Blog

Kim Sykes resigns as CEO of Bendigo Community Health Services

: Monday 17 September 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services chief executive officer Kim Sykes has resigned to take up a position in Melbourne closer to family.

“It’s always been my intention to return to Melbourne at some stage because that’s where my son and daughter live and this opportunity has made that possible sooner than I anticipated,” Ms Sykes said.

“My eight years at Bendigo Community Health Services have been enormously rewarding and I’m proud of the work our great staff and the organisation do for the Bendigo community. It’s been a privilege to be part of that.

“Now it’s time for the next CEO to take BCHS forward and continue that great work.”

Ms Sykes said the support of staff, partner organisations and community had been wonderful since joining BCHS in July 2010.

: Tuesday 4 September 2018; Written by Rod

It's truly remarkable that Margaret would drive all the way from Melbourne to support our new Fork In The Road community hub and Thursday Soup Kitchen with these awesome 'emergency packs' featuring a blanket, beanie, scarf, mittens and packet of Arnott's Tim Tam.

Margaret and the team of volunteers from Melbourne Winter Care Package spend the year fundraising and then use the money to buy new items to make up the emergency packs in the lead up to winter.

We'll use the packs to support people attending Fork In The Road and will also share some with our friends at Haven; Home, Safe who do a wonderful job in helping the homeless and providing emergency housing.

A massive thanks to Margaret and the Winter Care Package team - such a wonderful thing you do for the community. Please keep up the good work!

To learn more about our Fork In The Road community hub click here

Run For Dad Bendigo - all the times. Where did you finish?

: Monday 3 September 2018; Written by Rod

What a great day!

The 2018 Run For Dad Bendigo was a huge success with record entries and $6000 raised for men's health and prostate cancer.

There was a great atmosphere with children, families and plenty of superheroes turning out with Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Thor popular.

A massive thanks to everyone who supported the event.

In further great news from Sunday the fun run's new major sponsor Barry Plant Bendigo signed on for next year.

The Run For Dad on Father's Day at Bendigo Racecourse supports our men's health clinic and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

So, where did you finish? To find out click on this link: pdf Run For Dad Bendigo - all the finishing times (142 KB)

Men's health message sets Garry on a new path in life

: Wednesday 29 August 2018; Written by Rod

The Run for Dad Australia Bendigo fun run on Father’s Day at Bendigo Racecourse is about promoting a men’s health message to save lives.

It’s a message that Garry Valente knows all too well and, thankfully, he listened.

“I had an unrealistic work/life balance which impacted my family life, my physical being and in turn my mental health,” Garry said.

“I didn’t make my nutrition and exercise a high priority so that had tapered off as well.

“I heard about a service offered at m...y workplace whereby staff and apprentices could make an appointment to see Peter Strange at the Bendigo Community Health Services men’s health clinic.

“Peter helped me realise I had to make some changes to my life and that was the start of me getting back on track.”

Garry made the decision to only work four days a week to find a better life balance.

“I also signed up for an eight week challenge and enlisted the help of Joe my personal trainer and John my physio.

“I lost weight, got my blood pressure under control and became more effective for myself and my family who have been very supportive.

: Wednesday 29 August 2018; Written by Rod

If you have a loved one or friend that uses illegal or prescribed opioid drugs then you need to learn about Naloxone.

Our Alcohol and Other Drugs team is using International Overdose Awareness Day on Friday (August 31) to raise awareness in the community about Naloxone which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose with no side effects.

Bendigo Community Health Services offers free Naloxone and training.

Our AOD acting manager Bart McGill says Naloxone can mean the difference between life and death in any opioid overdose but it’s essential family and friends learn how to administer the medicine.

“People shouldn’t think overdose is caused by illegal drugs such as heroin either. Prescribed opioid drugs can cause overdose if not used correctly. We would encourage anyone who is prescribed opioids or has someone in their life who is prescribed opioids to get a free Naloxone script from Bendigo Community Health Services.”

Mr McGill and AOD staff from our Needle Syringe Program will be available to answer any questions around Naloxone and provide instruction on how to administer the medicine from 10.30am to 12.30pm this Friday at our Central site, 165-171 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.

: Friday 24 August 2018; Written by Rod

Take a positive approach to dealing with issues or stresses by learning skills to cope better through our FRIENDS Adult Resilience Program.

This World Health Organization-endorsed program develops social and emotional skills to help you for life.

The next program starts on October 2 and will involve five sessions at our Central site at 165-171 Hargreaves Street in Bendigo.

Sessions run from 11am to 1pm each week.

Registrations for the October program close on September 21. Call Anne-Maree or Natalia on (03) 5448 1600.

The program will help you:

• Identify feelings and develop empathy

• Control and regulate intense emotions

• Learn relaxation techniques

• Learn mindfulness skills and exercises to stay in the moment, focus and relax

• Prevent bullying for both victims and bullies.

: Wednesday 22 August 2018; Written by Rod

A huge congratulations to La Trobe University Bendigo graduate Stephanie Mein on winning the Bendigo Community Health Services Award.

The award was presented during the annual La Trobe University Prizes ceremony at Ulumbarra Theatre this week.

We have presented this award for more than a decade to recognise a high achieving La Trobe student in the field of health.

Stephanie grabbed the prize as the student in Bachelor of Health Sciences with the best academic and public health practice performance in second and third year field experience.

Stephanie thanked Bendigo Community Health Services for donating the award.

“The Bendigo Community Health Services Award inspires me to continue to use the knowledge and skills that I learnt during my time at university to improve health and wellbeing in Bendigo,” Stephanie said.

“The award also allows me to pursue further study in the public health field which I am very excited about.”

: Thursday 16 August 2018; Written by Rod

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

: Wednesday 15 August 2018; Written by Rod

Client Services supervisor Jacinta Fleming promotes the #standwithcommunityhealth campaign.

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.

: Monday 6 August 2018; Written by Rod

CatholicCare Sandhurst executive director Peter Richardson has resigned to take up a senior executive role with Bendigo Community Health Services.

Peter has spent five years leading CatholicCare Sandhurst.

Bendigo Community Health Services CEO Kim said Peter’s knowledge of the Bendigo community and his work in helping the disadvantaged and vulnerable would be a valuable asset for the organisation.

"Peter has a rich history of leadership and direct care roles across the community sector as well as experience in private practice. He will bring to us a deep understanding of the community sector and the environment in which it operates, successful leadership experience and a commitment to enabling others to make changes necessary for a better future," Kim said.

“Peter’s qualities and skills will be a great asset to Bendigo Community Health Services as we continue to build and improve our services to make a difference in the community.

“Peter will oversee several of our teams and programs including mental health, alcohol and other drugs and a range of children's services.”

CatholicCare Sandhurst recognised Peter’s contribution in an announcement this morning.

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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.