Maree Gleeson
Tasmania Medicare Local acknowledges the financial and other support of the Australian Government Department of Health
Communities around the state will benefit from eight ground-breaking partnerships sharing $2.4 million of project funding through Tasmania Medicare Local’s Social Determinants of Health program.
The projects target deep-rooted social conditions that impact on the health and well-being of residents living in low socio-economic areas by improving access to fresh food, education and training.
Funding of $300,000 each will be provided for projects in Wynyard, Devonport, Ravenswood, New Norfolk, Bridgewater and Gagebrook areas. These projects aim to increase access to fresh,
affordable food and increase engagement in education and training. The funding is being provided until June 2016 under the Australian Government’s Tasmanian Health Assistance Package.
Tasmania Medicare Local Manager – Social Determinants of Health, Maree Gleeson said the provision of fresh food, engaging people in education and providing more holistic and integrated support were consistent themes in the 59 submissions TML received during a competitive Expression of Interest process earlier this year.
“Several communities received $50,000 from Tasmania Medicare Local in May 2014 to more fully develop their project plans and establish strong partnerships and governance structures for the next phase,” Ms Gleeson said. “All future funding allocations were based on the merits of these final proposals for implementation.”
“Each project plan had to demonstrate how place-based proposals would address local needs, build community capacity and support long-term change. Boosting new working partnerships in communities of need was vital,” she said.
Ms Gleeson said the involvement of local communities was essential to addressing social determinants of health – the underlying conditions that impact on peoples’ capacity to live healthy and productive lives.
“These projects are being driven and delivered by more than 25 partnering organisations that know their communities and know what can and needs to change at a local level,” she said.
“Every project is aiming for a legacy that will endure well beyond the funding period and the current generation of participants. This is two-year funding for a 20-year vision,” she said. “Some of these projects will demonstrate how food systems, from making policy to backyard gardens, can impact on a family’s future well-being. Others have a primary focus on education and skills development for people who are disengaged from the education system or the job market.
“These opportunities will be delivered by trade training centres, job skills providers, community houses, schools and local councils through activities as diverse as preparing meals, constructing boats, enhancing public spaces and building community connectedness,” Ms Gleeson said.
TML will also support statewide activities to build the capacity of service providers and policy makers most relevant to the social determinants of health through a series of workshops and mentoring opportunities.
Bridges Out of Poverty training workshops have already been held in Launceston and Ulverstone this year with another planned for Bridgewater in mid-November. They are designed to help better equip health professionals, educators and community practitioners with practical skills to assist Tasmanians affected by generational poverty.
“Other opportunities will be made available for community members through other capacity building training including governance and partner forums, project management, evaluation, budgeting and finance,” Ms Gleeson said. “We are also interested in hearing form communities about the types of support and training they consider o be important to their growth”.
“TML’s commitment to disadvantaged communities across the state remains strong,” she said. “This entire process is already boosting new working partnerships in many communities of need which is a positive step forward.”
Organisations receiving project implementation funding of $300,000 are on the website: www.tasmedicarelocal.com.au
More information about Social Determinants of Health Strategy funding can be found on the Tasmania Medicare Local website: www.tasmedicarelocal.com.au
About the Social Determinants of Health
The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, play and age and can be underlying reasons why people experience poor health. Tasmanians generally have poorer health outcomes and experience greater poverty and disadvantage than other Australians.
Tasmania Medicare Local is the only Medicare Local to receive substantial, long-term Australian Government funding to manage a project addressing the social determinants of health (such as social status, health literacy, housing and education).
The Social Determinants of Health Strategy aims to:
• reduce inequalities in health and improve health outcomes across Tasmania
• improve Tasmanian health system efficiency
• reduce Tasmanian health system pressure.
About Tasmania Medicare Local
Tasmania Medicare Local is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation working to keep Tasmanians well and out of hospital, connect health services, and make it easier for Tasmanians to access the services they need closer to home.
Medicare Locals are different to the Australian Government’s Medicare system which allows Australians to make claims for the cost of health services.
Acting Communications Manager Gill Cooper, www.tasmedicarelocal.com.au
