Community

Karen Community Hub and Language School officially opened in Bendigo becomes another asset for proud multicultural city

: Tuesday 2 April 2019; Written by Rod

The official opening of the Karen Community Hub and Language School.

Bendigo Community Health Services is proud of the role we have played in establishing Bendigo's first Karen Community Hub and Language School.

The hub was officially launched by City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Margaret O'Rourke and Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters during a special ceremony on Sunday.

Our Cultural Diversity and Relationships manager Kaye Graves said the new hub was vital in helping the Karen community retain their culture, identity and faith while settling in a new country.

"It is even more important for those new arrivals we welcome to Bendigo who have been displaced and stateless in their own country of origin," Kaye said.

"The Karen Community Hub and Language School improves settlement opportunities, the wellbeing of the Karen community and prevents loss of identity through the promotion of the Karen traditions and preservation of cultural identity . This will happen through opportunities to learn traditional dance, weaving, language and storytelling."

Each Sunday the hub offers Karen language classes from 10am to noon, Karen dance classes from noon to 2pm and Karen weaving classes from noon to 3pm.

Bendigo Community Health Services was part of an advisory group formed to seek funding for the hub with a successful grant from the LUCRF Community Partnership Trust.

"My role was to develop skills and capacity for the Karen in important areas such as project and meeting management. BCHS gave $4000 to help with establishment," Kaye said.

"BCHS will work with the new hub to provide health education and build health and service literacy."

: Wednesday 16 January 2019; Written by Rod

Our GPs are all about looking after you and the community.

Consumer care is a top priority at Bendigo Community Health Services and we're lucky to have a range of GPs who follow this strategic direction.

Our GPs work from bulk-billed medical clinics at our Eaglehawk, Bendigo Central and Kangaroo Flat sites.

Meet some of our great GPs here:

Dr Haris Noor web

Dr Haris Noor

BCHS sites: Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat.

Dr Noor has been working as a rural doctor around Bendigo since 2013 and enjoys all aspects of medicine with special interests in child and adolescent health.

After graduating and obtaining my medical degree from Monash University in 2012, Dr Noor worked at Bendigo Hospital in various specialty areas before gaining further experience in child and adolescent care to pursue this special interest.

He worked as a Paediatric Registrar for 18 months at Bendigo Hospital, Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital caring for newborns, infants, children, and adolescents while completing the Diploma in Child Health (DCH).

Dr Noor then started post-graduate specialist GP training and worked in primary health care at Castlemaine and at the local hospital attending patients at the Urgent Care and Acute Ward as a visiting medical officer.

Now in his final year of specialist training as a GP Registrar, Dr Noor is working towards gaining a Fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

He also works part-time in the Bendigo Health emergency department while completing the Emergency Medicine Certificate through the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM).

Dr Noor is a bit of a thrill seeker in his spare time, embracing his adventureous side to go camping, road-tripping, hiking, wake-boarding or paragliding.

Special interests:

Child & Adolescent Health
Men's Health
LGBTI Health
Preventative Health
Hepatitis C treatment
HIV PrEP prescription
Therapeutic musculoskeletal injections
Minor skin surgeries

Book an appointment to see Dr Noor at our Eaglehawk site: https://www.bchs.com.au/book-online

Gary Bourke GP web

Dr Gary Bourke

Site: Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk.

Dr Bourke is all about Bendigo having grown up in the city.

His Swiss-Italian, Chinese, Irish, English and German ancestry dates back four generations in the Bendigo and the Goldfields region.

Dr Bourke has been a doctor in Bendigo for more than 30 years and did focus on GP anaesthetics and GP obstetrics for a long time before stopping a few years ago to focus on GP paediatrics at our Kangaroo Flat site and spending time in Bendigo Health emergency department.

Dr Bourke has four adult children.

Away from work he spends his time bushwalking and listening to all kinds of music.

