The NEPHN – Population Health meeting held in September 2025 focused on Improving Health Outcomes for Priority Populations: NEPHU Priority Populations Grants Program 2023–25, highlighting initiatives funded through the grants program and showcasing approaches to improving health outcomes for priority populations across the region.
Jayde Petrie, Youth Development Officer from the Yarra Ranges Council presented on their Sexual and Reproductive Health Project, a holistic, wrap-around approach to increase the sexual health literacy, safe sexual and reproductive health practices, and help-seeking behaviour of young people. The presentation highlighted the effectiveness of professional development aligned with curriculum requirements in engaging leadership and stakeholders in schools and other settings. An emphasis on tangible outcomes, such as providing practical resources to participants, was identified as a key motivator for participation. Yarra Ranges Council noted that the next steps include seeking further funding opportunities and continuing collaboration with school nurses to support ongoing learning and access to essential resources.
Heti Mackallah, Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion Officer from Women’s Health In the North, presented the Pleasure for Every Body: Accessible and Inclusive Intimacy project, which provides accessible and inclusive intimacy education for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities. The presentation highlighted that accessibility varies widely, making flexible options in venue, participation, and resources are essential. While venues were accessible, the lack of access keys was a limitation. Participants would benefit from deeper foundational learning through longer or series-based workshops. Strong community collaboration, early resource allocation for accessibility, and pleasure-focused, strengths-based approaches were key to project success. The workshops demonstrated clear ongoing demand and the importance of affirming sexual and reproductive health rights through inclusive, community-led initiatives.
North Richmond Community Health presented on Richmond Market – Partnerships and Sustainability: Thriving beyond the grant. The presentation, delivered by Health Promotion Coordinator, Modester Mpofu, described the evolution of the Richmond Community Market from a pop-up initiative to a permanent market, highlighting the importance of partnerships, sustainability, and community engagement. In collaboration with The Community Grocer, a feasibility study played a key role in documenting community need, clarifying partner roles, and guiding sustainability. The market now operates weekly, promoting healthy eating, social connection, and community engagement, while continuing to explore additional funding and expanded access options to ensure long-term sustainability.
Your Community Health followed with a presentation on the Naarm Tiddas project, a community-led cooking program supporting Aboriginal women through culturally safe cooking sessions and nutrition education. Sharon Bamblett (Manager of Aboriginal Health), Ju-Lin Lee (Dietetics, Diabetes Education and Community Nursing Coordinator), and Annie Grant (Community Partnerships Advisor) shared insights into the program’s development and impact. Focused on traditional foods, cultural connection and intergenerational knowledge sharing, the co-designed program has strengthened participants’ food knowledge, cooking confidence and social connection. The initiative continues to grow, and the creation of a participant-developed cookbook captures the recipes, culture, stories and knowledge shared throughout the program.
The session concluded with a discussion reflecting on cross-program learnings, sustainability, and strategies to enhance engagement and accessibility for priority populations. Key themes included the importance of culturally safe approaches, collaboration across organisations, and building programs that provide tangible outcomes and ongoing support for participants.
