West Wimmera Health Service has released its updated Community Health and Wellbeing Town Profiles, highlighting the findings of a recent community survey on the health, wellbeing and liveability of nine regional towns across the Wimmera and southern Mallee.
The Service’s 5 Top Things survey asks local community members to identify what matters most to them when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
“The survey enables locals to share with us what they think about how their towns are travelling, which then enables the Service to foster community-based action that really targets the topics that matter to our local communities,” Dorothy McLaren, Health Promotion Manager, West Wimmera Health Service said.
“These Town Profiles allow us to get a clearer understanding of each community’s health profile in ways that have not traditionally been possible.”
Survey results showed mental health, and alcohol and drug use were significant concerns for the communities of Goroke, Jeparit, Kaniva, Minyip, Murtoa, Natimuk, Nhill, Rainbow and Rupanyup, but respondents also identified many unifying features such as safety, community spirit and friendliness.
“As an immediate response, our Health Promotion team are actively responding to communities that have identified the need for support by connecting people to existing supports and resources, assisting in reducing stigma towards mental health, and demonstrating that it’s absolutely acceptable to seek help,” Ms McLaren said.
“We know that challenging seasonal conditions and other larger stressors are playing out across our catchment at present. We look forward to talking to people on the ground to determine how existing and new resources can be made available to those who need them most.”
While this second edition of the profiles highlighted new priority areas, the first edition highlighted significant issues relating to oral health, which has been a strong focus for the Health Promotion team over the past 18 months.

The Service appointed a specialist Oral Health Promotion Officer, Dr Hamid Ghaderi, who has been focussed on delving deeper into the communities’ knowledge and awareness of oral health, while also engaging in partnerships with the Grampians Public Health Unit and La Trobe University to develop and deliver oral health education to health service staff and the public.
“Poor oral health has many common risk factors with serious disease and can be a significant source of unnecessary pain for many, especially older adults, so we’re keen to continue the momentum of the work completed so far in the oral health space,” Ms McLaren said.
“The team will continue to undertake the 5 Top Things survey at regular intervals, allowing us to monitor whether we are having an impact on both the burden of disease, and on the social determinants of health – the things that really matter to those in our local communities.”
The Health and Wellbeing Town Profiles can be found on the West Wimmera Health Service website: www.wwhs.net.au/publications
For further information, please contact health.promotion@wwhs.net.au or call Dorothy McLaren on 0427 085 896.