The Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee comprises of internal council staff and external agencies to develop strategies and implement actions to improve the wellbeing of Maroondah.

The group’s current priorities include council’s new Community Wellbeing Plan. This plan, which is expected to be finalised in mid 2009, will set council’s priorities for the wellbeing, health and safety of Maroondah and will operate in partnership with agencies such as Victoria Police, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and community based organisations such as Eastern Volunteers and indigenous groups.

Earlier this month council conducted consultation sessions with service providers, such as carers networks, community houses and health agencies and today’s meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to provide its feedback.

The committee defined wellbeing as good health with social and cultural connectedness underpinned by a supportive and safe community.

This definition assisted the committee in identifying a number of issues that adversely affect the wellbeing of the Maroondah community. These issues were categorised into the broad categories of transport (inducing accessibility), housing, safety and social isolation and were identified as priority areas by the group.

The input from today’s meeting will assist council is preparing the Maroondah Community Wellbeing Plan and identifying potential partnerships to assist in its implementation.

The next and final meeting for 2008 will be held on Tuesday the 18th of November.