Strong environmental health programs are built on trust, local leadership and relationships that grow over time. Long-term partnerships allow communities and organisations to learn together, respond to changing priorities and continually improve the way they work.
Since 2016, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council has led a community animal management program in partnership with AMRRIC and a growing network of collaborators including Queensland Health's Darling Downs Public Health Unit, The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and, more recently, RSPCA Queensland. Over the past ten years, the program has continued to grow and adapt alongside the community, demonstrating the value of long-term partnerships in supporting healthy homes, healthy animals and healthy communities.
This presentation shares the story of ten years of partnership and reflects on what has been achieved by continuing to work alongside the community over the long term.
Drawing on practical examples from the Cherbourg collaboration, presenters will share how sustained relationships have supported healthier companion animals, stronger community participation in animal management, increased local knowledge and skills, and a program that has continued to evolve under the leadership of Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council in response to the community's changing priorities.
The presentation will explore how consistent, repeated services have built trust between Council, community members and partner organisations. These relationships have enabled a deeper understanding of the community's companion animal population, helped identify changes over time, and supported a gradual shift from meeting immediate needs towards planning ahead and strengthening preventative approaches that encourage and support community participation.
Presenters will also reflect on how local leadership has shaped the program throughout its evolution, how different organisations have contributed their own knowledge and expertise, and how the partnership has remained strong despite changes in staff, funding and organisational priorities.
Relevance
While centred on community animal management, the lessons from Cherbourg are relevant across environmental health practice. This presentation will explore how long-term relationships, shared learning and local leadership can strengthen Healthy Living Practices and create opportunities that are difficult to achieve through short-term initiatives alone.
Rather than presenting a model to copy, this session offers practical reflections on what becomes possible when organisations remain committed to working in partnership with communities over many years.