Special interests:

Paediatric care
Antenatal care
Drug and alcohol problems
Aboriginal health

Book an appointment to see Dr Bourke at our Kangaroo Flat site: https://www.bchs.com.au/book-online

Doctors in Secondary Schools: How to access this program in Loddon Mallee and Bendigo

: Wednesday 16 January 2019; Written by Rod

Doctors In Secondary Schools is a partnership between Bendigo Community Health Services, Murray Primary Health Network and the Victorian Government’s Department of Education and Training.

What is the Doctors In Secondary Schools Program and how can this help me?

The Doctors in Secondary Schools Program offers care, assessment and information on issues such as general health, mental health and wellbeing or sexual health for students.

Some of the reasons you might want to visit the clinic are:

A general health question or concern.
A need to understand a health issue better.
You haven’t been able to see a doctor.
Just not feeling great.
Emotional concern.
A sexual health issue or question.
An infection, sprain or strain.
To get a blood test.
A need for a referral

Does my school take part in the Doctors In Secondary Schools Program?

The following schools host a Bendigo Community Health Services clinic at present:

Wedderburn College.
Crusoe College.
Eaglehawk Secondary College.
Weeroona College Bendigo.
Kerang Technical High School.
St Arnaud Secondary College.

Please check www.bchs.com.au to see if any new schools have been added to the original list.

How do I access the clinic?

The Doctors in Secondary Schools Program is available to students of a host school and is designed to improve access to healthcare for adolescent health issues.

Students are welcome to drop into the clinic during morning tea or lunch for a chat.

How much does it cost to attend the clinic?

The Doctors In Secondary Schools Program is bulk-billed so it's free for students to attend.

How do I make a booking?

You can make an appointment through the school or by calling BCHS on 5434 4300.

PLEASE NOTE: Only students from participating schools can make an appointment for the Doctors in Secondary Schools Program.

Can I make a booking online?

Yes, you can book online at www.bchs.com.au by clicking on the appointment bar at the top of the homepage. Please make sure you select only GPs who are part of the Doctors In Secondary Schools Program and double check they will be attending your school on that day. Please be aware when you book online a reminder SMS will be sent 24 hours before your appointment to the mobile number you provide.

Is my appointment confidential?

Yes, all care provided through the Doctors In Secondary Schools Program is confidential.

BCHS follows strict privacy laws.

What sort of feedback do you get about Doctors In Secondary Schools?

Here's some of the feedback we have received from students and schools about the Doctors In Schools program?

"It’s so good to be able to see the doctor and not have to miss any school."

"Having the appointments has really helped me, as it has given me exercises and strategies to deal with my anxiety."

"There is a lot going on for young people, sometimes it’s hard to make decisions. I have been able to learn some techniques to help me and have been able to be more positive."

What if my school isn't involved in the Doctors In Secondary Schools program?

Bendigo Community Health Services offers services for young people in areas such as mental health, sexual and reproductive health and general health.

You can access one of our bulk-billed medical clinics at Eaglehawk, Central Bendigo or Kangaroo Flat by calling our Client Services staff during business hours on 5448 1600.

You can book online at anytime by visiting www.bchs.com.au and clicking on the appointment bar at the top of the homepage.

BCHS has a sexual and reproductive health clinic, women’s health clinic and men’s health clinic at our Central Bendigo and Eaglehawk sites.

headspace Bendigo supports young people aged between 12 and 25 from the Bendigo site at 78-80 Pall Mall. Call headspace on (03) 5434 5345.

What else does Bendigo Community Health Services offer my family and I?

Bendigo Community Health Services is a place you can go for health care, no matter who you are, where you live or how much you earn.

We are a not-for-profit organisation with more than 50 health and wellbeing services available mostly free of charge but some at minimal cost.

Our main services include bulk-billed medical practices, men’s health, women’s health, allied health, child and family services, settlement services, sexual health, mental health and counselling, alcohol and other drugs.

Learn all about our services at www.bchs.com.au

Community feedback: You said ... we did!

: Monday 30 July 2018; Written by Rod

We value all community feedback on our services and programs.

It's this information which helps us keep improving and implement changes to ensure your experience with us is valuable.

Our staff don't seek recognition but it's nice to provide them with feedback when their service has been appreciated by one of our consumers too.

