Health and Wellbeing Queensland

How is digital tech shaping our health?   It’s a big question and one the Living Healthy Report 2025 explores with curiosity and care.   This year’s report from the team at Healthylife, focuses on how the digital world can support how we eat, move, sleep, feel and stay healthy. It investigates how digital tools can support better health, while ensuring it doesn’t create new barriers to achieving it.   Here's a snapshot of the report data: ⭐ 56% of us track our health with digital tools. ⭐ 44% of people want better sleep. ⭐ 1 in 3 people say relationships are key to their health. ⭐ 32% of Aussies turn to online articles for health advice. ⭐ Healthy groceries are approximately 8% cheaper to purchase. We're proud to see 10,000 Steps, Health and Wellbeing Queensland's program partner, featured as a case study in this report, demonstrating the powerful role digital tools can play in encouraging everyday movement.   A special thank you to Professor Corneel Vandelanotte and the team at CQUniversity for their valuable contribution to this year’s report.   This report offers practical recommendations for individuals, organisations, and policymakers to maximise the benefits of technology while prioritising our health.   Read and download the report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNddGciF #LivingHealthyReport #HealthyLife Simone Austin Robyn Littlewood Ananth Sarathy

A new community of yogis has come together in Roma, blending connection, movement, and mindfulness, thanks to The Yoga Partnership and support from the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland. 🧘♀️ After first connecting during the Rural Yoga Roadshow, The Yoga Partnership recognised the need for tailored yoga classes. Now, this inspiring group of 20-35 students are following a specially designed pre-recorded session, making yoga more accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Beyond movement, these sessions are strengthening social connections, bringing people together to practice, chat, and share morning tea. It’s a powerful reminder of how local solutions can have a big impact on wellbeing. With free online yoga classes and another Rural Yoga Roadshow planned for 2025, we’re excited to continue supporting regional and remote communities to move and feel good. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/egjrHXqW #YogaForAll #CommunityWellbeing #HealthierQueensland #TheYogaPartnership

Students on the Torres Straits most easterly island, Mer Eruer Uteb (Murray Island), will soon enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labour. A recent working bee saw students clearing garden beds, weeding, and preparing soil, laying the foundation for a thriving school garden. Beyond the garden, students have also had the opportunity to engage in some amazing community experiences: 🥔Prepare for a Kapmauri (Traditional Hungi), learning essential food preparation skills. 🌿 Participate in environmental yarning sessions with local Rangers, gaining hands-on experience in planting native cultural species and identifying potential pest plants. This initiative is a testament to the power of practical, place-based learning, made possible through the dedication of students, educators, and the Pick of the Crop (POTC) grant. A special acknowledgment to the school’s incredible groundsman, who has been instrumental in creating a sustainable space for learning and growth. Learn more about POTC and its impact here > https://lnkd.in/gBGx9t4 #POTC #HWQLD #Tagaicollege #MerEruerUteb #SchoolGarden #SustainableLearning #CommunityEngagement #HandsOnLearning #GrowingTogether

Join us for the next ConnectingQ ECHO Session: ‘Co-Design Process for Health and Wellbeing Council Programs in Community – Enablers, Barriers, and Impacts for Disadvantaged Groups’. 📅 Monday 14 April (online) ⏰ 12:00pm – 1:00pm This session will explore the effectiveness of inclusive health programs in the community and their impact on health and wellbeing outcomes for migrant and refugee populations. We’ll highlight real-world case studies, including the Learn to Swim program for Afghan women in Springfield and a soccer program supporting Congolese and Sudanese groups in Redbank Plains. Speakers: ▪️ Ashley Crasto – Coordinator of Community Wellbeing, Ipswich City Council ▪️ Dr Stephen O’Grady – Welcoming Clubs Queensland Project Coordinator ▪️ Sarah Scarce – Refugee lawyer & founder of The Aqua English Project This is a valuable opportunity for ConnectingQ members to exchange insights, learn from expert practitioners, and collaborate on building sustainable, active, and healthy communities across Queensland. Register to join the session: https://lnkd.in/gzxkAYJE Not a member? Join the network today: hw.qld.gov.au/connectingq/

Australians spend about one-third of their lives at work. That's why where we work, the type of work we do, and the conditions of our work are so important. At Health and Wellbeing Queensland, we believe a thriving workplace starts with a healthy, happy team. We’re committed to fostering a work environment that supports wellbeing through flexible and hybrid work arrangements, movement-friendly spaces, and initiatives like our Hour of Power, among many others. Whether your team works in an office, outdoors, on the move, or from home, there are simple initiatives you can implement to support wellbeing, such as: 🔹Providing access to fresh drinking water and water bottles for mobile or outdoor workers 🔹 Offering healthy food options in vending machines and onsite catering 🔹Supplying end-of-trip facilities and secure storage to enable active travel 🔹Providing active work equipment like sit-to-stand desks 🔹Creating environments that promote movement throughout the day 🔹Modelling self-care and work-life balance By prioritising our people’s health, we’re creating a workplace where everyone can feel their best and do their best. Watch our full-length video to learn more about our initiatives and approach to a healthy workplace: https://lnkd.in/gSSnPYg7

