Manningham generally enjoys a high level of health and wellbeing and is recognised as one of the healthiest municipalities in Victoria. However, there are always opportunities to enhance community health and wellbeing. Manningham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 - 2025 outlines how we will continue to work with our community and partner organisations to ensure people living in Manningham are healthy, safe, resilient, connected and inclusive.  

Manningham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 – 2025 was developed using an integrated planning approach with Manningham’s Council Plan 2021-2025. The Strategy works towards achieving Council's Vision and Healthy Community Goals.

Manningham’s 2040 Community Vision: 

Manningham is a peaceful, inclusive and safe community. We celebrate life with its diverse culture, wildlife and natural environment. We are resilient and value sustainable and healthy living, a sense of belonging, and respect for one another.

Healthy Community Goals:

• Healthy, safe and resilient community
• Connected and inclusive community

Manningham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 – 2025 recognises the municipality’s many strengths and builds on the achievements of its predecessor; the Healthy City Strategy 2017 – 2021. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 – 2025 has identified a number of health and wellbeing priorities impacting the community today and into the future. These will be addressed in partnership with our soon to be formed Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee, and the Manningham community to ensure residents continue to have the opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing.

The development of the Strategy has been informed by a review of the previous Healthy City Strategy 2017-2021, community feedback, and analysis of state-wide and local health data contained in our State of the City and Health Needs Analysis 2020 report. These findings have informed the development of seven priority areas, contained under two key goals:

Goal 1. A healthy, safe and resilient community:

• Improved social and emotional wellbeing
• Increased healthy eating
• Increased active lifestyles
• Increased adaptation to the health impacts from climate change
• Reduced injury and harm
• Prevention of family violence

Goal 2. A connected and inclusive community:

• Increased connection to and engagement in community life

In developing these priority areas, Council has included consideration of:

• Across the life course – we looked at the lifespan of our community from infants, children and young people to older adults, to understand the impacts on health and wellbeing at different life stages
• Community groups – we identified the needs and priorities of people from multicultural communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, First Nations peoples, carers and people with disability
• Genders – we assessed how all genders and intersectionality, which are attributes other than gender such as age, disability or sexual orientation, may be impacted by a range of health issues

Implementing the Strategy

Manningham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 – 2025 will be supported by two biennial Action Plans. Each Action Plan will contain a set of activities developed under the seven key priority areas. These activities will be delivered with our partners to help us achieve the changes that we want to see in our community’s health and wellbeing over the next four years.

Evaluation of our previous Strategy

The Healthy City Strategy 2017-2021 delivered more than 250 actions across four years to improve the health and wellbeing of the Manningham community.

A snapshot of some of the actions delivered and key achievements of the Healthy City Strategy 2017-2021 can be found below.

Ten projects were selected as case studies across the four years of the strategy. These case studies were asked to reflect on the "most significant change" that occurred as a result of the project:

Project 1: Tunstall Square Community Art Project

Project overview

Volunteer artists, including Scouts and school groups combined forces to design and paint art on car parking spaces to make Tunstall Square a more vibrant place to shop.

Most significant change

The project was designed to involve the whole community including as many aspects as possible. They participated in designing and delivering the painted car spaces as well as being part of the event on the day. The best part of the project was the involvement of the community – both in the art and being engaged and part of the whole project.

“If you get community groups involved they feel pride in their own local space” – Kimberly Hughes, local artist/project leader

“It was quite a surprise to me this morning to see all of these people with grins of their faces” – Geoff Harwood, local resident

“You can’t put money value on art in community spaces the fact that you get people’s engagement is immeasurable and it’s a fantastic reward for the whole community” – George Condos, local resident

Project 2: Emergency Aware Program

Project overview

Program to assist neighbourhoods to develop home emergency plans and work together to be better prepared for an emergency.

• 10 emergency planning sessions held at community learning centres to discuss with residents their current emergency plans and how to prepare for an emergency
• 357 participants directly engaged in the program through community organisations, learning centres, local farmers markets and sporting clubs
• 50% of all residents within Manningham and 74% in bushfire prone areas advised that they currently have an emergency plan in place

Most significant change

Hearing how the community understands and interprets key messages and advice provided by emergency services on how to prepare for an emergency. Many within the community shared that they have repeatedly seen key messages such as ‘have an emergency plan’ and ‘leave early’ since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires but wanted a chance to discuss how they apply the advice in their own lives and what these messages mean to them. The response has been invaluable as many within the community have a wide range of interpretations of these messages that will directly shape the Emergency Aware program moving forward.

