 at the end of the four-year strategy and will be used to inform the next four-year plan.

Community Vision • Bayside 2020 Community Plan

Major Statutory Strategic Plans

• Council Plan 2013-2017

• Wellbeing for All Ages and Abilities Strategy and Action Plans 2013-2017

• Municipal Strategic Statement

Major Council Strategies

• ‘Active By the Bay’ Recreation Strategy• Climate Change Strategy• Coastal Management Plan• Economic Development Strategy• Housing Strategy• Integrated Transport Strategy• Library Arts and Culture Strategy• Outer Space Strategy• Tourism Strategic Action Plan

Figure 5: Council Strategic Planning Framework

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‘Working together, Council and the community will use this strategy to achieve the highest standard of health and wellbeing in Bayside’.

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Bayside City Council

POSTAL ADDRESS

PO Box 27SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191

Telephone (03) 9599 4444Facsimile (03) 9598 4474Email [email protected] www.bayside.vic.gov.au