Meningococcal W: Free vaccine available in Bendigo

There are just two sessions left for young Bendigo people aged 15 to 19 to get a free Meningococcal W vaccine.

The free vaccine will be available at headspace Bendigo on Monday from noon to 4.30pm and November 20 from noon to 4.30pm.

You don't need to make an appointment, just turn up!

More than 30 young people took the opportunity to get the free vaccine during sessions at headspace Bendigo on September 18 and October 5 - should you follow?

The free vaccine has been made available to protect against a recent rise in Meningococcal W cases.

Drugs the focus of second All Time High community workshop in Bendigo

Bendigo Community Health Services will host another community drug information workshop in the All Time High series on November 22.

Doctor Monica Barratt from the University of New South Wales will be guest speaker at the workshop with a focus on how technology is being used for the drug market, the arrival of new psychoactive substances and real-time drug monitoring systems.

The All Time High workshop will hosted by our alcohol and other drugs services team and held in the La Trobe Visual Arts Centre in View Street from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on November 22.

The workshop is designed to deliver the latest information to support health professionals, emergency services workers and community members who work with drug users.

Doctor Barratt will discuss emerging issues including:

• The rise of the darkweb in the changing face of how people purchase drugs in Australia.
• The arrival of new psychoactive substances and the laws that govern them.
• The effectiveness of real-time drug monitoring systems for users that operate in other parts of the world and how they could work to remove the most harmful substances from Australian drug markets.

Dr Barratt is a social scientist at the Drug Policy Modelling Program in the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.

Dr Barratt has spent 15 years researching the social and public health implications of digital technology for people who use illicit and psychoactive drugs.

She is an expert in the area of drug policy reform and ‘pill testing’ and other testing procedures that deliver information about the content and purity of drugs to users.

Seating for the workshop is limited. To reserve your place click here

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey: State Government funds more support for LGBTIQ community

The State Government has funded Bendigo Community Health Services to provide extra counselling services for people affected by the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

BCHS is one of 23 community health services identified by the State Government as having the experience and ability to provide extra counselling services to members of the LGBTIQ community.

The Victorian AIDS Council will administer the extra funding for the extra services which will continue until November 7.

Any LGTBIQ person needing support as a result of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey is eligible for this free service.

Anyone wanting to access this confidential service through Bendigo Community Health Services should call the generalist counselling intake worker on 5430 0500.

VAC also has professional counsellors to help the community deal with the stress that this debate has created. Sessions can be in person or via telephone and are free of charge.

Call a VAC counsellor today between 10am and 4pm on (03) 9865 6700 and ask for the Duty Worker.

Bendigo Community Health Services general counselling services to cater for all members of the community.

For more information visit www.bchs.com.au or to receive support please call the generalist counselling intake worker on 5430 0500.

headspace Bendigo at 78-80 Pall Mall also provides mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25.