“I have completed a valued itemised list of my assets and have taken photos of them. If I have to make a claim I know exactly what I’m claiming for.”

Project 3: Parks Alive Program

Project overview

Resident-led initiative encouraging the community to get involved, meet their neighbours and help improve our local parks. Parks Alive supports residents to beautify, enhance and activate their local neighbourhood park, by relying on their skills and ideas to run an activity, event, creative or gardening project. Examples of resident-led initiatives include Stone Circle project at Iona Reserve, Mural art on rebound wall at Daniel Reserve, Free little library at Ronald Reserve, Painting the paths at Jocelyn Reserve, Tasker Reserve Neighbourhood Xmas BBQ, Australia Day BBQ at Jocelyn Reserve, Neighbour lunch at Walker Reserve, plus on going gardening projects.

Most significant change

It was surprising to see that people felt highly empowered and highly engaged to be able to plan and lead the delivery of projects in their local community, even in light of COVID-19 impacts.

“It was an empowering experience. I know the majority of the community are excited about the project. It has been a joy especially during the COVID-19 crisis. The project at this time forced us to engage with the community in different ways. Namely through chatting in the Reserve at appropriate social distancing measures, setting up Zoom meetings and establishing a Facebook group. Thank you so much for the amazing opportunity.”

“A really strong sense of community contribution, and a sense that I belong to a community that was larger than myself and that I was able to make a meaningful contribution to that group.”

“As a local resident I felt so encouraged that Council had an initiative to support me (and my neighbours) to bring the neighbourhood together at a mutual space (local park/reserve)”

Project 4: Parenting Seminar Series

Project overview

Our parenting seminar series aims to provide parents the tools to manage difficult situations and help them be well informed and involved in their children’s lives.From May to August 2020 we hosted eight live and pre-recorded webinars on parenting featuring some of Australia’s best parent educators and adolescence psychologists, such as Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Steve Biddulph. More than 7,000 people have participated in these webinars on topics including raising resilient kids during the coronavirus era, managing year 11 and 12 in the face of uncertainty, Raising Girls and Raising Boys.

Most significant change

Our greatest challenges, at that time, was being limited by the capacity of the venue, being sold out in 24 hours for an event and providing additional sessions where possible. The 2020 series faced challenges that we had not previously encountered due to COVID-19, however, this challenge became an opportunity. While the COVID-19 crisis transformed our lives almost overnight, Manningham’s popular Parenting Seminar Series quickly adapted, pivoting to webinars. With social distancing in place, we had to cancel our entire Parenting Seminar Series for the remainder of the 2020 series. We quickly turned the face to face events to an online series in less than 48 hours. The online platform provided greater reach and we were not limited by the capacity of a venue. We could see the effect of continuous media coverage, remote learning and isolation was having on families, so we quickly adapted, pivoting from live events to online webinars to support our community, particularly families, through the crisis.

“It was a great session”, “Brilliant session, thank you”, “Was an excellent session”, “Really there wasn’t anything that could be improved”, “More sessions like this.”

Project 5: Skills 4 the Future

Project overview 

Council was funded by VicHealth to deliver the Skills 4 the Future initiative. This included development of a resource mapping local skills development opportunities to increase young people’s employability. The project also included delivery of Career’s Expo, providing practical tips for young people in their search for employment. Skills 4 the Future engaged over 100 youth through the delivery of the Skills 4 the Future Careers Expo on 17 October 2018. This event provided young people with a greater understanding of the 'rising bar' megatrend, improved access to local information, as well as opportunities to network with employment services and explore career and volunteering options. 

Most significant change

The development of the Skills 4 the Future funding application resulted in the formation of the Manningham Youth Alliance, a network of key organisations working with youth across Manningham to share resources and expertise in the delivery of projects and programs for young people. As a result of this alliance, a Youth Advisory Council was also established, which provides young leaders with opportunities to discuss matters important to them, and opportunities to develop key skills in project management, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork and communication. The Youth Advisory Council has continued beyond the life of the Skills 4 the Future Project.

