Creativity for a healthy future

13 September 2024

Next Wave team members promoted their arts initiative at the VicHealth showcase.
Next Wave team members promoted their arts initiative at the VicHealth showcase.

Initiatives to encourage and support Victorians to lead healthy lives have been showcased at Parliament House.

VicHealth, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, organised the exhibition during parliament’s latest sitting week to highlight the work they and partner organisations undertake to support health and wellbeing, particularly among young Victorians. 

‘It's really wonderful seeing the passion and initiative that young people bring to the programs we support them with,’ said Lisa Ohlmus, VicHealth’s Policy and Government Relations Manager.

’Young people are so motivated and passionate about the world that they live in and about ways to connect with each other and live healthy lives,’ she said.

‘It's vital to give them the opportunity to have a voice in their health and wellbeing.’

The various programs featured at the showcase included ‘This Girl Can’, inspiring women to get active; ‘Uncloud’, bringing together a collective of young people fighting against vaping; and ‘Future Reset’, focusing on young people, arts and mental wellbeing.

The showcase included a panel discussion with students and members of parliament.

‘VicHealth provides funding for us to be able to support early-career practitioners, particularly artists who due to being marginalised have not been able to necessarily find an easy path through the arts sector,’ said Jacina Leong, Acting CEO and Director at Next Wave, one of nine arts organisations participating in 'Future Reset'.

The program is aimed at enhancing mental wellbeing through art and creativity, with young people leading the charge. It supports a range of youth-led events, installations and other creative projects across Victoria.

‘Future Reset really came about in a post-COVID climate, recognising that there was a lot of social disconnect and isolation, particularly amongst young people,’ Ms Leong said.

‘We believe that the arts provide a way of bringing people together.’

Members of parliament took the opportunity to engage with the various exhibitors at the showcase, with many signing a pledge to support the health and wellbeing of young Victorians.

Members of parliament signed a health pledge at the showcase.

‘It’s about understanding the importance of young people and their role in leading healthy lives and creating a healthy future by listening to those voices,’ Lisa Ohlmus said.

‘Because they've got a lot of insight and a lot of wisdom, and they can set us up on a better course for tomorrow.’