Health Promotion
Health Promotion, Prevention, and Protection all play an important role in creating healthy communities. Our work takes a place-based approach. This means we engage with communities in the places they live, learn, work and play.
Contact the Health Promotion Team
Phone (03) 5338 4500
email [email protected]
Early Years Service
Ballarat Community Health engages and supports long day care services within the Ballarat region to complete a Menu Assessment and may assist in changes.
Smiles 4 Miles is an initiative of Oral Health Victoria which aims to improve the oral health of children and their families in high-risk areas across Victoria.
Education
Health Promoting Schools (Achievement Program)
The Health Promoting Schools initiative offers a comprehensive framework and resources to improve health outcomes for students, staff, and families.
Grounded in the World Health Organization’s Health Promoting Schools model and endorsed by the Department of Education, the framework strengthens the link between health and education by aligning with FISO 2.0 and the curriculum. It supports schools through learning, policy development, safe and healthy environments, and strong community partnerships.
For more information visit
Health Promoting Schools Framework
Vic Kids Eat Well
Vic Kids Eat Well (VKEW) is a state-wide movement that’s focused on transforming the food and drink environments where kids and young people spend their time. By harnessing the power of community and taking simple steps, eligible organisations can create change to give all kids and young people across Victoria the healthy start they deserve.
Ballarat Community Health supports schools and outside school hours care services (OSHC). For more information contact the Health Promoting Schools Team or register at Vic Kids Eat Well
Positive Wellbeing Program
Positive Wellbeing features a series of short performances, creative activities, and classroom discussions about gender stereotypes and how to promote gender equality and positive relationships.
Students are asked to analyse, discuss and make decisions about friendships, behaviours, and establish a fundamental practice of consent.
The Program also addresses bullying, calling out problematic behaviour, rumour spreading, peer influences, resilience and help-seeking.
Teacher and student resources are provided. All content is aligned with the Department of Education and is age appropriate.
Please note that access to BCH School Health Programs, including Positive Wellbeing, is only available to schools implementing the Health Promoting Schools Framework.
SSMART ASSK Program
The SSMART ASSK Program is a party-safe, harm minimisation program designed to reduce year 9 students’ risk-taking behaviour. The Program specifically aims to reduce the risks, and potential harms, of unsafe sex and using alcohol, other drugs and vapes. Alcohol and drug fuelled harms could include accidents, injuries, sexual assault or violence.
Featuring a series of workshops, live-theatre performance and expert panel discussion, the SSMART ASSK Program encourages students to look after themselves, their friends, seek help when needed and have a party plan.
pdf The SSMART ASSK Program A4 Flyer
In Health Promotion 105 downloads
The SSMART ASSK Program is a party-safe, harm minimisation program designed to reduce year 9 students’ risk-taking behaviour. The Program specifically aims to reduce the risks, and potential harms, of unsafe sex and using alcohol, other drugs and vapes. Alcohol and drug fuelled harms could include injury, sexual assault and violence.
Please note that access to BCH School Health Programs, including SSMART ASSK is only available to schools implementing the Health Promoting Schools Framework.
Expect Respect Program
Expect Respect follows the lives of David, Sophie, Kat, Ren & Tom at Wombat High as they challenge gender stereotypes, gain consent and learn how to reduce gendered violence with upstander action.
Expect Respect aims to engage year 10 students in practical and creative ways to learn about respectful, safe and equitable relationships.
Through a live-theatre performance and expert panel discussion, students explore the key themes of respect, rigid gender roles and stereotypes, consent and upstander action. Help-seeking information is provided, and students are encouraged to access support from existing networks.
If you are interested in delivering Expect Respect at your school, or would like more information, please contact the Health Promoting Schools Team.
pdf Expect Respect Program A4 Flyer
In Health Promotion 119 downloads
Expect Respect aims to engage Year 10 students in practical and creative ways to learn about respectful, safe and equitable relationships. It achieves this by delivering a live-theatre performance accompanied by a question & answer session with a panel of local experts to unpack the key issues and give students the opportunity to ask questions.
Please note that access to BCH School Health Programs, including Expect Respect, is only available to schools implementing the Health Promoting Schools Framework.
Food Systems
The FAN (Food Access Network)
Formed in 2015, FAN is a group of organisations who work collaboratively to develop initiatives to reduce food insecurity in the Ballarat Region by improving access to nutritious food for community members.
- Work collaboratively to achieve common goals.
- Share information and resources (excess food, grant funding opportunities).
- Seek and apply for food relief funding grants to support food relief initiatives.
- Ensure food relief resources available to local programs are optimised to support the greatest number of people.
- Advocate for greater access to nutritious and food security in the Ballarat region.
- Continue to support food relief programs and, activities in the Ballarat region.
- Ensure the client voice is heard when developing projects and initiatives.
- Support the Ballarat Local Food Collective on projects relevant to food security and food access.
- Provide opportunities for social inclusion and social engagement when developing and/or providing food support programs.
Membership includes stakeholders from the food relief and welfare sector, community organisations, state and local government who are working in the food relief and food access space.
Current Members
BCH, City of Ballarat, Uniting Vic TAS Ballarat, Salvation Army, Anglicare, Soul Plus Food, Hidden Orchard, Grampians Public Health Unit, Grampians Health, Harvest Ministry of Food, Ballarat Foundation, Ballarat Neighbourhood NC, Creswick NC, Wendouree NC, Clunes NC, Foodbank Victoria, Golden Plains Shire, Moorabool Shire Council, Central Highlands Rural Health, Pyrenees Community House, Linton Food Pantry, Scarsdale Welcome Wednesdays and Meredith Community Centre.
The FAN welcomes members from stakeholder organisations in Ballarat, Hepburn, Golden Plains, Moorabool, Grampians and Pyrenees LGAs.
To create a thriving community where everyone can achieve and sustain optimal health and wellbeing. Through partnerships and collaborative action, we foster supportive environments, promote equity and deliver innovative initiatives that improve health outcomes and empower individuals and communities to live well.
Eat Well Feel Good Ballarat in Sports and Recreation Settings
Developed as part of the VicHealth Local Government Partnership initiative, the ‘Eat Well Feel Good’ (EWFG) project was designed to promote healthy eating among community members attending City of Ballarat sport and recreation venues.
The project supports venues to offer and promote healthy food and drink options.
October 2025
Ballarat Community Health and the City of Ballarat launched the Eat Well Feel Good campaign at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre (BALC)