History

Healthy Cities Onkaparinga was established in 1987 as Healthy Cities Noarlunga, one of three Australian cities to test the European Healthy Cities model in Australia. It is a coalition of agencies and community members which address health issues using the World Health Organisations ‘Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion’ as its primary reference.

Healthy Cities Noarlunga developed a process that provides community members with the opportunity to raise important health issues with representatives from the public and private sectors and the opportunity to work with these groups to address the health issues. Healthy Cities Noarlunga was supported by Noarlunga Health Service and later the Southern Adelaide Health Service.

An amalgamation of local government areas resulted in the consolidation of three areas – Happy Valley, Noarlunga and Willunga – to form the City of Onkaparinga. Since the amalgamation the new City has undertaken a strategic planning approach which has focussed more toward a Healthy Cities Approach. Healthy Cities Noarlunga changed its name to Healthy Cities Onkaparinga on 1st July 2008 in line with local government changes and to better reflect the area of our activities.