SWSPHN joins partnership aimed at enabling community to become more physically active
27 May 2025
The benefits of exercise to mental health and diabetes management were stressed during a presentation by Alyssa Horgan from SWSPHN’s Integration and Priority Populations (IPP) team, at Thursday’s (22 May) Liverpool Local Active Partnership bi-monthly meeting.
Alyssa (pictured) had the opportunity to talk about the cost of inactivity, its benefits and the role played by primary carers, and the SWSPHN programs which support mental health and diabetes management, as well as network with stakeholders interested in health, activity and sport, at the event.
Attendees included representatives from the Heart Foundation, South Western Sydney Local Health District, the Western Sydney Health Alliance, community and local sporting organisations.
“Primary care’s role includes managing and preventing of chronic disease; promoting and advocating for regular exercise; collaborating with other health professionals like exercise physiologists and dieticians; and providing patients with information about programs and services,” Alyssa said during her presentation.
She also spoke about HealthPathways and Health Resource Directory, type 2 diabetes case conferencing and exercise groups, and stepped care and the mental health and alcohol and other drugs services we fund.
Alyssa explained how SWSPHN was able to use anonymous data from general practices across South Western Sydney to identify local health trends, risk factors and priority areas for action.
“We pinpoint patient groups like those with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are significantly impacted by lifestyle choices. This information helps us work with practices to create health initiatives tailored to the needs of locals.”
Liverpool Local Active Partnership is the first of its kind formed by WSYD Moving, a health promotion charity aimed at addressing the critical issues of inactivity and inequity in Western Sydney.
It is working towards building local networks, relationships, trust and pathways to enable people to become more physically active in their own communities.
The IPP team’s Kate Noble is involved in WSYD Moving’s social prescribing project which is also underway in Liverpool and aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness for seniors improving quality of life.
The project is fostering collaboration between healthcare providers and community organisations, creating a more wholistic and integrated approach for individuals.
Find out more or register to join the Liverpool Local Active Partnership.