centre for annual snapshot of achievements and …

ANNUAL SNAPSHOT OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Centre for Population Health Western Sydney Local Health District

• The Western Sydney Centre for Population Health aims to protect and promote the health of the local population. The service works with community partners including health care providers, government agencies, NGO’s, private sector, councils, workplaces, universities, TAFE colleges and schools to deliver a comprehensive range of high quality, evidence-based programs which strive to achieve equity of health status and health service access across the population.

• The Population Health team collaborates with other agencies in research relating to disease prevention, and best practice in public health.

• The long term aim for Population Health is to improve the health of the population and reduce avoidable hospitalisations for residents living within Western Sydney Local Health District.

Protecting & promoting health in Western Sydney

OUR KEY OBJECTIVES> Overweight and obesity rates stabilised by 2015

and then reduced by 5% by 2020

> Smoking decreased by 3% in non-Aboriginal; 4% for Aboriginal by 2015

> Cervical screening increased by 10% by 2016

> 92% Target met for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children fully immunised at 1 year and 4 years of age

> 75% Target met for Year 7 students receiving their 3rd dose of HPV vaccine

> Reduction in health gap between the most and least disadvantaged groups living in WSLHD

> Fall injury rates of people 65 years and over stabilised and hospitalised rates reduced

July 2013 – June 2014

1ANNUAL SNAPSHOT JULY 2013 – JUNE 2014

ACHIEVEMENTS• Attended 108 High Schools in Western Sydney and

administered 63 000 vaccines to Year 7 and year 9 students against human papilloma virus, hepatitis B, chicken-pox, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. Conducted 88 Flu clinics at Westmead, Auburn and Blacktown facilities and immunised 2 486 staff and chronic care clients.

• Immunisation targets have been maintained for Aboriginal children for 4 year olds but more work is required for 1 year olds and children in the Auburn area.

• Attended “Close the Gap” Aboriginal health events and immunised 50 attendees.

• Supported the Auburn Immunisation Clinic – a strategy to increase immunisation in a community with low rates.

• Establishment of an immunisation clinic run by Western Sydney Aboriginal Medical Service.

• Responded to a significant measles outbreak in the first quarter of 2014.

• Delivered a Measles project with 21 medical centres. Susceptible staff of medical centres were immunised and resources for best practice measles containment were distributed (improving the identification of clinical measles cases). Supported 92 institutions with outbreaks of gastroenteritis.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Increasing immunisation rates among Aboriginal

children and children in areas of low coverage.

• A measles vaccination catch-up campaign targeting adolescents, including increased nurse vaccinator visits to our high schools and TAFE colleges.

• Development of TB resources for GP’s and the community with area TB services.

• A review of the detection and management of STI’s within maternal services in the health district.

Immunisation protects people against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community.

Immunisation & Communicable Diseases

We chose to vaccinate our baby to help keep her safe and protected from potential harmful diseases.Fatima, 28 years, Pendle Hill

2CENTRE FOR POPULATION HEALTH, WESTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT

ACHIEVEMENTS • WSLHD Smoke Free Policy developed, enforcing

a commitment to totally smoke free facilities and grounds.

• University Western Sydney supported to become the first University campus in NSW to become smoke free triggering other campuses in NSW to adopt this policy. TAFE colleges are now either smoke free or with restricted smokingand staff have been trained in Brief Intervention Tobacco Cessation.

• Exceeded tobacco compliance inspections key performance indicators including: ‘selling tobacco to minors - 91.5% compliance’, tobacco advertising - 96.4% compliance and ‘smoke free environments with 91.7% compliance’.

• Implementation of strategies targeting hard to reach communities with a $50 000 grant to address Arabic smoking in Auburn LGA and $60,000 for Aboriginal pregnant women and their families to implement Aboriginal smoking cessation initiatives.

• Increased use of Quitline and NRT through capacity building strategies with CALD NGOs.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS • A local targeted media and communications

campaign prior to the ban on smoking in commercial outdoor dining areas from July 2015.

• A focussed effort on reducing smoking within the western Sydney Aboriginal community.

• Continue promotion, support and monitoring of the WSLHD Smoke Free policy.

• A focussed strategy on targeted high risk CALD groups, in particular the Arabic and Chinese communities.

• Development of smoking cessation joint initiatives with WSLHD mental health team.

Tobacco Control We aim to contribute to the decrease of smoking in the state by 3% in non-Aboriginal people and 4% for Aboriginal people by 2015 and non-Aboriginal pregnant women 0.5% yearly and Aboriginal pregnant women by 2% yearly.

