Strong Partnerships, Healthier Communities.
2026 started with the Life! team and our local providers heading out into communities across Victoria, eager to share practical health information, build local partnerships, and connect more Victorians with the Life! program.
By mid-year, our team had established strong connections with a wide range of communities and organisations, deepening our engagement and reaching even more people.
Community engagement is an important part of what we do. By working with local organisations, health professionals and community groups, we can better understand the needs of different communities and make it easier for people to access support in familiar and trusted settings.
From Brimbank to Bendigo, here are just some of the communities we connected with during the first half of 2026.
Connecting with the Brimbank Community
In May, the Life! team spent the day at Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre, speaking with around 100 community members about their health and the support available through Life!.
There was plenty of interest in nutrition, weight management, healthy recipes, education and the availability of local community programs. Many people were also surprised to learn that Life! is completely free.
The day provided an important opportunity to connect with Vietnamese and Arabic-speaking communities in the area and strengthen relationships with local organisations and health professionals.
A conversation with an Arabic women’s group led to a Healthy Living Session tailored for the group, and discussions with Vietnamese community members helped to connect people already living with diabetes with Diabetes Victoria’s Vietnamese Peer Support Group.
The team also visited five local GP clinics staffed by Vietnamese-speaking GPs to raise awareness of the Vietnamese Life! program and ensure local residents could easily access information and support in their own language.
Supporting Arabic-Speaking Women
Following the connections made in Brimbank, our local provider, Diala Murr Dietary Clinic, delivered a Healthy Living Session to 40 Arabic-speaking women at the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre.
With such a positive response, discussions have began about establishing an in-person Life! group for eligible women, helping make ongoing preventive health support more accessible within the community.
Men’s Health in Bendigo
As part of Men’s Health Week, Life! partnered with local provider Bendigo Exercise Physiology Clinic to deliver a Healthy Living Session at the Bendigo Men’s Shed.
The partnership grew from a connection made at the Victorian Men’s Shed Conference and provided an opportunity to continue the conversation about diabetes prevention in a familiar community setting.
Fifteen men attended the session and learned about practical ways to support their health and the free support available through Life!.
Men are an important priority population for Life!, and partnerships with organisations such as Men’s Sheds help us take preventive health conversations directly into communities.
Vietnamese Daughters of the West
We were also pleased to join the Vietnamese Daughters of the West, a 10-week health and wellbeing program delivered by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
Thirty women took part in a Life! Healthy Living Session, showing strong interest in ways to improve their health and reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
After the session, we began exploring opportunities with our local Vietnamese provider and the Western Bulldogs to support women interested in continuing their health journey through the Life! program.
Ongoing Community Connections
Our community engagement isn’t only about introducing people to Life!, it’s also about connecting people with the right health information and support for their needs.
In the first few months of 2026, we partnered with local Life! providers to take part in a series of Diabetes Victoria Community Matters events across Victoria. These events gave us an opportunity to have meaningful conversations about prevention, connect people with support in their local area and collaborate with local organisations already making a positive impact.
Here are a few highlights:
Chadstone – February
Long-term Life! provider NutriBlooms joined the first Community Matters event in Chadstone, connecting with more than 100 community members and raising awareness of the importance of prevention.
We also collaborated with not-for-profit organisation Health in Focus to offer heart health checks, creating another opportunity to talk with community members about reducing their risk of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Geelong – March
In March, Community Matters took us to Geelong, where we connected with local provider Kieser Torquay.
The event provided a valuable opportunity to speak with community members about type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke prevention, while strengthening our partnership with providers already engaged in community engagement across the Geelong and Torquay region.
Albury/Wodonga – April
In April, Flexout Health represented Life! at Community Matters in Albury/Wodonga, connecting with local community members and highlighting the role prevention can play in supporting long-term health and wellbeing.
Together, these events demonstrate the value of working collaboratively across Diabetes Victoria and with our local providers.
By showing up in communities, strengthening local partnerships and sharing trusted health information, we can help more Victorians understand their health risks and know where to access the right support locally.
Book a FREE Healthy Living Session today!
Healthy Living Sessions are a short taster of the Life! program and run for approximately 30 – 45 minutes. These sessions are delivered in person or online by one of our team to a group of 20 or more. If your group is less than 20, you can contact us here to discuss alternative options.
What’s covered in a Healthy Living Session?
- The benefits of a healthy lifestyle
- A brief overview of diabetes, heart disease and stroke
- Goals, motivations, challenges, and barriers
- The Life! program: structure, content, and participant testimonials
- Eligibility check
Complete the form below to submit your request.
Discover what the Life! program has to offer for your community group!
Discover what the Life! program has to offer for your community group!
