Healthy Canberra Grants to reduce harm from risky behaviours

Healthy Canberra Grants are now open for projects that will focus on reducing the harms associated with risky behaviours such as drinking, smoking and unsafe sex.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said while on average Canberrans enjoy one of the highest standards of health and wellbeing in the world, many are living with preventable chronic diseases.

“This latest $1.3 million funding round will help improve the health of Canberrans, including by tackling sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and supporting programs aimed at reducing risky behaviours,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“As we continue on the pathway to a new COVID-normal life, the ACT Government is seeking innovative initiatives aimed at addressing risk-taking behaviours in our community.

“We know that various risk-taking behaviours have been associated with poor health outcomes, including smoking tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption and unsafe sex. The good news is that the harms associated with risky behaviours can be prevented and early detection and intervention can reset pathways and minimise ongoing harm.”

Healthy Canberra Grants contribute to the Government’s goals outlined in the Healthy Canberra: ACT Preventive Health Plan 2020-2025, which sets the foundations for reducing chronic disease and supporting good health across all stages of life.

The grants provide funding for programs that support community-based activities to improve the health of Canberrans.

“The most recent Healthy Canberra Grants round focused on social connection and managing chronic illness and funded initiatives such as recovery and wellbeing through nature, work with refugees and asylum seekers to reduce the impact of chronic illness and creating a peer-led network for people with a spinal cord injury,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“In this round, we expect to see our community sector partners bring forward programs aimed at reducing risky behaviours with a focus on prevention, education and support.”

Applications are open now and will close on 10 December 2021.

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