Health and Wellbeing Queensland

Last updated

Health and Wellbeing Queensland
Health and Wellbeing Queensland logo.png
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2019 (2019-07-01) [1]
Jurisdiction Queensland Government
MottoMaking healthy happen
Annual budgetDecrease2.svgA$43.3 million (2023–24) [2]
Agency executives
  • Stephen Ryan, Board Chair
  • Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive [3]
Website hw.qld.gov.au

Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQ) is a statutory agency in Queensland, Australia, responsible for health promotion in the state. HWQ is part of the Queensland Government but is distinct from the Queensland Health system. Formed on 1 July 2019 through the Health and Wellbeing Queensland Act 2019, the agency has the objective of improving the health of all Queenslanders through reducing the burden of chronic diseases and health inequality. [1] Health and Wellbeing Queensland does not provide clinical services to Queenslanders directly, but instead funds health initiatives and programs and helps guide health policy development.

Contents

Programs and initiatives

Health and Wellbeing Queensland runs or supports several programs aimed at improving the health of Queenslanders. Broadly, these programs are:

Boost your Healthy

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Health and Wellbeing Queensland launched the Boost your Healthy initiative. The initiative, joined by the social media tag #BootCampQld, aims to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and improve wellbeing of Queenslanders during lockdowns and restrictions. As part of this initiative, the agency partnered with the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) to provide healthy cooking challenges to participants. [13] The agency also joined 10,000 Steps, the Australian health promotion organisation of CQUniversity, in creating a collective 1 billion steps goal for Queenslanders during lockdown. Over 32 days, 5,874 Queenslanders from 320 postcodes logged 1.05 billion steps. [14]

Funding

Funding for Health and Wellbeing Queensland comes from the Queensland Parliament through annual appropriations in the state budget. [15]

Between 2020 and 2024, the Queensland Budget will also provide A$158.6 million in funding to establish the agency, A$133.4 million of which is from appropriations within Queensland Health. The remaining funding from the Queensland Government is to establish and operate the Deadly Choices Health Lifestyle Program, which will attract A$8.6 million in funding to the agency every year. [15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Health and Wellbeing Queensland Act 2019". Queensland Legislation. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "Annual Report 2023-24" (PDF). Health and Wellbeing Queensland. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  3. "Message from the CEO". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  4. "Life Education". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. "Good Sports Healthy Eating". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. "Heart Foundation Walking". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  7. "Jamies Ministry of Food". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  8. "10,000 Steps Program". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. "Get Healthy Service". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. "Healthy Tuckshop Service". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. "What is Deadly Choices?". Deadly Choices. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. "QCWA Country Kitchens". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  13. "Boost your Healthy". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. "10,000 Steps". Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Budget Measures (Budget Paper 4)" (PDF). Queensland Budget. 2019. p. 116. Retrieved 14 July 2020.