Health Promotion is a practical approach to achieving greater equity in health recognising that healthy people are able to reach their full potential physically, mentally and socially. Good health is not just about “not being sick” or preventing illness. Good health is about the whole person being in supportive environments such as the family, local community, and the physical and economic environments.

Health promotion activities encourage community participation to address the social, emotional and physical factors that influence their health and wellbeing. The work also includes actions that ensure that the economic and environmental conditions are as good as they can be to help people reach their full potential.

Here at Inner East Community Health Service (IECHS) we are committed to promoting the health of our diverse community by:

  • Working toward a whole of organisation approach where all staff work in a health promoting and holistic way with individuals, groups and communities
  • Working with and knowing our communities so that we respond to their needs and works towards meaningful change in their lives
  • Working in partnership with other agencies for the better of our community

Working with local community members and agencies, IECHS has developed a three year Health Promotion plan (2009-12) that works on many levels with individuals up to community populations within identified areas of need in public housing and rooming houses in Boroondara.

Our priority areas include:

  • Access to food that is affordable, available and healthy.
  • Social inclusion in communities of interest

To find out more about the work of the social inclusion and food access team contact the Team Leader Health Promotion and Projects on (03) 9810 3090, or read the IECHS Health Promotion Plan 09/12.