Below are some examples of things our consumers have raised and the actions we've taken in response.

If you would like to provide some feedback on our services, programs, teams or staff please click here

We'd love to hear from you!

Podiatry: Making booking appointments easier

You said: One of our community surveys revealed a desire from consumers to have the ability to book appointments well in advance rather than having to ring one or two weeks beforehand. Our consumers were finding the short notice for an appointment was often meeting high demand and they couldn't find an appropriate time.

We did: We reviewed our appointment process and now have a system in place where consumers can make advanced bookings for a podiatry appointment. This has helped ease high demand periods and made finding an appropriate time easier.

Strength training: Yes, it was hot in there

You said: We got some constructive feedback from some of the consumers attending our Active Living Program strength training sessions that the temperature in the venue was too hot to enjoy their physical activity.

We did: We reviewed literature around safe and ideal temperatures for strength training sessions and using that information created some new guidelines for all our venues which have now been put in place. Consumers are now working out in ideal conditions!

PLEASE NOTE: This post was last updated on July 30, 2018

Routine check sends Lloyd on a journey to a new Life!

: Friday 6 October 2017; Written by Rod

We could tell you how good the Life! program is but we will leave that to Lloyd Watson-Jones. He's living proof it works ...

A routine check up in December 2014 revealed my glucose level was unusually high.

I was borderline diabetic.

My doctor said losing weight was essential but also the Life! diabetes and cardiovascular disease program at Bendigo Community Health Services would be very helpful.

The only way to improve my health was to take action, so I joined the five-week Life! group sessions with positive results.

The course is about making healthier lifestyle choices regarding food, nutrition and exercise.

The group received expert coaching about setting personal goals to improve wellness by understanding what types of food help our body to function well.

We were coached on how to read packaged food labels and the importance of food portions.

I put into practice the knowledge gained from dietician, nutritionist and group facilitator Heather hinton and started a daily exercise regime of walking,skipping and jogging for 90 minutes.

While I enjoyed the physical exercise, it was challenging making conscious decisions about what I eat, when I eat and portion size of main meals.

However, with the support of family and group members, I maintained my goals and at the last session I was rewarded by being eight kilograms lighter and my waist five centimetres less.

I am overhwelmed by the outcomes of the Life! course.

I whole-heartedly recommend Life! to anyone desiring improved health and lifestyle.

The sessions are conducted by a caring, professional team of diabetic educators and the Life! group members soon become supportive of each other.

You'll not only lose a few kilos but gain a healthier lifestyle.

Go for it!

Refugee Week: Law Lah welcomes freedom, safety and an end to days of hunger

: Thursday 22 June 2017; Written by Rod

To celebrate Refugee Week 2017 we introduce you to some of our staff who after making their own journeys to a new life in Bendigo now give their time to help and support others following the same path.

Learn what events we have planned for Refugee Week: http://bit.ly/RefugeeWeekBendigo

Today we meet Settlement Services volunteer Law Lah.

What is the best thing about your role with BCHS?

I arrived in Bendigo August 2011 from Mae Lae camp. I was in the camp for 15 years. I work as a volunteer to teach clients how to get to appointments both in Bendigo and Melbourne use the train bus and tram. I also volunteer in refugee woman’s group to look after the children and packing up. Cooking at the youth excursions and camps

How has Bendigo Community Health Services helped you?

Before I became a volunteer the BCHS settlement team helped me and my family to settle into Bendigo . Teaching us about renting a house, using the ATM, catching the bus, train, enrolling children into school and document help. Now as a volunteer I help my community when I volunteer with BCHS settlement team.

What are the most important highlights of your first few months in Bendigo after arrival?

Bendigo is the best place for my family to settle because we have very good settlement support team. Life is much better in Bendigo than the refugee camp. Bendigo is safe not afraid of police here. We are free and safe, plenty of food and we are not hungry here.

What do you hope to achieve in the future through your role with BCHS?

To continue to improve and learn more about computer and improve my English As a volunteer my wish is to be able to help my community to integrate into the community

What is your favourite place in Bendigo and why?