“This is a great program to get involved in. It allows young people, like myself, to be a part of something bigger and really make an impact on the community. Working in a team environment with people from across the community has provided me with the opportunity to grow, learn and improve on my current skill set such as team work and communication. I’ll be able to take these skills and experiences with me and apply them to my future career."

Project 6: Far Flung Intergenerational Project

Project overview 

Far Flung: Connecting Intergenerational Families was a piloted Artist-in-Residence program in Doncaster. The project focused on developing narratives of place, family histories and culture as a way to engage and connect new migrant families to the area. A socially engaged art project; Far Flung inspired cross-cultural connections and a deeper sense of belonging in Manningham.

• 41 per cent of Far Flung participants feels they have a lot in common, despite their diverse backgrounds
• 70 per cent of exhibition attendees agreed or strongly agreed that Far Flung helped them feel more connected to the community.
   

Most significant change 

Engaging culturally diverse community members through art creation and breaking down cross-cultural barriers to connectedness and belonging. Local artists reported gaining greater insight into effective ways to facilitate art creation with families, helping them in their work with community.

Both parents and students voices were captured in this evaluation over two separate evaluation sessions, and they shared the same predominant themes: a greater connection to community and family (73%); separating this out further, acknowledgement and appreciation of the difference in cultures and the common experiences as migrants (41%), and a stronger connection between child and parent/adult (32%) were the dominant responses in this category.

“Time to get to know each other has helped me feel more connected to the group and to the community. I learned that we come from so many different cultures but we share so much in common. I really like working together – and now I can call you all friends.”

“Before this, I only talked to Chinese people. But I learned that we have similarities and we can talk to each other and get to know each other and can be friends.”

Project 7: Digital Stories of Inclusion

Project overview 

Three digital stories highlighting local employment examples of people with a disability within open employment. The video showcases the stories of Buddy, Ben, Melissa and Kay, four Manningham residents with a disability, who have successfully secured local employment. Their stories are designed to educate, inform and inspire people with a disability, their families, service providers and the broader community that people with disabilities can lead socially inclusive, meaningful lifestyles as valued contributors to their local communities. The Digital Stories of Inclusion video has been viewed more than 360 times on Council’s Facebook page. 

Most significant change

Changing attitudes within the community and for business owners on the inclusion of people with a disability in their workplace.

“Once you have a supportive structure in place, everything seems to flow very well”

“Working at Quest means I get to meet people and be social. I also get to earn a wage, and support myself, which increases my self-esteem”

“I have not seen any other councils do something like this, or at least document it in this way. The use of such positive language on the web page is wonderful.”

“[this] would be an excellent resource for other councils to increase the inclusion of people with a disability in their workforce.”

Project 8: Local Dementia Alliance Group

Project overview 

The Manningham Local Dementia Alliance Group plays a key role in guiding and advising Council on the actions and initiatives that will help foster change for people living with dementia.

Most significant change

Launch of the Manningham Dementia Information Card, an initiative of Manningham Council in partnership with the Manningham Local Dementia Alliance Group. The 20,000 cards printed are available to educate, raise awareness and provide strong support in our community.

As an organisation, Manningham Council has been recognised as ‘Working Towards Dementia Friendly’ organisation by the Dementia Friendly Communities program of Dementia Australia.

Recognition as ‘Working Towards Dementia Friendly’ means that our organisation has an approved action plan which details our commitment to work towards improving the way in which our services meet the needs of people living with dementia, so that they can be supported to live in the community for as long as possible.

“Dementia-friendly communities can also offer benefits to the wider population. The promotion of social cohesion and understanding the needs of others will help make Manningham generally a great places to live. I commend Manningham Council as a leader in Local Government that is fostering a community to champion the journey towards being a dementia friendly city.” - Dr David Sykes, Dementia Australia

“The Manningham community has created an environment that offers…people living with dementia and their family and friends opportunities to participate and interact in stimulating and easily available activities” - Quote from member of the Manningham Dementia Alliance

Project 9: Active for Life Recreation Strategy

Project overview

Active for Life Recreation Strategy (2010-25), identifies the vision for a healthy, more active community. The Strategy aims to provide our community with opportunities to stay healthy, active and participate in a diverse range of recreation activities regardless of age, gender, ability and cultural background. 

