Ideas boost our health
RESIDENTS on The Discovery Coast are getting a healthy boost to their lifestyles thanks to programs put in place by the Discovery Coast Community Health Service (DCCHS).
Co-ordinator of Community Health and Services at the DCCHS Cheryl Barrett said the aim of the programs was not only to help residents of the area enjoy better health, but to also partner and eventually leave the communities of the southern parts of the Gladstone region to come up with their own initiatives.
Community projects such as the Healthy Lifestyle Expo in July, last week's Women's Health Forum and the on-going Healthy Choice Awards for eateries and cafes on The Discovery Coast were all designed to eventually be taken over by the communities.
"We hope to make many of these projects; such as the Healthy Lifestyle Expo, annual events and initially deliver it ourselves," Ms Barrett said.
"And then by building committees and community involvement people are able to go it alone in the future with such events.
"We do a bit of hand holding at first but then the communities themselves and people such as our Healthy Active Ambassadors (volunteers) take over."
The Healthy Choice Awards is encouraging eateries of all sorts - from cafes to pubs and takeaways to restaurants - to recognise and work towards healthier alternatives on their menus.
The Getaway Cafe in Agnes Water already has many healthy choices on its menu, and the awards can alert consumers to where they can eat well.
