By Staff Writer

Council initiatives promoting healthy living are eligible to receive grants of up to $80,000 from NSW Health.

The newly announced Healthy Communities grant scheme, coordinated by the Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales (LGSA) and funded by the NSW Department of Health, will provide up to $20,000 for individual councils and up to $80,000 for regional organisations of councils (ROCs) across the state.

Local Government Association president Genia McCaffery said councils had worked hard to encourage and support active and healthy lifestyles despite limited funding.

“The Healthy Communities grant scheme fills this void and helps councils bring their important health initiatives to life,” Cr McCaffery said.

To be eligible for the grant, initiatives must address at least one of the state health priorities: healthy weight; responsible drinking; tobacco control; and falls prevention for older people.

Initiatives must also focus on communities vulnerable to poor health, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, rural and regional communities, disadvantaged urban areas, low socioeconomic areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.