Every day is free I have I go fishing with my grandson in a lake near Kerang or the Murray River. I like to be home in my own house with my family or visiting friends.

Meet more of our wonderful staff

To read more profiles from our refugee services staff click here

Learn more about BCHS

To learn more about the refugee and settlement services offered by BCHS please visit www.bchs.com.au

You can also connect with us through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

Refugee Week: Zahir loves his beautiful hometown with amazing people

: Thursday 22 June 2017; Written by Rod

Zahir, his partner Tahira and Kaye Graves.

Learn what events we have planned for Refugee Week: http://bit.ly/RefugeeWeekBendigo

Today we meet Settlement Services worker Zahir Azimi.

What is your role with BCHS?

My role is providing settlement services to newly-arrived refugees and people from refugee background to build their skills to participate in Australia’s economic and social life.

I am working with refugees after their arrival in Australia to establish housing, employment, education, health assessment and orientation to Australia.

Being from refugee background myself, I can understand the settlement challenges of new arrival refugees in Australia.

English is the key for them to fully participate in Australia’s social life and be able to find employment.

They are entitled to 510 hours of free English classes through Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) which most of our clients are using their hours after their arrival.

I also work in Secondary Settlement Services with refugee and non-English speaking migrants up to five years of their arrival in Australia.

We are providing services like housing, employment; advocacy, health referral, information sessions and case work on clients need bases.

We also run regular groups activities for youth, children, women, men and other group activities under BCHS Settlement Services Program.

What is the best thing about your role?

I am proud and honoured to be part of Bendigo Community Health Services Settlement team; which provide professional and best settlement services to refugees and other non-speaking English migrants in Bendigo.

It makes me very happy; when I see my clients are settling well in Bendigo having secured employment and housing, their children are attending school and they are participating in social and cultural activates and add colours in Bendigo.

How has Bendigo Community Health Services helped you?

BCHS is a wonderful place to work. I am enjoying working at Bendigo Community Health Services. We are a great team. I have supportive and lovely colleagues and my managers Kaye Graves and Martine Street are very caring and incredible mentors, being working for more than four years together I feel our team like a family where every member of family respect, support and care for each other.

What are the most important highlights of your first few months in Bendigo after arrival?

I got employment at Hazeldene’s chicken farm when I first arrived in Bendigo.

I remembered BCHS Settlement team assisted me with short term accommodation, now I am helping other refugees and migrants to settle in Bendigo, I started work as a volunteer with BCHS and I completed my diploma of community services work while working at BCHS, now I am working full time here.

I found Bendigo great place to live and believe that it is excellent place to be settled as it is a welcoming place for people of refugee background and other migrants.

I live with my partner Tahira and we have many Aussie friends here, we often visit each other’s homes and share food.

What do you hope to achieve in the future through your role with BCHS?

I would like to study further to improve and develop my skills and profession in the future at BCHS.

What is your favourite place in Bendigo and why?

To be honest I love every part of Bendigo, it looks like our own beautiful town with amazing people.

We love walking around Lake Weeroona where we often meet other friends and also part number 7 in Kangaroo Flat where the Afghan men’s group meet on every Sunday afternoon’s to play traditional Hazaragi game Sangirag.

Meet more of our wonderful staff

To read more profiles from our refugee services staff click here

Learn more about BCHS

To learn more about the refugee and settlement services offered by BCHS please visit www.bchs.com.au

You can also connect with us through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

Refugee Week: Salwa falls in love with her new warm, welcoming and loveable 'home'

: Thursday 22 June 2017; Written by Rod

Settlement services case workers Caitlyn Mactier and Salwa Dastgeer.

Learn what events we have planned for Refugee Week: http://bit.ly/RefugeeWeekBendigo

Today we meet Humanitarian Settlement Services support worker Salwa Dastgeer.

What is your role with BCHS?

I support the work of the Humanitarian Settlement Services team and assist new arrivals (refugees) with their day to day needs during the first year of their settlement in Bendigo. I also assist with the work of the Complex Case Support Program that supports families with complex needs. I run a refugee-based Women’s Group on a weekly basis where Afghan and Karen women get together and socialise, learn new skills, and gain new information about various topics pertaining to their new living environment.

