Shelley Craft hits the road to drive health education in regional northern NSW

Australian TV personality and co-host of The Block, Shelley Craft, is hitting the road with Dr Lisa Beecham to bring health education to her local regional communities in northern New South Wales (NSW).

The Healthy Ageing Roadshow, brought to life by GSK Australia and The Country Women's Association (CWA) of NSW, aims to support Australians living in regional communities to learn about healthy ageing. The roadshow will visit CWA branches in Wauchope, Coffs Harbour, Maclean and Kyogle from Tuesday 30 July to Thursday 1 August 2024.

Specialist General Practitioner, Dr Lisa Beecham, will join Shelley Craft in discussion to unpack key health topics including the effects of age-related immunity decline (ARDI), having better conversations with your doctors, managing chronic conditions and viral diseases, as well as the importance of nutrition, exercise, well-being and community connections.

Australians who are living in regional communities experience health inequities that see poorer health outcomes, higher risk of disease and injury, greater disease burden, shorter lifespans as well as significant challenges in accessing health services, compared to Australians living in metropolitan areas.¹

While most medical services in regional areas are delivered by general practitioners (GPs), the number of GPs with procedural skills in regional locations has declined significantly over the past 15 years.² The roadshow aims to create important opportunities for regional Australians interested in healthy ageing to find out more about how to help maintain your health as you age.

Shelley Craft, who is a northern NSW local, says that tapping into the knowledge of health experts, like Dr Beecham, is key to empowering ageing, rather than shying away from it.

"As someone who is approaching 50, I am passionate about empowering a healthy approach to getting older - one that moves away from negativity and fear to celebrating and embracing this exciting life stage. Knowledge and information are key to this," said Shelley.

"Healthy ageing is not about anti-ageing. Ageing is inevitable and we each have the power to better understand and enjoy all the wonderful things that come with getting older. Supporting not only physical health, but your mental and emotional wellbeing, are a part of living well at any stage of life," she said.

"The Healthy Ageing Roadshow brings health information and support to regional communities where it is needed. I am excited to share my personal experiences and insights to support others on their ageing journeys - no matter their age," she said.

Across Australia, data shows that people living in regional areas:

• Have a lower life expectancy and a higher likelihood of death from a preventable illness.¹ On average, people living in regional and rural local health districts (LHDs) live 2.2 years less than people in metropolitan LHDs (81.3 years compared with 83.5 years, respectively).²
• Experience higher rates of chronic conditions including arthritis, cancer and mental and behavioural conditions.¹
• Experience a higher burden of disease and injury, measured by years of healthy life lost through premature death or living with ill health.¹ The total burden was lowest in major cities (174 disability-adjusted life years per 1,000 population) rising to 200 and 204 for inner and outer regional areas.¹

According to Danica Leys, CEO of The Country Women's Association of NSW, the roadshow is an example of how community-level initiatives can drive health education with practical advice and resources.

"Regional communities face unique health challenges. By bringing comprehensive health information directly to our regional communities with the Healthy Ageing Roadshow, we hope to support our members in northern NSW, and the broader community, in addressing some of the individual challenges they may experience head-on," said Danica.

Alan Paul, Executive Country Medical Director, said that this campaign harnesses a shared focus on positively impacting our communities.

"GSK Australia is committed to improving the health and quality of life of all Australians, including those living in regional areas. We are pleased to play a small role in supporting the broader work of The Country Women's Association of NSW in enhancing the lives of local communities in regional NSW and beyond," said Alan.

ENDS

Healthy Ageing Roadshow event itinerary

The Healthy Ageing Roadshow is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd (GSK).

About The Country Women's Association of NSW
The NSW Country Women's Association (CWA) is the largest women's organisation in Australia, dedicated to improving the conditions for country women and children through advocacy, education, and community support.

About GSK

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company. For further information please visit https://au.gsk.com/en-au/

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2024, Rural and remote health. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/rural-remote-australians/rural-and-remote-health (accessed June 2024)
2. NSW Health 2023, NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022-2032. Available at: regional-health-strategic-plan.pdf (nsw.gov.au) (accessed June 2024)

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