Manildra announced as Building Healthy Communities Challenge champion
Western NSW Local Health District’s Health Promotion team is delighted to announce Manildra as the winner of the inaugural Building Healthy Communities Challenge, recognising the town’s efforts to improve health and wellbeing through community collaboration.
The challenge encourages smaller communities across the region to take ownership of their health priorities by designing, implementing and coordinating grassroots initiatives that drive long-term, sustainable change.
Western NSW Local Health District Health Promotion Coordinator Hayley Vaughan said Manildra was crowned the champion town by an independent judging panel, for its locally-led campaign focused on increasing physical activity and fostering stronger social connections.
“Manildra has shown tremendous commitment, creativity and collaboration in tackling some of the key health challenges facing their community, and it was a real pleasure to see how their initial plan developed throughout the challenge,” Ms Vaughan.
“Manildra’s initiative has delivered range of physical and mental health activities supported by local professionals and organisations and accessible to everyone, to encourage regular exercise and strengthen community connections.
“From walking and swimming groups, to yoga and fitness classes or health assessments and mental health education sessions, all the activities were tailored to individuals to help build practical and regular patterns into day-to-day life.”
As the champion town, Manildra will now receive an additional $4,000 in funding assistance as well as further support from the Health Promotion team, to continue developing the initiative with the aim of embedding it into the community long term.
Ms Vaughan also congratulated this year’s second finalist, Grenfell. Grenfell’s initiative focused on establishing a comprehensive and inclusive program to address nutrition and local access to fresh produce by establishing community garden beds.
“Grenfell’s initiative brought people together to grow and share fresh produce, promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening connections across generations, from primary school kids to elderly residents at the Multipurpose Service,” Ms Vaughan said.
“It had support from a range of local experts and organisations with a focus on building knowledge and appreciate of traditional Aboriginal foods, all while helping improve access to produce by donating what was grown to the local food hall.
“The fundamental aim of the challenge was to help our communities build the skills they need to deliver these programs beyond the challenge period. The ingenuity both towns showed was impressive, and I’m confident both initiatives will be sustained.
Western NSW Local Health District’s Health Promotion Officer Karen Lloyd said preparations have now begun for the second edition of the challenge, which has been expanded ahead of expressions of interest opening in June.
“We’re thrilled to say we have built on the success of the first edition. This time, up to $15,000 in funding support will be available for the champion town,” Ms Lloyd said.
“We invite communities with populations of up to 5,000 people across Western NSW LHD to express their interest. Community initiatives big or small can make a real difference in helping people take control of their health.”
An expression of interest period will be held from 1 June, with applications open between 1 July and 8 August. Applications will then be reviewed, and the two successful finalists will be notified. The challenge period will run between 1 September 2025 and 1 April 2026.
Any person or organisation interested in taking part, or seeking more information on the application guidelines or the challenge can contact the district’s Health Promotion Team on WNSWLHD-HealthPromotion@health.nsw.gov.au.