Ararat Rural City Council has endorsed a new plan that outlines goals and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for the Ararat Rural City community.

The Draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29 outlines the positive changes that Council aims to bring to community health and wellbeing. The plan details the actions Council will take, as part of its operations and guided by available evidence, to implement these changes.

The Plan will outline four strategic health and wellbeing objectives for the next four years: Social Connections & Inclusion, Natural & Built Environments, Partnerships, and Breaking the Cycle. It also includes strategic actions and measures of success to monitor these objectives.

All Victorian Councils are required to prepare a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, which must include an examination of local health data, identify evidence-based goals and strategies to enhance community health and wellbeing, and include specific measures for family violence prevention and victim support.

It is also required to outline how the local community will be involved in its creation, implementation, and review, and it must detail how Council will partner with relevant government departments and other agencies on public health initiatives, ensuring it remains consistent with the broader Council Plan.

The Draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29 is open for community feedback until 5pm on Friday 15 August 2025. Residents can also make submissions by writing to Ararat Rural City Council – PO Box 246, Ararat, VIC, 3377 – or by emailing [email protected].