What is the best thing about your role?

The best thing about my role is that I get to meet so many new and wonderful people from diverse backgrounds; know their stories and cultures; and have the privilege to work with them and support them in their settlement journey in Bendigo.

How has Bendigo Community Health Services helped you?

BCHS has helped me find my ideal career. For years, I had been in search of a career that would feel satisfying and fulfilling. After joining BCHS Settlement Team, I realised that there is so much joy and satisfaction in working with people in need and supporting them overcome their challenges so I decided to become a social worker. I am now studying Master of Social Work at the La Trobe University and looking forward to having a successful career as a social worker.

What are the most important highlights of your first few months in Bendigo after arrival?

When we decided to move to Bendigo after living in Canberra for 3.5 years, I did not have a positive outlook on living in this city given the media coverage of the anti-mosque protests. However, soon I found Bendigo a very warm, welcoming, and liveable city filled with such beautiful people. Its great community spirit took me by surprise and changed my perspective totally. Not to mention, its low cost of living is another highlight as I rent a spacious three-bedroom house for the same weekly rent that I used to pay for a tiny two-bedroom unit in Canberra.

What do you hope to achieve in the future through your role with BCHS?

I hope to support refugees residing in Bendigo even further, advocating for their needs and fighting for their rights. Particularly, I would like to support young refugees in their journey to learn English and engage in meaningful employment to ensure their successful settlement and social inclusion in Bendigo.

What is your favourite place in Bendigo and why?

My favourite place in Bendigo is its CBD. I love the ancient look of the city centre and the magnificent architecture of its historic and elaborate buildings that speak to you of history. I also enjoy the restaurants in CBD with variety of cuisines from many countries. I love the convenience of having parks, shops, and eateries in such close vicinity which makes my family life quite easy and enjoyable.

Learn more about BCHS

To learn more about the refugee and settlement services offered by BCHS please visit www.bchs.com.au

You can also connect with us through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

Refugee Week: For Paw Paw life in Bendigo means tall buildings, electricity, grass, birds and freedom

: Wednesday 21 June 2017; Written by Rod

Paw Paw, left, and her sist Law Lah who is a guide with BCHS.

Learn what events we have planned for Refugee Week: http://bit.ly/RefugeeWeekBendigo

Today we meet our community support worker Paw Paw Nway Moo.

How did you come to Bendigo?

I was born in Bur in 1976 and moved to the refugee camp along the Thai Burmese border in 1986. I came to Australia in 2009 on the 28th of January. I live with my family in Bendigo I am working with BCHS since 2013.

What is your role with BCHS?

I am a community support worker working together with the Humanitarian Settlement Services program. I am also working with the complex case support. My roles are to support the new arrivals to become independent while settling in Australia. I assist clients with local orientation and orientation information sessions. Assist client to be able to access the services to attend an appointment, showing clients how to use public transport and to attend appointment at centre link, job network, GP, dental school and bank using ATM independently. My role is to build client confidence in the new livivng environment in Australia.

What is the best thing about your role?

The best thing about my job is meeting new family and assisting with their settlement need and see family feels free and enjoys life in the new country. Most of all working with BCHS settlement team is the best place, learning new skills, working as a team, sharing knowledge and experience, supporting each other and helping my community who are settling in Bendigo.

How has Bendigo Community Health Services helped you?

Firstly, as a volunteer they trained me and built my confidence and skills to work with new arrivals. They teach how to write case notes make bookings and to help people to settle. They gave me the opportunity to attend training and work as a paid community guide. I love they helped my brother and his family and then his sick daughter to get good treatment and care equipment. This was never available in the camp.

What are the most important highlights of your first few months in Bendigo after arrival?

Bendigo is free and safe, the people are friendly and want to help us. There were many big buildings with electricity, running water (didn’t have to carry water ). You see lots of free birds also nobody tried to kill the birds. The opportunity to start a new life in Bendigo.

What do you hope to achieve in the future through your role with BCHS?