Most significant change

The most significant outcome of the review was the Strategy’s core focus. The original Recreation Strategy had a strong focus on active recreation (walking, jogging etc.) and also a focus on areas that are not traditionally covered under a Recreation Strategy (such as Bush Kinder). As a result, organised sport requirements were missed and this resulted in minimal policy guidance, no strategic justification for expenditure and a lack of governance and development support for our sporting clubs, amongst other things. The reviewed strategy flipped the focus to help create a better balance between active recreation and organised sport, and also better align with the Recreation Team’s core role.

‘The strategy and actions are generally consistent with our view of the general direction Council should be taking in the development of sporting activity in Manningham.’

‘I think it's wonderful that the City of Manningham is encouraging active recreation through organised sport.’

Project 10: Unite for Safety and Respect Project

Project overview

Series of workshops developed in partnership with Monash, Whitehorse and Boroondara to Faith Leaders in the Inner East to strengthen existing partnerships, provide a platform for building knowledge and sharing experiences in responding to family violence.

• 102 people attended the Forum
• 123 participants in total across all three workshops
• 61 different participants across all three workshops
• 32 participants attended more than one workshop
• 13 different faiths represented

Most significant change

• 97 per cent of workshop participants reported moderate or high confidence in communicating with others about the prevention of family violence
• 73 per cent felt they had an increased knowledge of respectful and equal relationships due to their participation in the workshop they attended
  “We all need to be on the same page and acknowledge that we do have family violence in all faiths and communities. Everyone has a right to live in safety and respect in Australia. That is the message that we need to get across to our Faith Leaders and to the community”

Manningham Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land and waterways now known as Manningham.

Council pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and values the ongoing contribution to enrich and appreciate the cultural heritage of Manningham.

Council acknowledges and respects Australia’s First Peoples as Traditional Owners of lands and waterways across Country, and encourages reconciliation between all.

Manningham Council values the contribution made to Manningham over the years by people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

The role of local government in Reconciliation

Local Government plays a key role in activating Reconciliation within local communities by:

• playing a leadership role in creating meaningful relationships
• recognising and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and cultural rights
• building understanding of our shared history
• celebrating, recognising and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritages
• providing our local community and the education sector with an opportunity to take an active part in the process of Reconciliation
• offering public programs, projects and events
• providing accessible services; and
• being a proactive employer and procurer of services.

Council articulates how this can be achieved through a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). 

Manningham Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

The Manningham Innovate RAP 2023-25 has been developed in partnership with Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation, local First Nations peoples, local residents, Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group and Reconciliation Australia.

Council is committed to fostering respect for and understanding of First Nations cultures, histories, knowledge and rights throughout our organisation and the municipality.

The Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group will monitor the implementation of the RAP along with Reconciliation Australia.

In 2019, Council established regular Cultural Consultations with Elders and staff of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation).

As the Registered Aboriginal Party for Manningham, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation plays a key role in decision making for and protection of cultural heritage and as such are recognised as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

The regular Cultural Consultations with Elders provide Council with an opportunity to ensure our projects, services and systems work towards progressing reconciliation.

First Nations history in Manningham

The East Kulin Nation have lived in the area now known as Melbourne, for more than 65,000 years harnessing the rich resources of the Yarra River and surrounding bush lands and ranges. Part of the East Kulin Nation are the Wurundjeri people who spoke the Woi-wurrung language who are the Traditional Owners of Manningham.

Wurundjeri people called the Yarra River "Birrarung" – 'river of mists and shadows'. The Birrarung was central to the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri willam people. Throughout Manningham, Wurundjeri people lived near the Birrarung and its tributaries, caring for the many culturally significant places in the area. The Yarra Flats in Manningham are associated with the accomplishments of creation ancestors and spiritual beings. Bolin Bolin Billabong in Bulleen was an important living and eel fishing area, a place which Wurundjeri people requested for their reserved use in 1840. It remained an important living area and visiting place for Wurundjeri people returning from lyrebird hunting in the Yarra Ranges into the 1850s.

