Boorowa LHAC Prioritises Its Focus

At last week’s meeting of Boorowa’s Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC), executives from Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) presented data which reflected the health needs of the population in the Hilltops region.

Boorowa LHAC Chair Marg Kelly said she found it really valuable to help understand the difference between federal and state funding of health services and how this funding reaches the community.

“The data presented also helped to focus our attention on what our community needs most and as a result we have identified four key priority areas that have emerged as most important for us to address,” Ms Kelly said.

Boorowa LHAC members agreed to focus on their efforts on the following priorities:

1. Communication: increasing health literacy in Boorowa community through improved understanding of availability and how to access services;

2. Education: particularly around self care and prevention health including the importance of screening (for cancers) and addressing risk-taking behaviours that contribute to poor health outcomes (smoking, drinking);

3. Accessing GP services; and

4. Mental Health: providing information to vulnerable groups in the community, targeting youth, to improve access/participation in mental health services.

Boorowa LHAC Vice Chair, David Marsh said the heatlh data was very engaged in the planning process.

“Our members were very engaged in the planning process,”Mr Marsh said. LHAC Chair, Marg Kelly said they would work with the health providers to advocate for improved health outcomes.

“Our primary focus will be on improving communication to ensure our community understands what services are available and how to access those services,” Ms Kelly said.

The LHAC will continue to post current health information relating to the community on their Facebook page.

Follow them on https://www.facebook.com/BoorowaLHAC/.

• Topics:

• Community Groups
• Health & Wellness