Prevention works. VicHealth announces VicHealth Award winners and Champions

VicHealth has recognised Victoria's greatest health promotion projects for their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians at the annual VicHealth Awards held last night.

Amongst the 14 project winners, Ballarat Health Services won the healthy eating category for their project that encouraged the local community to choose water over sugary drinks:

WATER – THE DRINK OF CHOICE - Ballarat Health Services: Primary Care and Population Health Advisory Committee with City of Ballarat, Ballarat Community Health, Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership, St John of God Ballarat Hospital, Western Victoria Primary Health Network, YMCA Ballarat.

ADAVB CEO Matthew Hopcraft was recognised as a VicHealth Champion, honoured amongst an inspiring list of awardees from a range of organisations.

VicHealth has been a champion of good health for all Victorians for over 30 years, working to keep people healthy, happy and well - preventing chronic disease and keeping people out of the medical system.

Together with a wide range of organisations, including the ADAVB, VicHealth  strives to find solutions to complex health promotion issues in key areas including:

• promoting health eating
• encouraging regular physical activity
• preventing smoking
• preventing harm from alcohol
• improving mental health

International studies cited by VicHealth show that every dollar invested in prevention can save over $5 in health spending.

View VicHealth Award winners: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/media-releases/champions-of-health-promotion-announced-at-vichealth-awards

Find out more about VicHealth: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au

Photo: Clinical Assoc/Prof Matthew Hopcraft and health promotion pioneer and inaugural chair of VicHealth, Sir Gustav Nossal.