After 15 years I finally quit smoking. It was hard, but I have stuck with it and feel good. My 12 year old son is so proud of me. That alone makes it worth it.Paul, 47, Baulkham Hills

We are very proud that UWS has led the way in becoming the first University in NSW to be smoke free across all of our campuses and learning centres. The health and safety of our students and staff is important to us which is why we have worked closely with the Centre for Population Health in the Western Sydney LHD to create a safe and healthy environment.Vice-Chancellor, University of Western Sydney, Professor Barney Glover


Children Population Health coordinates three key programs to reduce the risks of increasing overweight and obesity among children - Munch & Move; Go4Fun, and Live LifeWell@School.

MUNCH & MOVEEncourages healthy eating, increased physical activity and reduced small screen recreation in children attending early childhood education and care services

ACHIEVEMENTS• Over 500 teachers/child care workers attended

workshops on Munch&Move, Healthy Food Choices and Fundamental Movement Skills workshops

• Over half the child care centres are now meeting ≥70% of Ministry of Health identified key health practices

Healthy Eating & Active Living Strategy

“ I found the Munch n Move training very informative and practical. We brought the ideas back to the centre and the kids love them. We love them too because we know we are helping to form healthy habits early” Natalie, Child care worker, Granville.


LIVE LIFE WELL@SCHOOLThe Live Life Well@School program develops teacher ‘knowledge and skills in teaching nutrition and movement. It supports schools to create environments which enable children to eat healthily and be physically active.

ACHIEVEMENTS> 70% of primary schools across the district are now participating in Live

Life Well @ School (LLW@S) with 64% reaching >70% of identified key health practices and 107 schools fully implementing the ‘Crunch and Sip’ Program.

> Addressing program equity has given a number of schools in Auburn LGA access to bananas at a discounted rate through Moraitis, Flemington Markets Producers), supplementing children’s fruit intake and supporting the Crunch and Sip® program.

> 1,787 primary school parents have participated in the ‘Fruit & Veg Sense’ Sessions, delivered by 65 volunteers trained by the NSW Cancer Council (a western Sydney LLW@S partnership).

> 352 teachers have participated in the PDHPE (Physical Development, Health & Personal Education) Network, enhancing teacher skills and confidence in teaching nutrition and physical activity.

CHILDRENS’ HEALTH FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Continue to meet Ministry of Health set targets.

• Go4Fun program for Aboriginal families in Mt Druitt.

• Supporting more child care services and schools (primary and secondary) to incorporate practices and policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

• Encouraging more services to communicate with families about healthy eating and physical activity.

GO4FUNA free family lifestyle program helping children and their families lead a healthier active life. The program targets children 7-13 years above a healthy weight range. Children attend with a parent and enjoy fun and interactive games, healthy eating advice, a supermarket excursion and goal setting exercises.

ACHIEVEMENTSThe team has successfully reached the Go4Fun enrolment targets and is working towards successful retainment numbers. 36 programs completed across WS LGAs involving 380 children and their families. Participant results have shown significant decreases in BMI, waist circumference and improved fitness levels as well as significantly reducing their time spent in sedentary behaviours, soft drink consumption and significantly increasing their daily intake of fruit and vegetables. Self-esteem scores were also significantly improved.

“ The Live Life Well@School workshop was a fantastic balance between equipping me with resources and providing a time to effectively put together an action plan for my school” Teacher, Blacktown

“Go4Fun is fun. I’m eating less junk food and have more energy. I just feel better. Mum and I really liked the supermarket tour, it was cool” Jake, 10 years, Seven Hills


ACHIEVEMENTS• 2 237 Western Sydney community members have

accessed the NSW Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service to date.

- Between 2012 and 2013 a 23% increase in coaching participation was reported for the LHD.

- On average, participants from Western Sydney LHD who complete a 6 month coaching program lost 3.6kgs in weight and 5.1cm off their waist circumference.

• Pilot site for the newly launched Get Healthy At Work service.

• Revised version of WSLHD’s Providing Healthier Food and Drink Choices in Vending Machines Policy updated and endorsed.

• Promotion of the National Heart Foundation “Approved Oils in Fast Food Outlets” with 100 Parramatta outlets participating in a research project.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Promotion of the Get Healthy at Work program,

targeting businesses with a high percentage of blue collar workers.

• Continue promotion of the ‘Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service’ increasing health professional referrals and self-referrals of high risk groups.

• Implementation of the diabetes prevention strategy.

• Expansion of the Healthy Cooking Oils in fast food outlets across additional Western Sydney LGAs.

ACHIEVEMENTS• Completed health impact assessments on the Box

Hill Precinct Submission and the Blacktown Council’s Local Environment Plan.

• A literature review of the health impacts from local government zoning completed and submitted to Parramatta City Council.

• Planners Consultation Report completed identifying what planners need to improve positive health impacts.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Continue to assess relevant health evidence for

application to draft land use policy, proposals and plans.

• Seek to support other existing population health programs within the CPH, to increase their capacity to create healthy built environments within their portfolio responsibilities.