For thousands of years the Wurundjeri nurtured and protected this land and its creation stories, and in return, enjoyed the highest standards of living, health and wellbeing. The river was plentiful with teeming wildfowl in the wetlands of Bulleen, continual harvests in the fish traps, and freshwater mussel farms along the Yarra. The Stringybark and Manna Gum forests also provided abundant game and bush tucker for a population of several hundred people.

The Wurundjeri people shared the same belief system as the East Kulin Nation. The creation period stretches back to when the creation ancestors and spirit beings travelled across the land, creating and naming as they went.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's oral tradition and religious values are based upon reverence for the land, and a belief in the creation period. The social moiety division and associated spiritual beings of the Woi-wurrung speaking people were Bunjil the wedge-tailed eagle and Waa the crow. Wurundjeri people were of the Waa moiety. During the creation period, Bunjil is their ancestor responsible for the creation of earth and men. Pallian the bat is their ancestor responsible for the creation of water and women. Waa was the protector of humankind.

Some very famous Wurundjeri people are associated with Manningham. In particular, William Barak and Simon Wonga who were both leaders of their community and have descendants still living in the region, some of whom are now Senior Elders themselves.

First Nations cultural heritage places in Manningham

First nations cultural heritage places relate to a particular place that's considered to be a sacred or historically important place for First Peoples. However, it should be noted that not all First Peoples cultural heritage places hold significance to the Wurundjeri community. Within Manningham, we have more than 90 sites of Wurundjeri significance, some of which are the most significant within regional Melbourne. These sites include burial or birthing sites, trading places, travelling pathways, campsites and ceremonial sites, gathering places, mission sites, reserves, and places where conflict took place. Archaeological evidence or artefacts verify where such sites exist within Manningham, as well as stories passed down from generations of Wurundjeri Elders.

Wurundjeri Stories Trail at Pound Bend

Pound Bend Tunnel Reserve, Warrandyte State Park, Pound Bend Road Warrandyte

Wurundjeri Stories is a fascinating and beautifully presented interpretive signage trail at Pound Bend that explores the Wurundjeri history, culture, traditional life, spirituality, events and the people linked to this sacred site.

There are seven signs, each containing in-depth historical accounts presented by a Wurundjeri working group, with stunning artwork and historical photographs, following a flat 1km riverside path, which walkers may wish to continue along the 3.5km River Walk or Loop Walk. Each sign features a section entitled ‘Bunjil’s Challenge’ which encourages walkers to explore the local surrounds in search of key features such as bush tucker, and to consider traditional lifestyle scenarios, making the trail an incredibly engaging, thought provoking and interactive experience.

Wurundjeri Stories is ideal for the casual walker, organised school and pre-school excursions, community groups and a ceremonial space for special Wurundjeri events. Groups are able to arrange for a Wurundjeri Elder or Educator to lead their organised excursion to the site.

A Wurundjeri Stories interpretive sign is also located at Wittons Reserve in Wonga Park, which shares the Wurundjeri history of this site, considered to be Sacred Women’s Country. The sign marks the beginning of the scenic Mount Lofty walk, a section of the Wurundjeri Songline route, the major Wurundjeri travelling route to the Yarra Valley.

For more information about the trail content, or to organise an Elder please contact the Wurundjeri Tribe Council at reception@wurundjeri.com.au or phone 9416 2905.

Resources to support your visit to Wurundjeri Stories at Pound Bend:

First Nations Resources

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country

Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country are important ways to recognise and respect Traditional Owners.

A Welcome to Country can only be performed by an Elder from the traditional custodial tribe. The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation is the nominated Registered Aboriginal Party for Manningham, and as such all request for Welcome to Country ceremonies held within Manningham should be directed to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation. A Welcome to Country is a paid service and can be arranged by submitting an online booking request form.

An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement a speaker makes at the beginning of an event to acknowledge the traditional owners.

You can find out more about an Acknowledgement of Country at the Reconciliation Australia Website.

Helpful links

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Services

Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council

Mullum Mullum First Nations Gathering Place

Reconciliation Manningham

Reconciliation Victoria

Reconciliation Australia

Koorie Heritage Trust

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria

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