Who’s it gonna hurt? named 2019 VicHealth Award Winner

Wodonga Council’s Who’s It Gonna Hurt was one of 12 winning Victorian organisations recognised for outstanding efforts to improve the health of communities right across Victoria at the 2019 VicHealth Awards.

The VicHealth Awards have been celebrating the outstanding achievements in health promotion for more than 20 years, with this year’s awards seeing a record number of nominees.

Who’s It Gonna Hurt campaign aimed to improve the drinking culture within male blue collar workers aged 33 to 55 years in Wodonga by improving physical and social environments.

Wodonga Council recognised the detrimental role alcohol played in incidents of personal injury, family violence, road trauma, crime and personal health and wellbeing in Wodonga.

The project Steering Committee agreed to focus the initiative on men aged 35 to 55 years who work in manufacturing, processing, construction and other similar areas.

Manager Community Planning and Well-being Claire Taylor said taking out a VicHealth Award for the preventing harm from alcohol category is a great honour and reinforces the importance of health promotion work in improving the health and wellbeing of Victorians.

VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said the VicHealth Awards recognise the incredible impact these organisations have on the health and wellbeing of Victorians.

“The VicHealth Awards give us the opportunity to recognise the organisations like Wodonga Council who are doing wonderful work in local communities across the state,” Dr Demaio said.

“Who’s It Gonna Hurt? and the eleven other winners, are all working incredibly hard to ensure that Victorians have access to the support they need to live happy, healthy lives regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality or postcode.

“We need to celebrate the efforts of the winners, finalists and the record number of organisations who entered this year’s awards for the work they do each and every day to improve the health and wellbeing of people in their communities.”

The VicHealth Awards are the state’s highest accolade for health promotion, recognising the efforts of local grassroots projects, state-wide campaigns and everything in between.

Learn more about Who’s It Gonna Hurt? here.

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