The Central Highlands Prevention Lab (the lab) was created in response to the growing public health crisis and its impact on communities across our region, and a compelling groundswell of support for action from regional leaders, government, industry and the local community. The Central Highlands Regional Partnership (CHRP) 2016 General Assembly identified the long-term health outcomes of our populations as a top priority.

Health Futures Australia is partnering with the CHRP and the Department of Health and Human Services under the guidance of the CHRP Health Steering Group.

The lab brings people together to co-design a community-led effort to tackle preventable chronic disease and increase healthy eating and physical activity across our communities by reimagining a healthy future and our community’s investment in prevention.

The lab uses a social innovation approach to guide transformative social change. It brings together leaders from across sectors and across our region to co-design local solutions – new interventions and sustainable investment models – that ready and shift the system towards a new place-based model of community wellbeing for all.

Mini-labs include a place-based Community Lab, a Champions for Change Lab, a Leadership Lab and a Finance and Investment Lab. They are designed to lead targeted change cohorts who are ready to unite and work together to redesign a healthy future.