Nothing is more rewarding than making a real difference in people's lives. That’s exactly what My health for life is achieving for Queenslanders, empowering them to take control of their health and create sustainable lifestyle changes. Take Jason, a logistics worker who found himself at a crossroads. At 52, his cholesterol and blood pressure were at unhealthy levels, and his family history of strokes and heart disease served as a wake-up call. Thanks to My health for life, Jason took an online health check, joined a free health coaching program, and worked with a personal coach to make gradual, lasting changes. Now, he’s eating healthier, walking daily, and his cholesterol has dropped significantly in just three months. Jason is just one of the Queenslanders transforming their health through this program. My health for life is delivered by Diabetes Australia and funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, providing free, accessible, and practical support to those looking to improve their health. Now, you can be part of this life-changing work. Diabetes Australia is looking for a Director to lead My health for life, overseeing its strategic direction, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement to ensure it remains at the forefront of preventive health in Australia. If you're passionate about driving impactful health initiatives, this could be the role for you. Apply today and help shape a healthier Queensland 👉 https://lnkd.in/gKCT6_Uz

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data presents a mixed report card on our nation’s eating habits. While some positive trends in vegetable consumption are emerging, discretionary foods (those high in energy but low in nutrients) still make up 38.5% of total daily energy intake. Meanwhile, consumption of snack foods, soft drinks, and energy drinks continues to rise. The 2023–24 ABS data shows Queenslanders are still not getting enough fruit and vegetables, with average daily consumption sitting at just 2.2 serves of vegetables (out of a recommended 5) and 1.3 serves of fruit (out of a recommended 2). Diets rich in fruit and vegetables protect against high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. • Queensland has the second highest rate of obesity in Australia (34.6%). • About 1 in 3 children are living with overweight or obesity (32.6%). • The proportion of children living with a healthy weight has declined over the last decade. Why does this matter? Overweight and obesity are now the leading risk factors for disease in Australia, increasing the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The solution? More vegetables, fewer discretionary foods. Programs like Pick of the Crop, A Better Choice, and Gather + Grow are working to make healthy eating easier and more accessible for all Queenslanders. It’s time for change. Let’s work together to create healthier food environments at home, in schools, and across our communities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtWRzCDZ

Collaboration in action: Logan Healthy Living leading the way. We are proud to work in partnership with UQ Health Care to deliver Logan Healthy Living - a pioneering alliance dedicated to improving the lives of people with type 2 diabetes. In partnership with The University of Queensland's Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (HWCRI), this initiative is bridging the gap between research, healthcare, and community support to create meaningful, long-term impact. By combining research and student training with hands-on healthcare, Logan Healthy Living is helping train future health professionals while providing quality care to patients. A new study, published in JMIR Research Protocols, highlights the success of this model and provides insights for other organisations looking to implement similar programs. Learn more about how collaboration is shaping the future of healthcare: https://lnkd.in/gwa3mVsU #LoganHealthyLiving

Ensuring all Queenslanders have access to affordable, nutritious food requires a whole-of-system approach, one that is responsive to the unique strengths and challenges of local communities. Through the Gather + Grow 2023–2032 Queensland Remote Food Security Strategy, led by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, we’re working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design and implement local and system-level solutions. From strengthening food supply chains to improving access to healthier grocery stores, these initiatives are critical to supporting long-term food security. As part of this work, our school-based Pick of the Crop initiative is being piloted in 10 schools in the Cape, Torres, and Lower Gulf regions, as well as 8 schools within the Cook Shire Council area. The pilot in Far North Queensland has been adapted to ensure it is relevant, culturally appropriate and equitable in addressing local challenges. It enhances children and families' opportunities, skills and knowledge about food, nutrition and local agricultural practices to support them make healthier food and drink choices, working towards closing the gap. Pictured: Senior health promotion officers Sarah and Kirby at a Cook Shire Council school. #HealthEquity #FoodSecurity #PreventionInAction #ClosetheGap

We are thrilled to announce Episode 1 of The Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days is now available to download. 🎙️⭐ This 9-episode podcast series is designed to empower and upskill health professionals in best practice preventive care for parents-to-be and parents of young children. Topics cover the critical first 2000 days from preconception through to preschool years. Podcast host Dr Sam Manger joins subject matter experts from across Queensland to explore a new topic in each episode, including preconception, antenatal care, postnatal care for mothers and babies, and toddler growth and development. Episodes also consider shared care across health and the unique needs of families living in regional or rural areas. Our first episode of the series, ‘Preconception Healthcare,’ features General Practitioner Dr Terri-Lynne South and Accredited Practising Dietitian Dr Shelley Wilkinson. They explore: ✔️ how health and environmental factors influence reproductive health ✔️ how health professionals can support parents-to-be to optimise their wellbeing before conception. Listen now where you get your podcasts. New episodes will be released weekly. The Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days podcast series builds on the success of Health and Wellbeing Queensland's Clinician’s Guide to Healthy Kids podcast series, launched in 2023. Both series are supported by the Clinicians Hub, a digital repository of tools, resources and training designed to help health professionals discuss, identify, prevent and manage chronic disease. Discover more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gd_gDvSG #First2000Days #Podcast #HealthandWellbeingQueensland #healthprofessional #healthpodcast #podcasting #newpodcast #health #professionaldevelopment #education #training #learning #preconception #preconceptionhealth