GOVERNMENT
Physical inactivity is a major health problem in Australia with national reports showing that almost half of all adults do not undertake the recommended minimum 30 minutes a day of exercise.
It's a problem the Heart Foundation works to remedy through programs and partnerships designed to encourage people to live more active lives.
The foundation's Walking Program supports local councils to establish and support walking groups and an annual awards program highlights local government efforts to boost the health of city and country communities.
The 2016 awards showed a range of initiatives. National award winner Mid-Murray Council in South Australia, a leader in developing the Murray and Mallee Public Health Plan, highlighted a Sugar Free Sport initiative that is promoting healthy eating through junior sporting clubs and a community wellbeing program designed to counter obesity and deliver social and physical activities for children and teenagers.
The City of Sydney, which won the national award for large councils, demonstrated a range of initiatives including efforts to make Martin Place smoke-free and involve Sydney residents in an ever-growing network of community gardens.
Swan Hill City Council in Victoria won a state award for its organisation-wide approach to promoting a healthier community and a special innovation award for fact sheets developed to raise staff awareness of issues including the health impact of sedentary behaviour, the ageing population and high levels of non-communicable disease.
Lisa Speirs, active communities co-ordinator at Heart Foundation Victoria, works on the awards program and with allied health professionals, community groups and local government across the state, spreading the word that Australians need to exercise more to improve individual and national health outcomes.
She began her working life in accounting roles in the corporate sector after completing a business degree at the then Chisholm Institute. While raising her family she worked at the Narre Community Learning Centre in the City of Casey, eventually moving into a community development role at the council.
Work there included organising exchange programs for young sportspeople with one of Casey's sister cities, Springfield, Ohio; health promotion and facilities planning for outer growth areas. A family relocation to inner city living led to a contract role in the Health and Wellbeing Department at Port Phillip Council, a stint in consultancy and, in 2014, her current position in the not-for-profit sector: "I focus on increasing the activity levels of Victorians, targeting the 45-65 year olds," she says.
She helps councils that are considering development of spaces where people can be active and supports community programs designed to boost levels of exercise and build social networks to support people who are trying to lead healthier lives.
"We try to tailor our engagement with specific communities. This year we will be working with an Indigenous community in Shepparton and we have conducted heart health checks in Ballarat. We try to build connections between agencies that can help people to engage in more activity.
"There's a lot of satisfaction in seeing the results that come from collaboration and harnessing people's energy."