Six BCHS staff will present their work and insights alongside health heroes from across the state at a sector-wide conference this month.
The Alliance of Rural & Regional Community Health event will showcase the breadth of ground-breaking, community-building work at its nine member services.
The sessions by Bendigo experts highlight the many facets of our region that community health impacts, from families to people receiving treatment for opioid addiction, to those experiencing homelessness, and more.
Carlotta Standen will present on developing a regional telehealth model for opioid agonist treatment, which is allowing Bendigo people to access an addiction medicine specialist from the city.
Natalia Smith will co-present on building a movement to influence healthier food choices in schools.
Chantelle Ramsey will also co-present, on partnering with other services to deliver integrated health and wellbeing supports to rural children.
Clare Woods will share what changes when community health plants itself where people already are. Her session will cover practical insights from a place-based, trauma-informed model that quietly shifts access for people experiencing homelessness, plus will offer leadership reflections for services ready to rethink their role in accessibility and integration.
Mark Abernethy and Jo Rasmussen will put the daring into data; their work integrates workforce and consumer data to powerful affect for all.
In addition, Nido Taveesupmai will contribute a poster outlining how the Cultural Diversity team is partnering with emergency services to prepare newly-arrived migrants and people of refuge backgrounds for severe weather in a new country.
It’s happening in Ballarat, March 12-13. Full details, including the entire conference program, here Conference 2026 – ARRCH – Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health
Pictured above, left to right and top to bottom are: BCHS’ Carlotta Standen, Natalia March, Chantelle Ramsey, Clare Woods, Mark Abernethy and Jo Rasmussen.