Boorowa LHAC Talks Health

Boorowa Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) met last week to discuss important health issues for the community.

Executives from Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) presented dates which reflected the health needs of the population in 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 service and how the funding reached our 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 the following priority areas: **

Communication - increasing health literacy in Boorowa community through improved understanding of availability and how to access services;
Education - particularly around self care and preventative health, including the importance of screening (for cancers) and addressing risk-taking behaviours that contribute to poor health outcomes (smoking/drinking);
Accessing GP services; and
Mental health services - provide information to vulnerable groups in the community, targeting youth to improve access/participation in mental health services.

Boorowa LHAC Vice Chair, David Martin said the health data was very interesting.

“Our members were very engaged in the planning process,” Mr Martin said.

“We will begin to develop strategies to address our goals at our August meeting and we will work with the health providers to advocate for improved health outcomes.”

Boorowa LHAC Chair, Marg Kelly said their primary focus would be on improving communication to ensure our community understood what services were available and how to access those services.

The LHAC will continue to post current health information relating to the local community on their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/BoorowaLHAC/.

LHACs are a central connection between local community and health service activities.

Local committees work with facility managers to identify local service needs, ways to improve access services and to assist in planning and development.

LHACs were created as a platform for community members to raise concerns and provide support for the Local Health Service.