Health alliance unites services

Bellarine Community Health's Kathy Russell, Michael Devine and Karen Laing. (Louisa Jones) 409747_24

An alliance of diverse, community-focused organisations officially launched this week in Portarlington.

Bellarine Wellbeing Connect, a group of community-minded organisations and service providers, have joined to create connections supporting the health and wellbeing of people on the Bellarine.

The event, held at Parks hall in Portarlington on Wednesday, May 29, launched the partnership and showcased a range of community-based services available on the Bellarine.

About 20 groups are represented in Bellarine Wellbeing Connect, including Ambulance Victoria, Barwon Health, Bellarine Community Health (BCH), Feed Me Bellarine, Meli and Pulse Community Radio/Cultura, as well as the City of Greater Geelong, the Borough of Queenscliffe and Alison Marchant, MP.

BCH’s acting chief executive Kathy Russell said the aim of the alliance was to build meaningful connections to allow community members to more easily navigate the sometimes complex pathways to services.

“This collaboration has come about following a forum last year organised by Bellarine Community Health in a bid to identify and understand any unmet health and wellbeing needs of the community,” Ms Russell said.

“Among the insights gained from those attending the forum was a willingness to be better connected and identify possible partnerships that could help reach those individuals and communities that experience the most disadvantage.”

“We hope Bellarine Wellbeing Connect will provide long term partnerships that can benefit local communities on the Bellarine now and into the future.”