Apply Now For The 2025 Building Healthy Communities Challenge

Western NSW Local Health District (WN­SWLHD) is encouraging people who are passionate about improving their com­munity’s health to apply to take part in the 2025 Building Healthy Communities Chal­lenge.

The WNSWLHD Building Healthy Com­munities Challenge was established this year by the District’s Health Promotion team to help smaller communities take control of improving their overall health, by providing up to $12,000 in funding and in­tensive support to deliver a community-led health initiative.

WNSWLHD Health Promotion Coordina­tor Hayley Vaughan said applications are open to any community group in a town or community with less than 5,000 peo­ple who has an idea for an initiative which could improve people’s health.

“We encourage communities to apply if they have an idea which could increase physical activity or healthy eating in their community, reduce smoking and vaping rates or establishing infrastructure which promotes healthy living,” Ms Vaughan said.

“Any idea is a good idea, big or small, and they could be as simple as implement­ing a regular walking group or setting up community gardens to grow healthy food.”

WNSWLHD Health Promotion Officer Kelly Cook said an independent panel will assess applications and select two towns to compete in the friendly competition.

“The two chosen towns will each receive $8,000 in funding assistance and intensive support from the Health Promotion team to establish and implement their initiative, and we will also provide additional resourc­es and assistance with promotion too,” Ms Cook said.

Applications are open from Monday 2nd September to Friday 11th October 2024.

For more information contact the WNSWL­HD Health Promotion Team on WNSWL­HD-HealthPromotion@health.nsw.gov.au.