Blog

Budget snapshot for Bendigo Community Health Services 2019-2020

: Friday 8 November 2019; Written by Rod

We are pleased to present a Bendigo Community Health Services Budget Statement 2019/2020 on behalf of the Board of Directors and organisation.

This is an important Budget being the first associated with the new BCHS Strategic Plan 2019-2024 we will launch at the Annual General Meeting on November 14.

The $22.7 million Budget will ensure our staff and Board continue to work towards delivering a range of services and activities designed to support the community.

Our Board has agreed to deliver a balanced budget with a modest surplus of $146,811.

Please pdf click here (7.39 MB) to download a PDF version of our Budget statement 2019-2020.

If you have any questions about the Budget please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you.

You're invited - Strategic Plan 2019-2024 launch to highlight our AGM

: Thursday 24 October 2019; Written by Rod

The official launch of a new Strategic Plan 2019-2024 will highlight the Bendigo Community Health Services Limited Annual General Meeting on Thursday, November 14.

Our Fork In The Road community hub at the Central Bendigo site - 165-171 Hargreaves Street - will host the AGM from 10.30am.

A lunch will be served from noon.

The new Strategic Plan clearly identifies our purpose and will ensure all services reach their full potential to support consumers and the community.

The plan was developed through extensive consultation and feedback from consumers, community, Board of Directors, staff and agency partners.

Please RSVP to Leanne Oberin on 5406 1200 or LThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Thursday, November 7.

Don't forget to let us know if you need transport to the AGM or have special dietry requirements.

Thank you.

Eaglehawk Lions club donates $5000 to our Fork In The Road community hub to combat loneliness

: Wednesday 16 October 2019; Written by Rod

Lions Club of Eaglehawk members tour Fork In The Road.

A huge thank you to the Lions Club of Eaglehawk who has very generously given us $5000 for our Fork In The Road community hub.

The hub is home to our Thursday Soup Kitchen and other programs supporting the disadvantaged, vulnerable, lonely and homeless.

Lions club members had a look through Fork In The Road and they're keen for us to use the donation to tackle loneliness which is becoming a serious issue in our community so we'll get to work on that.

The Lions club has been very good to us and last year provided a donation to our Men's Health Clinic.

It's fantastic to see a club being so proactive in supporting organisations such as ours to make a difference in the community and for that they should be truly commended.

Thank you and please keep up the great work.

If you or your organisation would like to support Bendigo Community Health Services or our Fork In The Road community hub please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 5406 1200.

Dogs Connect program putting dogs in the classroom to improve mental health in school communities

: Tuesday 15 October 2019; Written by Rod

Grant Shannon takes a dog into the classroom of a Bendigo school.

Bendigo Community Health Services is improving mental health in school communities through a partnership with Dogs Connect to introduce dogs to classrooms.

The School Focused Youth Service based at our Kangaroo Flat site is another partner in the project.

Dogs Connect improves school culture by using dogs to help students cope with negative emotions, be calmer, happier and achieve better learning.

The Dogs Connect program is now working with 10 regional Victorian schools after launching in 2015.

Dogs Connect founder Grant Shannon said introducing a dog into school teaching and learning practices developed social and emotional skills for students and staff.

“We are excited to continue our work with Bendigo Community Health Services to introduce more dogs into schools to support students’ emotional and social well-being, and to ultimately lead to improved engagement and learning outcomes,” he said.

Bendigo Community Health Services spokesperson Anne-Marie Kelly said the program was achieving good results.

“We have received such encouraging feedback from schools about the positive changes the dogs are bringing for not only the students but for the teacher and the school culture as a whole,” Anne-Marie said.

School Focused Youth Service co-ordinator Paul Taylor said school wellbeing leaders were reporting remarkable stories of interactions between the dogs and students.

"A young secondary student undergoing treatment for cancer attended school even when ill to make sure she had the opportunity to interact with the dog. Other reports mention students that have struggled with self-regulation and remaining in class beyond 20 minutes are now completing tasks and remaining in class for entire two-hour blocks when the dog has been in his classroom," Paul said.

"We are seeing reports showing the program is giving students an understanding what empathy is and how it relates to relationships with others, a knowledge of their heart rate when focused and relaxed and having strategies to regulate emotions and explain how they're feeling to others.

"All the staff at the schools involved so far have been amazed at the impact the dogs have had on the school communities."

Learn more about Dogs Connect and watch videos of the dogs in action: http://www.dogsconnect.net.au/

Problem gambling in refugee communities the focus of new Bendigo project

: Thursday 10 October 2019; Written by Rod

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

New Strategic Plan to guide Bendigo Community Health Services through the next five years

: Wednesday 2 October 2019; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services will launch a new five-year Strategic Plan at our Annual General Meeting on November 14.

The Strategic Plan 2019-2024 will guide our work and ensure we continue to deliver quality care to the Bendigo community.

A Vision, Mission, set of values and commitment to principles have been developed after consultation with our community, consumers, staff, Board of Directors and partner agencies.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our new five-year Strategic Plan – we are excited about the future and this strong commitment to our community.

Stay tuned for the release of the Strategic Plan 2019-2024 on November 14.

The Annual General Meeting will be held in our new Fork In The Road community hub at the Central site - 165-171 Hargreaves Street at 10.30am on November 14.

If you would like to attend please email Company Secretary Leanne Oberin on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 5406 1200.

Thank you.

My Aged Care client record: You might have just got a letter from us - it's real because we need your help

: Monday 23 September 2019; Written by Rod

We've just completed a mass mail out to all our clients who access podiatry or physical activity services funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).

That's more than 1000 people.

If you received one of these letters and are unsure what it's all about we've put together a list of some of the common questions we've been asked to hopefully put your mind at rest.

Firstly, the letter is legitimate - it's not a scam.

We need to make contact with you to get permission to create a My Aged Care client record on your behalf. This is a request from the Australian Government who wants anyone attending one of our CHSP services to have the My Aged Care client record.

So, that's why we've written to you and very soon will follow up with a phone call.

Below are some of the questions we're being asked by people:

What is My Aged Care?

My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s single-entry point for aged care services for older Australians, their families and carers can easily access information on ageing and aged care, can have their needs assessed and access services.

: Friday 20 September 2019; Written by Rod

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.

: Thursday 5 September 2019; Written by Rod

Community education is an important part of the work we do at Bendigo Community Health Services.

Our staff are experts in their field and enjoy getting out talking to business, schools, community or sporting groups about their work and raising awareness about what you should know to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle.

We regularly attend community events to share information on a specific health issue or our services in general too.

If you are running a meeting or event and would like one of our staff to speak or for BCHS to host an information stand please fill out the details below and we will be in touch ASAP. Thank you.

Please tell us about your event.

What topics or issues would you like our staff to talk about or promote at your event?

How many people will be attending your event?

Please provide us with the best contact person to liaise with before the event and on the day.

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

: Monday 2 September 2019; Written by Rod

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

Subcategories

General
Community

For all events, information stands, men’s health week, women’s health week and the like
Discovering BCHS - meet our staff

Find out more about our amazing staff
kidzspace - a new era for BCHS

Our kidzspace project
Volunteers

BCHS recognises and thanks our volunteers
Partnerships

BCHS recognises and thanks our partners
From our CEO

News from our CEO
Celebrations

Celebrating BCHS's milestones
Men's Health Marathon

Bendigo Community Health Services runs the Men's Health Marathon in late August and early September each year - 11 days of activities designed to get men out, active and thinking seriously about their health.