United Nations Sustainable Development
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Health outreach programmes. Deliver outreach programmes and projects in the local community (which can include student volunteering programmes) to improve or promote health and well-being including hygiene, nutrition, family planning, sports, exercise, aging well, and other health and well-being related topics. This can also include outreach programmes to displaced or refugee communities local to the institution.
UniSC is deeply committed to improving health and well-being in the local community through a variety of outreach programs.
These initiatives often involve student volunteers who gain valuable hands-on experience while making a positive impact. For example, UniSC’s postgraduate health promotion programs focus on educating the community about essential topics such as hygiene, nutrition, and family planning. By organizing workshops and seminars, the university helps to raise awareness and provide practical advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to general health education, UniSC places a strong emphasis on promoting physical activity and sports. The university’s sports and exercise science programs frequently collaborate with local schools and community groups to encourage active living. These partnerships often result in community sports events, fitness classes, and exercise programs tailored to different age groups, from children to seniors. Such initiatives not only improve physical health but also foster a sense of community and well-being.
UniSC run a range of Health Clinics that are open to the public and provide services that are overseen by appropriately qualified and experienced professional while providing opportunities for students to gain practical experience at various stages of their studies.
Clinics include:
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Living Well Occupational Therapy
- Psychology
- Community Counselling
UniSC also addresses the unique health needs of displaced and refugee communities in the region. Through targeted outreach programs, the university provides support and resources to help these vulnerable populations access healthcare services and improve their overall well-being. This includes offering health screenings, mental health support, and educational workshops on topics like nutrition and disease prevention. By focusing on these communities, UniSC demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and social responsibility.
UniSC’s outreach efforts extend to ageing well programs, which aim to enhance the quality of life for older adults. These programs often involve collaborations with local healthcare providers and community organizations to offer services such as health assessments, fitness classes, and social activities designed to promote healthy ageing. By addressing the specific needs of the elderly, UniSC helps to ensure that all members of the community have the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Some examples include:
- UniSC’s Gympie Campus Healthy Ageing and Community Care Hub: With a focus on gerontology and age-related research, the Hub provides nursing, and social and human services students with knowledge and practical skills required in the aged care sector, in collaboration with industry partners. It also holds healthy ageing and community care symposiums and workshops to build capacity and increase collaboration across the region’s aged care, home care and volunteer carer sectors.
- Lifestyle Risk Factors for Chronic Disease Across the Stages of Reproductive Ageing in Women: This exciting new research aims to better understand lifestyle risk factors including body composition, inflammation, and cognition before, during, and after menopause.
- Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic: The UniSC Thompson Institute research is the first to investigate the mechanisms underlying healthy brain ageing through integrating neuroimaging and biomarker analysis to determine the cause of cognitive decline. It also offers lifestyle programs aimed at reducing this risk.
- My Active and Healthy Ageing: UniSC is the only Australian partner in this global research project that seeks to develop a monitoring and intervention system to slow or even reverse the progression of frailty among older adults.
- Making Retirement Great Symposium: In June 2023, Sandgate Men's Shed hosted a Symposium featuring a number of guest speakers and covering a wide range of topics. These related to four main areas of Men's Health interest being Mental, Physical, Social and Economic Health. Over 120 attendees were at the symposium which was sponsored and hosted at UniSC's Moreton Bay campus.
- Healthy Ageing and Community Care research project: UniSC has partnered with health care and aged care sectors, and the communities they support, to deliver better outcomes through research that incorporates elements of care of older persons, including promotion and preventative care, rehabilitation, chronic disease management, residential and home-dwelling aged care, and research of aged care educational and workforce issues.
Summary
UniSC delivers numerous outreach programs and projects in the local community to improve or promote health and well-being.