Kangaroo Flat site getting a brand new reception area: Temporary entry set up in kidzspace hub

There’s exciting things happening at our Kangaroo Flat site in Helm Street.

We’re creating a new ‘welcoming’ reception area with huge windows for plenty of natural light and extra space to make the consumer experience more comfortable and nicer all round.

Reception will move to the other side of the building to provide better access to our kidzspace hub too.

BUT… yes, there’s always a but right!

We’re going to need your support for the next five or so weeks as it’s going to get a bit hectic out there as Bendigo company Total Fit Out get to work on building this new reception.

It’ll be business as usual at Kangaroo Flat as far as service delivery goes, but to make things easier and safer for all, we’ve set up a temporary reception in our kidzspace building.

You can easily access this reception via a driveway that’s about 50 metres or so further along Helm Street from our traditional car park.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call on 5430 0500 and we’ll help you out.

We really appreciate your support and patience as we create this brand new reception area for everyone. Thank you.

Learn more about all the services we run from Kangaroo Flat at www.bchs.com.au

To download a map that shows you how to get from the old reception area to the new one   image click here (566 KB)

Melanie Eddy joins the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors

Melanie Eddy has joined the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors.

The director at Tyndall Eddy Partners accounting firm in Bendigo has joined the board to further passions around equality, social justice, family, health and wellbeing.

“The health, both physical and mental, of myself and my family has always been very important to me. Because of this I have always placed a high priority on putting effort into preventative health and wellbeing measures," Melanie said.

"This includes utilising local health services, participating and being involved in local sporting communities, creating and fostering relationships within our school community and implementing healthy eating habits.

"I have also always had a strong sense of social justice in the past. 

"I have tried to work out a way to utilise my finance expertise to help those that need it most.

"Being a BCHS Board Director is a perfect way for me to act on my belief in equality for all by using my finance experience and also my passion for health and wellbeing.”

Welcome aboard Melanie!

Black Saturday Bendigo memories remain with BCHS staff who helped with recovery effort - 10 years on from Victorian bushfires

Bendigo Community Health Services played a key role in the Bendigo recovery effort after the devastating Black Saturday bushfire of February 7, 2009. A dedicated team of our staff supported and cared for those most affected by the trauma of the fire as part of the State Government’s Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service established within hours of the event. As Victoria marks the 10th anniversary of Black Saturday, the staff who remain with Bendigo Community Health Services today reflect back on the time and the memories that have stuck with them through the past decade …

Kaye Graves walked into the Bendigo bushfire recovery centre on February 8 and ‘left two years later’.

Such was the enormity of the Black Saturday bushfire and the impact on Bendigo.

Kaye’s work in the recovery centre in the immediate aftermath of the fire flowed into establishing a Bendigo Community Health Service case management team to work with those most affected.

The utter shock and devastation for those that lost everything is what Kaye remembers most.

“Precious belongings lost forever and, of course, pets. Survivor’s guilt for some that they survived and others perished. Grief was palpable,” Kaye said.

“The demand was huge and initially there were few systems and resources. Initially, we helped by assisting with identity and bank cards, teeth, hearing aids, glasses, underwear.”

Kaye case managed one client.

“I cared for the woman who lost her husband and her cats … we keep in touch occasionally,” she said.

Kaye remembers the community spirit.

“I made an arrangement with dentists to do some pro bono work and got Specsavers to replace glasses using a voucher system. Blue Illusion donated masses of new clothes and we stored them at Beck Legal. My dear mother sent over two car loads of toiletries which stayed on my billiard table with family bagging them up … all hands-on deck!” she said.

Kaye remains proud of the Bendigo Community Health Services work at the time.

“The Bendigo Community Health Services response was awesome, as were our staff,” she says.

“It was a privilege to undertake this work, walk beside the devastated, influence the model of care. BCHS also developed an innovative health assessment, health coaching model funded by the Bendigo Bank which was unique and highly-regarded as stress levels remained high which has a negative physiological effect as we know. Many would access this program instead of counselling. It acted as a vehicle for engagement, too.”

Walking the streets most impacted by the bushfire to knock on doors and find people needing support who had not registered is the most vivid memory for Bronwyn Moore.