Healthy Loddon Campaspe was developed in response to the region showing higher than Victorian average rates of obesity, chronic disease and high-risk health behaviours.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe (HLC) projects are designed to focus on those parts of the community that are the least supported to help encourage healthy eating and get more people, more active, more often.
There are six local Councils involved in the initiative:
- Campaspe Shire
- Central Goldfields Shire
- City of Greater Bendigo
- Loddon Shire
- Macedon Ranges Shire
- Mount Alexander Shire
Health Brokers
A mix of place-based and regional specialists work to influence and impact local and regional systems.
The place-based Health Broker in Mount Alexander Shire delivers activation projects, builds strong partnerships with others in the region, helps shape policies and plans to focus on health priorities, and supports organisations to learn and help make health everyone’s business.
Activation
Activation projects focus on creating healthy spaces, places and practices that support an increase in physical activity and healthy eating, particularly among target populations.
Place-based activation projects are designed based on community-level data and local stakeholder and community engagement. Projects are outcome focused and aim to advance equity, create opportunities for scale-up and keep sustainability front of mind.
Data and research-driven approach
Place-based data collection helps inform planning, project delivery, funding opportunities, and support research and collaborations. A key component of this approach is the Active Living Census, a unique region-wide survey that gathers data about the health and wellbeing of residents.
The 2025 Active Living Census reinforces the importance of initiatives such as Healthy Loddon Campaspe in supporting healthier communities.
With more than 8,200 people across the region participating, the census provides valuable local data to guide future planning and investment. This evidence helps ensure programs and services are informed by the needs and experiences of local communities. For more information and to view the report visit www.healthyloddoncampaspe.au/alc.
Visit the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website www.healthyloddoncampaspe.au for more information.
The ALC is a region-wide survey conducted by Healthy Loddon Campaspe that asks residents in our region about their health, wellbeing and daily activities.
With 8,244 respondents across the Loddon Campaspe region, aged 3 years and over, took part in the 2025 ALC, providing the region with detailed data about our communities' health and wellbeing. With 859 respondents from Mount Alexander Shire.
Key findings for Mount Alexander Shire
These findings reflect the data collected from all residents aged 3 years and above, unless otherwise specified.
Strengths: Higher physical activity levels and lower overweight/obesity, smoking and vaping than Victorian benchmarks.
Challenges: Higher risky alcohol use, food insecurity, poor health and low life satisfaction than Victorian benchmarks.
Key barriers identified by respondents: Costs, time, preference/habit, quality and poor health/disability limit participation in healthy behaviours.
Adults’ Health Behaviours (compared to benchmarks)
Positive indicators
- Smoking: 9.9% compared to 13.9% (2023 Victorian Population Health Survey - VPHS)
- Vaping: 2.7% compared to 7.2% (2023 VPHS)
- Muscle strengthening exercise: 53.3% compared to 24.5% (2022 National Health Survey - NHS)
- Physical activity: 77.2% compared to 52.9% (2023 VPHS)
- Overweight/obesity: 58.6% compared to 65.3% (2023 NHS)
Key areas of concern
- Risky alcohol consumption: 56.8% compared to 41.3% (2023 VPHS)
- Fair/poor health: 26.8% compared to 13% (2023 NHS)
- Low/medium life satisfaction: 29.0% compared to 21.9% (2023 VPHS)
Physical activity and environment
- 70.2% said it is easy to be active in their local area
- 20.4% walk for transportation daily
- 21.5% cycle for transportation weekly
- 54.3% use public open spaces weekly
- 74.6% use footpaths weekly
- 54.2% exceed recommended recreational screen time
- Adults are less likely to be as active as they want to be
Health and wellbeing
Diet and food security
- 56.3% meet fruit intake guidelines
- 11.1% meet vegetable intake recommendations
- 24.5% meet recommended water intake
- 6.4% consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily
- 21.7% of adults experience some food insecurity, 9.1% have low/very low food security
Wellbeing
- Obesity: 18.3% of adults and 10% children
- Fair/poor health: 26.8% adult and 5.2% children
- 25.3% of adults have poor mental wellbeing
- 11.1% of adults report low life satisfaction
- 20.3% of adults feel not valued by society
The 2025 Active Living Census reports for LGA's and the regional findings can be found on the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website.
Contact your Healthy Loddon Campaspe Simone Hooppell at s.hooppell@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or email hlc@bendigo.vic.gov.au.