Healthy Great Green Way

Overview of the Program

The Healthier Great Green Way (HGGW) project is one of the place based initiatives under the Queensland Strategy for Chronic Disease (2005-2015). The three agencies involved in the collaborative are Mamu, Queensland Health and Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice. The aim of the project is to develop new ways of working which engage a range of public and private providers in partnership to address the health needs of the local population. The HGGW project is a genuine, district-wide collaboration providing multi-disciplinary care for individuals living with, or at risk of developing, chronic illness.

The HGGW initiative provides several services across the Innisfail Health Service District including health promotion activities, primary school health promotion nurse, mens health and programs targeting smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity. All community members are entitled to utilise educational, exercise, therapeutic and health promotional programs. Clients can be referred by any health service provider or they can self-refer.

The project is able to offer allied health services including dietetics, diabetes education, exercise physiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology and social work. Individual consultation is available for clients living with one or more of the four targeted chronic illnesses: cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, renal disease and respiratory disease, as well as psychosocial adjustment issues (e.g. depression, anxiety) associated with a chronic illness. Clients must be referred by a general practitioner or medical officer.

The HGGW also runs rehabilitation programs including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. These are six and eight week programs, respectively, and include education and exercise components. Clients must be referred by a general practitioner or medical officer.

For clients who do not have one of the targeted chronic diseases, or who do not require individual assistance, educational programs including Lighten Up, Diabetes Refresher courses, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Fresh Start and Tai Chi are available. These programs specifically target the 4 risk factors associated with the targeted chronic diseases; Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical Activity. All health professionals can refer to these programs.

Indigenous health workers are available across the district to provide Adult Health Checks to indigenous clients. They are also able to work with therapists and assist them to provide a more culturally-appropriate service to indigenous clients.

The HGGW also has a registered nurse who is available to provide backfill to general practice nurses to enable them to enhance practice chronic disease processes.

Who can I contact for more information?

Consultations will take place across the Innisfail Health Service District with the main office located at 180 Edith Street, Innisfail. Any queries may be directed to the Healthier Great Green Way clinic on (07) 4061 9177.

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