We aim to support resident-led projects which are fun, social and inclusive. What is Social Health and Inclusion Port (SHIP)? SHIP is a five year initiative that brings together local residents and organisations to improve health and wellbeing in Port Melbourne by working with the local community on four priority areas: physical activity, healthy eating, social connections and access to health services. In partnership with local residents and organisations, we aim to achieve health and wellbeing for all by building on the good things about Port Melbourne, and the great work already being done by a wide range of people. We seek to engage and work with the whole Port Melbourne community to address the health and wellbeing issues that are important to them, whilst focusing on those people who are at greater risk of poor health. Historically Port Melbourne is a working class suburb, however it has seen rapid change in the last 20 years, with an 88% increase in population over this time. A large number of professional, high income people now make the suburb their home, whilst at the same time there is a higher proportion of people living in public and social housing than most of the other suburbs in the City of Port Phillip. This offers a picture of a suburb of people with great diversity. The future of Port Melbourne is predicted to be significantly impacted by the recently announced Fishermans Bend development, with the area again expected to rapidly increase in population and create further change. What do we want to do? We aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Port Melbourne by focusing on the four priority areas identified by the Port Melbourne community- physical activity, healthy eating, social connections and access to health services. Our goals are:
More Active, More Often
Healthy Eating for All
Inclusive and Connected Neighbourhoods
Affordable and Accessible Health Services
Social Health and Inclusion Port is an initiative of Inner South Community Health in partnership with local residents and the following organisations: City of Port Phillip, Victorian Department of Human Services, Port Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre, Port Melbourne Primary School, Port Phillip Community Group, St.Kilda Youth Service, SouthPort Community Housing, SouthPort DayLinks and SouthPort Uniting Care. The main funder of SHIP is Inner South Community Health through the Victorian Department of Health’s Integrated Health Promotion funding.