AdultsThe adult component of the Western Sydney Healthy Eating & Active Living Strategy aims to:

1. Create supportive environments for healthy eating and active living.

2. Increase uptake in the NSW Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service.

3. Increase business uptake in the ‘Get Healthy at Work’ Program.

HEALTHY BUILT ENVIRONMENTSThere is a substantial body of empirical evidence regarding the determinants of obesity and other chronic diseases – particularly upstream influences, such as the built environment, time use and technology change.

The Healthy Built Environments strategy continues to provide submissions based on assessing the latest health evidence for application to draft land use polices, plans and proposals, eg: heat stress and ‘active by design principles’. This will increase their positive health impacts when implemented, and ultimately create healthier environments for all.

Healthy Eating & Active Living Strategy


The Environmental Health Team focuses on protecting the community of Western Sydney both through education on environmental health issues and if necessary through regulatory means. Environmental Health focuses on a broad range of environmental issues that can impact on the health of the community such as air and water quality, control of legionnaires disease in water cooling systems, swimming pools, hazardous chemicals, tobacco control and smoke free environments.

ACHIEVEMENTS > Exceeded 2013/2014 Tobacco Compliance inspection targets

with compliance levels exceeding 90% in all areas of tobacco compliance.

> Implemented Mr Germ hand hygiene education program with local Aboriginal community.

> Managed a public health emergency response exercise to a major flood impacting Western Sydney.

> Responded to 226 complaints/ information requests/ assistance on a wide range of environmental health issues including complaints about smoke free environment regulations non-compliance, skin penetration regulations (e.g. tattooing and other body art industry), wastewater and air quality issues as well as infectious diseases associated with public swimming pools.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS > Continuing our focus on tobacco compliance activities.

> Continue to improve environmental health issues in Western Sydney Aboriginal communities by running the Mr Germ program at community events and implementing the Housing for Health program in collaboration with Housing NSW.

> Increase compliance by Private Water Suppliers to produce Water Quality Assurance Programs for their supplies as required in the Public Health Act 2010.

> Improving our Emergency Management preparedness.

Environmental Health

The Women’s Health Program has focussed on strategies to increase cervical screening rates particularly in Blacktown and improve responses to victims of domestic violence. The cervical screening strategy has seen an increase in cervical screening rates of 0.77% but remains below the state average.

ACHIEVEMENTS• Cervical Screening - Partnered with BreastScreen

Western Sydney and Community Health Services to implement a ‘one stop shop’ at Mt Druitt Hospital providing women access to both breast and cervical screening in one visit

• Domestic Violence - Partnered with Integrated Violence Prevention and Response Service (IVPRS) to develop a WSLHD staff resource and coordinated White Ribbon Day activities including ‘What is the Criminal Justice System doing?’ event.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Increased effort with strategies to bring Western

Sydney cervical screening rate in line with the NSW average.

• Continue to increase awareness about the health impact of violence against women with supporting strategies that improve service provider responses and promote respectful relationships.

I liked the women’s health “one stop shop”. Being able to have a mammogram and pap test on the same day was convenient and saved me time. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about that for another 2 years!Betty, 62 years Tregear

Women’s Health


ACHIEVEMENTS • WSLHD Falls Prevention Policy Implementation

Plan and Falls Injury Prevention and Management Procedure for Acute sector completed and endorsed.

• 321 community dwelling older people who had fallen or at high risk of a fall participated in the Stepping On program.

• The Healthy Older People Partnership (HOPP) established in collaboration with 17 non government organisations (NGOs) to increase the participation of people 65 + years in balance and strength exercises introduced and encouraged by their NGOs home care provider.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS• Community Sector - Continue delivery of the

Stepping On program for high risk older people.

• Acute Sector - Ongoing active support to the WS Falls Prevention Committee to reduce falls in hospital and establish falls prevention data reporting and monitoring processes, falls prevention education for staff and falls prevention audits.

• Train partner organisations to deliver a strength and balance program to individuals in their homes and increase participation in existing community exercise programs.

I really enjoyed the Stepping On program. It improved my strength and balance and has given me more confidence. I live alone, so being stable and confident on my feet is really important to me.Lila Carlingford, Stepping On Participant

Centre for Population Health Western Sydney Local Health District

“Gungarra” Cumberland Hospital Locked Bag 7118 PARRAMATTA BC 2150

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au

P 02 9840 3603 F 02 9840 3608 E [email protected] W www.wslhd.nsw.health.gov.au/Population-Health-Services/Home

Director Associate Professor Stephen Corbett

Deputy Director Ms Christine Newman

Centre for Population Health - Protecting & Promoting Health in Western Sydney

Falls Prevention

Community: The falls prevention program aims to reduce the risk of fall injuries among older people in the community by increasing their participation in strength and balance exercises. Acute: It also aims to reduce hospital fall injuries through the implementation of the Western Sydney Fall Injury Prevention and Management Procedure.

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