Gavin Prendergast(ACON) talks about the challenges of achieving effective health promotion engagement with a geographically dispersed population. This presentation was given at the AFAO/NAPWA Gay Men's HIV Health Promotion Conference in May 2012.

2. The little Red Car
Achieving effective health promotion
engagement with a geographically
dispersed population.

3. Greater Western Sydney
Presenter: Gavin Prendergast

4. Two and a half million people
Stretches over 9,000 square kms
Comparable to Melbourne in size

5. LHDs

6. History
Parramatta Office
Wentwothville office
Transition from bricks and mortar and a team
To one worker one car

7. New obstacles/challenges
Immense geographic area
Isolation
ACONs history

8. So what are the principles of community development?
Building the knowledge and abilities of individuals, through
leadership , services and supports, and skills development
Creating relationships among community through which they share
emotional, psychological, and material support and can mobilize
for collective action
Strengthening community institutions—from formal public
institutions and private enterprises to informal networks,
associations, and religious, civic, or cultural groups—so they can
respond to local concerns and promote general well-being
Creating links between institutions so they can work collectively
to improve the community

9. ACON strategic plan

10. It was time to rethink how
we operate in the West
PARTNERSHIPS AND PERMISSION are vital
We moved away from the model where
acon was central to the west, now we play
a collaborative role.

11. How I operate today

12. •Utilise existing groups
•Interagencies
•Community Groups
•Local Health Districts

13. Use existing premises
• Churches
• Councils
• Clubs and pubs
• SOPVs

14. Be visible at events
• Social dances
• Pride picnic
• IDAHO
• Gatherings

15. Be heard
•Radio show
•Social media

16. Benefits of partnership work
•Existing trust •History with the
•Cheaper
•Less time intensive
locals
•Improved relationship with the
Fostering deep community
•Higher public profile
relationships
•Pool resources and
skills

17. Lessons learnt; Key to
sustainability and connection
• Wait to be invited in
• Work collaboratively
• Use existing networks
• Nurture these relationships
• Utilize social media

19. The following principles are used as a guide when thinking about community
development
Inclusiveness – Provide the wider community with opportunities to meaningfully
participate in
information gathering, planning, direction setting and decision making regarding
outcomes that affect the communities’ development. An ultimate goal is
that communities would drive this process.
Collaboration – Establish and foster partnerships that aim to achieve positive
outcomes for all residents. Council aims to assist communities in finding
solutions to issues that are important to the lives of individuals, families and
communities. This includes developing networks between people,
encouraging different communities to work together and building
relationships with and between those different communities.
Capacity building – Support and strengthen individuals, families and
communities to identify
needs and develop solutions at a local level. This may involve advocacy,
empowerment, education,
awareness raising and distribution of resources to individuals and communities.
Equity – Ensure that opportunities and resources available to the community are
distributed in a just
and equitable manner according to community needs. In addition, all
communities should have the
right to access all Council services and resources without discrimination.

20. Community building is not an abstract concept; it contains concrete
elements.
Based largely on the experiences of the last decade, practitioners and
other change agents have defined community building as
encompassing the following core activities:
We need to ensure individuals, communities and networks are connected
with one another by:
• Providing opportunities for people to meaningfully participate in decision
making processes that affect their community.
• Supporting individuals and communities through the provision of
resources and fostering of partnerships between individuals and within
communities.
• Assisting with the development of strong and resilient communities that
have the ability to identify and meet the communities’ needs, achieve
self-reliance, contribute to solutions and support their own advocacy
efforts.