The health of Hume residents is poorer than state averages, and the council wants to do something about it.
The city’s Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021 identifies “ambitious goals” for healthy change, after council research showed Hume had high rates of obesity, gambling, family violence and poor diets.
While Hume’s residents are relatively young compared to the rest of Melbourne, research showed 30.5 per cent do not take part in any physical activity during the week, compared to the 18.9 per cent of Victorians who don’t.
The council’s findings also revealed 61.9 per of Hume residents were overweight or obese in 2014, compared to 49.2 per cent of Victorians.
Family violence rates sat at 1554 incidents in Hume per 100,000 residents in the year 2014-15, compared to the statewide figure of 1191 per 100,000 people. Hume council’s new plan aims to increase residents levels of activity, healthy eating, connectivity, healthy decisions and participation by 2025.
It aims to improve levels of employment, education and social connectivity and reduce preventable chronic diseases. The council, at its meeting last week, moved to publicly exhibit the plan and take feedback until January 12.
Councillor Karen Sherry told the meeting the “ambitious goals”, such as striving for a 30 per cent decrease in the number of smoking adults by 2025, were needed in Hume.
“Unfortunately in our neighbourhood of Hume, a lot of people live sedentary lifestyles,” Cr Sherry said. “They’re obese, they’re not working and they don’t have the access to fresh good produce that perhaps they should.”
Visit www.hume.vic.gov.au to see the full Hume Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021.
