Problem gambling in refugee communities the focus of new Bendigo project

We are absolutely thrilled that Marlene Kairouz MP and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards have just announced $100,000 to allow us to work with refugee communities in Bendigo, Anglicare Victoria and the City of Greater Bendigo to look at tackling the risk of gambling becoming an issue with new arrivals.

The announcement was made at the Discovery Centre in Bendigo where the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is holding a Knowledge in Action workshop.

To our knowledge there are no known Karen translated problem gambling and gaming resources in Victoria and this project will change that.

We want a better understanding about how gambling can impact on the refugee population with the aim of developing culturally-responsive translated resources as part of an early intervention model.

The project will employ a bilingual worker of refugee lived experience to ensure refugee communities in Bendigo are consulted every step of the way and education sessions around the possible harmful effects and impacts of gaming and gambling use the right content to reach their full potential.

It's our hope this project will create a pilot model for Victoria.

Time to get started! 

www.bchs.com.au

Bendigo cancer screening project aims to save lives - how you can help

Bendigo Community Health Services has launched a community project to increase cancer screening rates and save lives.

The project will focus on getting more people to screen for bowel, breast and cervical cancer.

BCHS has already worked with GPs in the bulk-billed medical practices and staff from other services to raise awareness of the need for more screening and to encourage them to ensure consumers understand the importance.

BCHS Health Promotion Worker Isabel Nichol-Smith urged other Bendigo medical practices and health organisations to do the same.

"Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia. The death toll for cancer in Australia this year will be around 50,000 people and as a community we must take action,” Ms Nichol-Smith said.

“The most concerning for us is that despite this alarmingly high number of deaths the cancer screening rates in Australia are seriously low. We need to change that and that’s why we are launching this community-led Cancer Screening Saves Lives project with funding from Murray PHN.

“We are going to work hard to increase community awareness of the need for cancer screening, particularly within groups that are most underrepresented such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, refugees and the disadvantaged.

“We encourage people to ask for a cancer screening when they visit their own GP or they can use our bulk-billed medical practices if they don’t have a GP.”

Ms Nichol-Smith said early detection was vital in treating cancers.

Bendigo South East College students raise money to support disadvantaged, vulnerable, lonely and homeless

We have to share this inspiring act of kindness from the students at Bendigo South East College.

The BSE Student Representative Council asked to visit our Fork In The Road community hub to learn more about how we use the space to support the disadvantaged, lonely and homeless.

The students heard about our free Soup Kitchen at 4pm each Thursday and other programs we now run thanks to the generosity of The Andrews Foundation who has provided the space.

The students then went away and planned a host of activities such as a market stall and an out of uniform day to raise money for Fork In The Road.

Laura, Jayda and Eliza surprised us on Friday with a truly amazing donation of $2079.30 on behalf of the students.

What a brilliant community-minded act of generosity.

You should all be very proud.

Your donation will ensure our Thursday Soup Kitchen continues to support those in need and allow us to run some barista training to build skills and confidence for some of our clients looking for an opportunity to get back into the workforce.

Thank you everyone!

www.bchs.com.a.u I #BCHS #thereforyou