ACTIVATING HEALTHY PARKS FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE WORDS TONY VARCOE, SHAUNA JONES & ANDREA DEE, PARKS VICTORIA
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reated by Parks Victoria in 2000 and now a global movement, Healthy Parks Healthy People (HPHP) highlights the importance of contact with nature as essential for human emotional, physical and spiritual health and wellbeing, while reinforcing the crucial role that parks and protected areas play in nurturing healthy ecosystems. The HPHP approach builds on the generations of knowledge by Traditional Owners — that a connection with and stewardship of nature is critical for our physical, mental, social and spiritual health. The body of evidence about the benefits of nature and greenspaces for human health and wellbeing has grown exponentially over the past decade, showing benefits across all life stages1. In addition to the physical health benefits of being active in nature, including reduced blood pressure, improved heart health, improved immune system and reduced risk of diabetes, is increased life satisfaction. The health benefits derived from time spent in nature will also translate into economic benefits such as avoided health care costs, for example, estimated upwards to $145 billion per annum in Australia1. Victoria’s parks network, including national, state, marine, urban and historic parks and waterways, plays a key role as community infrastructure for the prevention of physical and mental ill health by providing settings and services that encourage outdoor recreation and relaxation, volunteering, learning and discovery, and cultural and spiritual connection. In 2020, to further activate HPHP in Victoria and guide priorities, Parks Victoria published a new Healthy Parks Healthy People Framework2: parks.vic.gov. au/healthy-parks-healthy-people In activating parks for health and wellbeing benefits, HPHP reinforces the need for stronger partnerships between the environment, health and community sectors in creating integrated policies, communications, research and on-
ground program partnerships. Driven by Victorian Government strategies and policy, including the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2019-23 and the Biodiversity 2037 plan, the Framework highlights the critical role that Victoria’s parks can play in encouraging healthier, more liveable and more connected communities that are connected to and want to act for nature. It is underpinned by the Victorian Memorandum for Health and Nature, a statement cosigned at the World Public Health Congress in 2017 by the then Minister for Health and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, to provide stronger connections between environment and health policy. The Framework includes five pillars for action: Healthy Places and Settings, Program Partnerships, Information and knowledge, Leadership and Advocacy, and Healthy Workplaces. It recognises the broad spectrum of health and wellbeing benefits afforded by parks through participation in everyday recreational, volunteering and outdoor education activities, to the role of nature in providing settings for rehabilitation and recovery. Not all people in the community have equal access to the benefits of nature. The Framework prioritises cohorts including young people, people with disability, new migrants and refugees, seniors, and families from lower social advantage. Partnerships that enable greater connection to Country for Aboriginal communities is also a high priority. Cross-Sector Integrated Policy and Planning | Critical to the success of the Victorian Memorandum on Health and Nature and the implementation of HPHP by Parks Victoria, is the creation of partnerships with health environment and community sector organisations, state and local government partners, research partners, volunteers and diverse service providers to deliver accessible, inclusive services and facilities, and to conserve the natural and cultural values of parks. The
22 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Autumn 2021
following established programs focus on early intervention and prevention and target highly vulnerable community groups. They support increased community participation and are free for participants. Programs are scalable as required (with funding for program management and coordination), as most take place outdoors. Parks for all abilities | With the incidence of disability in Australia at 20 percent of the population and a disproportionate number of people with disability having mental ill health, partnerships with organisations such as AMAZE (social scripts for children with autism), Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria (Walk in the Park program) and the YMCA (all-abilities camping), are actively working to reduce the inequities in accessing parks, providing positive and memorable nature-based experiences. Welcoming new migrants and refugees | With new migrants and refugees experiencing higher rates of social isolation and unemployment, partnerships with organisations, including AMES (Adult Migrant Education Service) Australia, the Brotherhood of St Lawrence and the Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre, can connect new migrant and refugees to parks through gardening, conservation, food production and internships. Dementia-Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail | Recognising the mental and other health challenges for people with dementia and their carers, a new dementia-friendly forest and sensory trail is currently being constructed at Woowookarung Regional Park near Ballarat in partnership with the Australian Dementia Association (VIC), the Friends of Canadian Corridor group and the Bigger Hearts Community group of Ballarat. Nature connection for children | There is compelling evidence that outdoor and nature-based play, learning and discovery generates many physical and mental health benefits. Parks Victoria’s Junior Ranger program occurs at over 100 parks