Meet a health charity CEO

Tahnee Sykes introduces Kelly Andrews, chief executive officer at Healthy Cities Illawarra

Kelly Andrews is the CEO of local health promotion charity, Healthy Cities Illawarra (HCI).

HCI has been around for more than three decades and is part of the global “Healthy Cities” movement started by the World Health Organisation.

As regional leaders in the prevention of chronic disease, Healthy Cities are true champions of social justice. They tackle the social, economic and environmental causes of health inequality via advocacy, partnerships and evidence-based programs to improve local health and wellbeing.

HCI looks at where people live and how that environment affects their health choices.

“We focus on the root causes of ill health and inequity, rather than treatment and cure,” Kelly said.

“In the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, there are a high proportion of people living with chronic disease.

“We advocate for healthier public policy, deliver programs which educate and empower, strengthen community action and work in partnership across all sectors to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in our communities, but especially those more vulnerable populations.”

Leadership shaped by a varied career Kelly has always been passionate about health promotion, having worked across many different issues, including tobacco control and cancer prevention, social marketing and public health research in asthma self-management, breast cancer re-screening, organ donation, junk food advertising to kids, alcohol marketing, dementia prevention and mental health.

Kelly believes her experiences have led to a more benevolent approach to leadership in public health. She shares that she is no stranger to growing up on Centrelink benefits, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, suicide, incarceration, and inter-generational trauma.

“Often there is a misperception that public health advocates are quite militant. We do need that to bring about change on a wide scale, but there are other human stories and lived experiences which have influenced my philosophy and that I am much more comfortable drawing upon.

“People’s lives are complex, and in many cases, they are battling systems and circumstances which influence their health and wellbeing that are outside of their control, and I have always been passionate about trying to redress that.

“HCI programs and objectives are truly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

A great place to start a public health career HCI offers volunteer and internship opportunities in an array of programs in the Illawarra.

“My main advice would be to persevere,” Kelly said. “Follow your passion, find your purpose, give it a go. Volunteer, learn, take every opportunity and work hard. I was never a straight A student, and life is not always rosy, but I am lucky and proud to live in the Illawarra and lead such a purpose-driven organisation.”

Challenges ahead in 2023

Wollongong’s challenges are similar to other communities, but Kelly said that two issues are critical: housing and active travel.

“Housing and shelter are a human right and the crisis that we see at the moment is unconscionable. A place to live impacts people’s stability and safety, dignity and sense of belonging and directly affects physical and mental health. Adequate housing is a social determinant of health and is a critical component of the prevention of chronic disease.”

On active travel, like walking or cycling, Kelly said: “We have a real opportunity in the Illawarra to transform the way we move around, especially for short trips, so HCI will be working hard to help make this a reality – especially for children to walk and cycle safely to school. The benefits to individual health through increased physical activity is, in and of itself, the single biggest preventative health measure we can achieve!”

Visit healthycities.org.au and follow @ healthycitiesillawarra on social media

Your local, experienced and educated real estate professional For local, experienced and educated real estate advice, call Ian today!

For local, experienced and educated real estate advice, call Ian today!

Ian Pepper 0403 570 041 ian.pepper@raywhite.com raywhitehelensburgh.com.au

Ian Pepper 0403 570 041 ian.pepper@raywhite.com raywhitehelensburgh.com.au

Looking back at 2022

As we prepare for the New Year it’s interesting to look back at the year that was. At the start of the year the market was still relatively hot with low listing numbers and Sydneysiders looking to escape to the coast. Interest rates weren’t supposed to rise until 2024 according to the RBA and now look what has just happened! Eight interest rate rises in a row and everyone wondering how this could be happening. Despite all this, real estate in our areas of 2508 and 2515 has continued to respond well, with more records set across a number of suburbs and new or renovated properties doing particularly well. While Sydney has officially recorded a 10% decline in prices over the year, most of our suburbs have resisted any decline in prices. We all live in a magic part of the world so this is not surprising to any of us.