Leading Tasmanian not-for-profit St Lukes has entered into a strategic partnership with Devonport City Council, aimed at connecting the community to deliver better health outcomes for North-West Tasmanians – with the Federal Government urged to get on board.
St Lukes is asking for $1 million in Federal Government funding to construct a wellness hub in Devonport, delivering its proven model to the North-West of the state, in partnership with the Council.
St Lukes initiated discussions with federal politicians some months ago and intends to ramp up its campaign in the lead up to the federal election.
With the burden of preventable chronic disease in North-West Tasmania among the highest in Australia, St Lukes CEO Paul Lupo said the wellness hub represented a multi-generation investment in the health and wellbeing of Devonport and the broader region.
“St Lukes partnership with the Devonport City Council is a strategic collaboration that will serve as a catalyst for connection within the community,” Mr Lupo said.
“There is a critical and urgent need to better engage and communities in areas where they can manage their health through preventative lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes.
“Our wellness hub concept for the North-West provides an entry point for people in the community who want to make positive changes to their health, but simply don’t know where to start, offering a diverse range of preventative health and wellbeing programs that encourage movement, nutrition and connection.”
In 2021, 41 per cent of the population in Devonport reported having a long-term health condition –1.6 per cent higher than Tasmania and 5.3 per cent higher than Australia as a whole.
Further, almost two thirds of the North-West population are overweight or obese, more than 70 per cent undertake insufficient physical activity, and only one in 20 (6 per cent) eat enough vegetables.
With a vision of making Tasmania the healthiest island on the planet, Mr Lupo said St Lukes was determined to help shift the dial.
“These poor health outcomes represent a long-term situation, highlighting the challenges our health system faces in addressing entrenched negative health trends within targeted regional populations,” he said.
“The Devonport wellness hub will benefit from the learnings of our Hobart and Launceston hubs, which have welcomed more than 15,000 people participating in a range of activities and events.”
Under St Lukes’ proposal, the Federal Government would fund the build and fit-out of the wellness hub open to the whole community, with Devonport City Council providing the location, already identified within the planned Devonport Oval Precinct.
St Lukes will provide its wellness hub model and be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the North-West hub, working closely with Council to ensure strategic alignment to its Living Well Devonport Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Devonport Mayor Alison Jarmen said Council welcomed the proposal, which would further leverage existing federal funding for the sporting precinct, enhancing the benefits of both initiatives to deliver an even greater outcome for the community.
“We have a timely and unique opportunity to integrate a dedicated wellness hub into the facility that acts as an entry point to capture a broader audience who might not directly participate in the sporting complex,” Mayor Jarmen said.
“St Lukes’ vision for Tasmania to be the heathiest Island on the planet strongly aligns with Council’s aspiration for all our community members to be eating, moving, being, learning, and connecting with a sense of belonging and pride in the place we call home.
“The proposal represents a multi-generation investment in the health and wellbeing of our city and the broader region.”
ENDS
For more information
Jacquie Ray, Timmins Ray Public Relations: 0429 683 779.
[1] Devonport City Council Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2033