Continue to learn as a community guide. Continue to help my people to learn to improve my typing skills my case notes and more about completing documents. My role as a community guide is very important as I understand what it feels like living in refugee camp for many years and how it feels when you arrive in Australia. Everything is strange new different people language systems laws schools education and food. So I can as a community guide teach my people how to settle in Bendigo

What is your favourite place in Bendigo and why?

My favourite place in Bendigo for me is the first house I rented after I arrived. It’s near Lake Weeroona. Lake Weeronna, the lake, the grass, the trees, the birds and the playground remains a special place for me and my family and we go there a lot. In the refugee camp there is no green grass no lake no playground for kids and no beautiful birds my children also love to go to Bendigo library and look at the big books as there are no books like that in the camp.

Want to meet more of our fantastic staff and share their journeys to Bendigo?

To find more profiles on our staff for Refugee Week click here

Refugee Week: Nay Chee develops a love of Bendigo and Lake Weeroona

: Monday 19 June 2017; Written by Rod

Learn what events we have planned for Refugee Week: http://bit.ly/RefugeeWeekBendigo

Today we meet Nay Chee Aung - a case worker with our settlement services team.

What is your role with BCHS?

My current role at BCHS is settlement services case worker. I have been in this role since 2015 and still enjoy it just like when I first came on board to work with settlement team as a volunteer four years ago. Settlement services provide support for humanitarian entrants and other eligible migrants in their first five years of life in Australia, with a focus on fostering social and economic participation, personal well-being, independence and community connectedness. The aim of settlement services is to equip eligible clients to feel a part of our community and become self-reliant, through the development of knowledge, settlement life skills and familiarity with Australian norms and way of life. The service also assists clients to access mainstream services.

What is the best thing about your role?

I get to work with a great team doing something I am passionate about in a respectful environment.

It's been years since I started working as a settlement services case worker at BCHS and one of the best thing is that every day I can learn something new. The opportunity to work with good people who have been in this field for a lot longer than I have, who have exceptional experience to share with me and guiding me through my journey is just amazing. Most importantly, I get to work with amazing people from different backgrounds and knowing that we are doing something meaningful for them and see how we change their life for the better.

The work is enjoyable and challenging enough to stay interesting.

How has Bendigo Community Health Services helped you?

When I first came to work with Bendigo Community Health Services I was young, inexperienced and my self-confidence was a little bit low. Throughout the years BCHS helped me grow to be a better person both personally and professionally. It helped nurture and guide me through my professional journey and also helped me reach my goal and fulfil my potential.

What are the most important highlights of your first few months in Bendigo after arrival?

I have the privilege to call Bendigo my home for a couple of years now. I moved to Bendigo about six years after living in Melbourne for a couple of years. Because of the experience living in a busy city like Melbourne, when I first came to Bendigo my first impression was that this is a very quiet little town. One of the best highlights of the first few months was that I saw the Easter parade for the very first time and it was amazing and diverse. The most important highlight of the first few months was that I remember feeling like I belong in this town almost immediately because I was given the opportunity to volunteer with different organisations and get involved in different community events. This town is just amazing because I finally feel the sense of community and feel like home here in Bendigo.

What do you hope to achieve in the future through your role with BCHS?

I would like to expand professional network as well as personal network through my role with BCHS. Working with BCHS in settlement team is always interesting and exciting because you never know who you going to meet next and that network creates connection, opportunity and professional relationship that last for a very long time. I also hope to expand my leadership skills and knowledge or have leadership opportunity for professional development.

What is your favourite place in Bendigo and why?

Lake Weeroona. I always visit Lake Weeroona to relax, to catch up with family and friends and to take photo of nature. I often take families and friends who visit Bendigo for the very first time because this is the place you can spend time with the loved one. The reason I like going to Lake Weeroona is that it has beautiful and safe environment and very convenient. I especially like it during this time of the year because during autumn the lake is just amazing and full of life and colourful leaves. I often take a photo of the lake and its amazing surrounding areas during autumn and spring. The lake also has beautiful scenery during winter mornings.