Ballarat Community Health and the City of Ballarat have teamed up to launch the Eat Well Feel Good campaign at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre (BALC), making it easier for visitors to choose healthier food and drinks.

With over 60,000 visits each month, BALC is a busy community hub — and the Afloat Café plays a big role in helping people refuel with nutritious options.

A recent survey showed strong interest in healthier menu choices. People asked for; more fruit and fresh salads, healthier sandwich and wrap fillings, yoghurt and granola options and fewer fried foods, sugary drinks, and confectionery.

Based on this feedback, the café is making some great updates with support from Ballarat Community Health and the City of Ballarat; healthier drinks now fill the fridge, confectionery has been moved and reduced, popcorn is promoted over chips, a “green zone” in the display cabinet highlights nutritious options and new menu items include healthier meals, snacks, and a kids’ meal deal.

The campaign is being promoted throughout BALC with; posters and digital screens, colouring competitions for kids, nudge cards at the counter, shelf labels to highlight healthy choices and email updates for members.

It’s working! Early feedback shows the new healthy options are popular and selling well — a great sign that the community is on board.

World Hepatitis Day, held on 28 July 2025 is a chance for us to raise awareness of this health condition. It is estimated that there is currently just under 69,000 people in Australia living with hepatitis C and 19% of these people are unaware they are living with the condition. The WHO global target is hepatitis C elimination by 2030.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viruses that cause damage to your liver. They can be chronic, which means you could have them your whole life. Without treatment, they can lead to liver disease or liver cancer. Hepatitis C is easy to test for and treat.

The treatment for hepatitis C is 98% successful and comes with minimal to no side effects.

Ingrid, BCH’s Integrated hepatitis C nurse for Ballarat Community Health will be out and about the region, from Bacchus Marsh to the SA border. She can travel to clients. Ingrid is ready to take on referrals for hepatitis C treatment, or alternatively support GPs and Nurse Practitioners wishing to treat hepatitis C.
Ballarat Community Health have become part of a POCT (point of care testing) research program through the Kirby Institute, this will lead to faster diagnosis and access to treatment. As the machine for POCT is portable Ingrid will be taking it regional.

Ingrid offers hepatitis education sessions to organisations. For more information and to request a call from Ingrid you can fill out the enquiry form at Hepatitis Education.

In partnership with VicHealth and Stockland Wendouree BCH worked with young people to co-design a suite of health promotion material to deter young people from vaping and to let them know that support was available.

A series of workshops was held at Stockland Wendouree over a six-week period where the teenagers worked alongside a local graffiti artist to develop the concept of the artwork, with the corresponding messaging drawn from conversations during the process.

The artwork was showcased at Showbiz cinema (DTC), Stockland Wendouree and Central Square Shopping Complex during the month of April, 2025. To receive a complementary pack of A4 flyers for display at your club or organisation you can email [email protected]

For further information and resources visit smoking and vaping support.