TranslatePriority areas
There are seven priorities for action under the Working in Health Promoting Ways Framework.
- More active communities, more active people
- Nutritious, safe and affordable food
- Positive mental health and wellbeing
- Less use and harm from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
- Safer environments to reduce personal harm
- Positive sexual health and wellbeing
- People are empowered to improve their health and wellbeing
These action areas contribute to the central goal of wellness – where a stronger and better coordinated effort will lead to bigger gains in health, particularly for communities experiencing an unfair burden of disease.
Wellness
Wellness is the best possible state of health for individuals and communities (World Health Organisation). It allows people to fulfil their roles within their families and communities. A wellness approach nurtures and sustains health and wellbeing. It does this by considering the whole person in the context of their daily life.
The difference between wellness and wellbeing
Wellness:
- A mindset and a way to support healthy, independent living and improve community wellbeing.
- It builds on people’s strengths and their potential to be healthy.
- Even with frailty, chronic illness or disability, people have the desire and capacity to improve their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
Wellbeing:
- All the things people need to lead a good life, such as the physical, mental and social things that affect peoples’ lives.
- A person can reach the best possible level of health by understanding how to maintain and improve each of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
Eight dimensions of wellness
Building an understanding of the importance of self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner strength.
Inspiring a lifestyle that is respectful of our surroundings promoting interaction with nature and our personal environment.
Learning how to successfully manage financial expenses.
Participating in creative and mentally stimulating activities developed through scholastic, cultural and community activities and personal hobbies.
Enjoying work and appreciating personal contributions.
Maintaining a healthy body and seeking care when needed. Overall physical wellness encourages the balance of physical activity, nutrition and mental well-being while nurturing personal responsibility for our own health.
Building healthy, nurturing, supportive and intimate relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around us.
Developing values that help seek meaning and purpose. Spirituality can be represented through various factors including faith, values, ethics and morals.
Improving health and wellbeing – what matters to Tasmanians
- A place to call home.
- Feeling safe.
- Social connection.
- A healthy mind and body.
- Ways of getting around.
- Enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table.
- A good education including life skills.
- A strong, caring community.
- A helping hand.
- Relationship skills.
- Protected green spaces.
- Having a say.
- Whole-of-life thinking.
Source: TasCOSS the Good Life
