With parts of Western Sydney experiencing some of the Country’s largest population growth, we as an organisation, focus on improving the health and wellbeing of Western Sydney families, and in particular focusing on the early childhood years.
Childhood Development
Our work in this area is to recognise the importance of early childhood development in the Western Sydney community. By developing integrated systems that promote the health and wellbeing of all children and families in our region, we can create partnerships that address the social and economic determinants of health, ensuring children reach their potential no matter where they live.
We’ve identified that childhood immunisation is an important and critical component for a child’s development. This is the main reason we facilitated our Immunisation Bike Competition – a region-wide initiative encouraging childhood immunisation in partnership with local practices. This initiative has seen more than 12,902 children immunised between our competition period of October through to January since it began in 2011.
In Western Sydney, we have a low immunisation rate of 88.76% of children aged between 24 to 27 months and the Immunisation Bike Competition provides a great platform for GPs to encourage parents to stay up-to-date with childhood immunisations.
One in four children aged five and under in Western Sydney is on a life trajectory for poorer health outcomes. Despite the strength and commitment of health professionals, social services and support organisations in our region, navigating the system can be incredibly challenging for families. The Western Sydney Kids Early Years (KEYS) Network combats this by supporting services working with vulnerable children aged five and under and connecting them and their families to tailored, specialist services, including medical, parenting, psychological, social and practical support.
Find out more on the KEYS website.
Little Possums is a school based program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their parents. It aims to provide culturally sensitive support to children to improve emotional health, self-regulation, relationship building skills through mentoring, advocacy and play therapy.
Read Lily’s story.
To help improve children’s health, we have commissioned Live Life Get Active to offer free fitness camps in Western Sydney. Live Life Get Active is all about creating a fitter, happier and healthier community and we know that children are a very important, wonderful part of every community.
Find out more on their website.
Students as Lifestyle Activists (SALSA) is a peer education and leadership program designed to motivate high school students in Western Sydney to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase their physical activity. The program involves volunteer university and high school students from years 8 and 10, building capacity and expanding the skills of the high school participants. For more information visit the SALSA website.
Thrive@5 in Doonside is a place-based initiative which seeks to ensure children first 2000 days are well placed to begin school thriving. The program addresses the social areas of health for children aged 0-5 in Doonside by working in partnership with families, community leaders, primary health care providers, government agencies and non-government organisations. Visit our Thrive@5 in Doonside webpage for more information.
The Food Education and Sustainability Training (FEAST) program is designed for primary and high school students, inspiring them to eat healthy food, waste less and become change-makers in their local community.
Progressing Health Now
Find out more about our other Services and Programs available for Western Sydney community members.
