Trauma Teddies made by Bendigo Community Health Services group heading for Syria

Trauma Teddies made by a Bendigo Community Health Services social support group in Elmore are heading to Syria to help children in war ravaged areas.

Social support group co-ordinator Judy Ryan said the Trauma Teddies were a true team effort.

“Most of the ladies at the group help with the knitting, sewing together, stuffing and putting faces on to make a Trauma Teddie,” Judy said.

“Many of the ladies donate wool themselves or else the wool is purchased by the social support group program or donated by community members.  

“It gives the group a sense of purpose that they are giving back to their community and enjoy working with the Red Cross in Elmore.”

Judy said the group was pleased their Trauma Teddies were heading for Syria with the help of the Red Cross.

“They were pleased that some of the children that have been traumatised by war may get some small comfort from one of their Trauma Teddies,” Judy said.

The Elmore Social Support Group helps keep people independent and well by engaging and supporting them to live in the community.

The group meets in the Christine Cumming Activity Centre in Elmore and enjoys a range of activities from arts and crafts to day trips, music programs, bingo, movies and ‘The Shed’.

To learn more about the Social Support Group click here

#standwithcommunityhealth campaign to raise awareness of value to Bendigo

Bendigo Community Health Services is supporting a Victorian Healthcare Association campaign called ‘We Stand With Community Health’ in the lead up to the Victorian election in November.

The #standwithcommunityhealth campaign was launched at Star Health in Melbourne today.

The focus will be raising awareness of the role community health services play in Victoria and getting all political parties to pledge support for a number of ‘asks’ in the lead up to the election, including:

• New community health centres where the public need them.
• $60 million every year to improve outdated facilities.
• Increased funding to enable community health services to keep pace with a growing population.
• Better leveraging community health to reduce pressure on Victoria’s public hospital emergency departments.
• Support for community health services to provide an even stronger health safety net for vulnerable Victorians.
• Increased public dental funding, so people can access care when they need it.

These ‘asks’ were chosen after VHA consulted with community health services to determine the biggest needs across all platforms and for this reason do not just reflect our priorities alone.

We have raised the importance of prevention and the need for a workforce strategy to attract health professionals to regional areas and these will be included in our local discussions with our sitting members and candidates.

We have written to Bendigo MPs, candidates and large organisations seeking campaign support.

Run For Dad Bendigo - registrations open for 2018 Father's Day fun run

Registrations are open for the Run For Dad Bendigo 2018 at Bendigo Racecourse on Father's Day.

The annual fun run organised by Athletics Bendigo raises awareness of men's health and prostate cancer while supporting our men's health clinic and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

The September 2 Run For Dad Bendigo features a 3.75km run/walk or a 7km run.

All entrants receive a participation medal and a free breakfast.

TO REGISTER YOUR PLACE CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/RunForDad2018

 Barry Plant Bendigo has signed on as the major sponsor of the Run For Dad Bendigo in 2018. To read more: click here