Goulburn Valley Health joins RiverConnect

As the peak public health unit in Greater Shepparton, Goulburn Valley Health’s expertise and guidance is invaluable to progressing positive health outcomes for our community. This link is strongly supported by research and increasingly understood by the community.

As part of this, Goulburn Valley Health has also nominated a representative to join the RiverConnect Implementation Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee oversees the implementation of the RiverConnect Strategic Plan, identifying links within the relevant organisations, and coordinating various major projects from their organisations’ perspective.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, welcomed the news saying Council was pleased to see Goulburn Valley Health come on board as a partner to RiverConnect.

“Working together on our natural environment and helping to coordinate great outdoor events is a win for everyone. Working alongside community and partners helps to improve our community’s relationship with the river and nature,” he said.

“There are many similarities between the health outcome objectives of Goulburn Valley Health and the RiverConnect Strategic Plan, and this partnership is a great next step to improving how we can all work together.”

Implementation Advisory Committee Councillor Representative, Cr Sam Spinks, said she was excited to see the positive health and environmental benefits which flow from this partnership.

“This partnership is a perfect fit for Council and Goulburn Valley Health and one which is expected to achieve many positive outcomes for the community. We know how important the natural environment can be on people’s health and we want to ensure we can promote this and encourage people to get outdoors and feel the benefits of connecting with nature,” she said.

Many studies show mental and physical health is improved through connecting to the natural environment. The benefits of the environment for human health fall into the three categories of air and water filtration, local climate regulation and recreation-related services. This correlates a positive relationship with a reduction in chronic disease and therefore reduced strain on the health sector.

Goulburn Valley Health selected Executive Director Community Care, Mental Health and Chief Allied Health Officer, Joshua Freeman, as the representative to join the Advisory Committee.

“Goulburn Valley Health is delighted to join the RiverConnect partnership. The aims of the RiverConnect partnership are aligned with our recently launched Primary Care and Population Health Plan 2023-2029, as well as the mental health services we provide at Goulburn Valley Health,” Mr Freeman said.

RiverConnect is a community project in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Department of Education and Training, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, Goulburn Valley Environment Group, Greater Shepp Young Champions, Parks Victoria, Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and community representatives.

For more information about RiverConnect, visit the RiverConnect website.