Dass Konflikte durch Kommunikation und nicht durch Gewalt gelöst werden sollen, wird mit dem Welt-Hallo-Tag am 21. November 2024 verdeutlicht. Der Aktionstag wird auch World ...

By AIDAN KNIGHT   HELLO, it’s me. This is the message marking a new age for the Latrobe Health Assembly in 2026. The recently-transitioned not-for-profit recently ran a community open day, as part of it’s “Hello” campaign, from its new offices on Church Street, Morwell. First launched in 2019, the “Hello” campaign is a community-led initiative that uses the simple power of a greeting to spark social connection and combat the burden of loneliness across the Latrobe Valley. Hello Day took place on Wednesday June 3, and saw the assembly welcome the community and partners to celebrate the launch of its 2026–2029 strategic plan (which details a renewed commitment to local health needs and acting as a visible connector to health services). For the past eight years, the assembly has focused on putting local voices and lived experience at the centre of decision-making. LHA Chair Tanya Rong emphasised that the organisation’s new status as an independent entity is a testament to the “resilience and strength” of the Latrobe Valley community. She noted that the strong support shown at the open day proves the assembly is not alone in its mission to improve local health outcomes. A significant development in this new chapter is the assembly’s formal registration as a health promotion charity, which includes endorsement as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). This status allows the LHA to apply for philanthropic funding and accept donations for the first time. These contributions are already having an impact; for instance, a recent donation from Traralgon Rotary is being used to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training to Year 8 and Year 10 students across the Valley. LHA Executive Officer Ellen-Jane Browne remarked that while the foundations for a community-led assembly have been laid over the last six months, “the hard work has just begun” to ensure better health outcomes. The assembly remains committed to the “long game,” building the necessary partnerships and funding to address the fact that health outcomes in the Latrobe Valley currently remain at the lower end of the scale. The assembly’s strategic plan can be viewed at: www.latrobehealthassembly.org.au

ALT: a white cat is laying on its back on the floor and says `` hello . hello ... ''