Bendigo Community Health Services opening hours for Christmas and New Year period

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Friday 13 December 2019

Written by Rod

Please have a happy, safe and healthy festive season from all of us at Bendigo Community Health Services.

Our services will be closed on selected days through the Christmas and New Year period.

Please find below our site opening times:

December 23: All sites open as normal

December 24: All sites open as normal

December 25: Closed

December 26: Closed

December 27: Closed

December 28: Closed

December 29: Closed

December 30: Eaglehawk site open only. Call 5406 1200. 

December 31: Eaglehawk site open only. Call 5406 1200.

January 1, 2020: Closed

January 2, 2020: All sites open as normal from 8am today.

If you have an emergency ring 000 immediately.

If you need non-emergency, after-hours medical advice please try Nurse On Call 1300 606 024 or healthdirect GP Helpline on 1800 022 222.

Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health system interim report welcomed by BCHS

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Friday 29 November 2019

Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services welcomes today’s interim report from the Royal commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Our submission to the Royal Commission described this as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ for mental health in Victoria and it’s enormously encouraging to see nine recommendations that pave the way for change on this scale.

We thank the many people who had the courage to tell their ‘lived experience’ stories during this Royal Commission because that bravery now has the real potential of bringing about historic change.

Our submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was based on our experience providing services to people in need.

It’s heartening to see today’s interim report recognise the groups highlighted in our submission as needing urgent consideration.

There is the ‘missing middle’ – those who fall between the gaps due to not being at the higher level of acuteness and not meeting eligibility requirements for services funded to worth with people with mild mental health presentations.

To read the full interim report   pdf click here (1.54 MB)

Young people needing better access to services along with people of refugee background.

READ MORE

Danielle Couch joins the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors

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Tuesday 26 November 2019

Written by Rod

Exciting times as we welcome Public Health Researcher Danielle Couch to the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors at tonight's November meeting.

Danielle was elected to the Board at our Annual General Meeting on November 14.

Directors Katie Johnson and Dean McKay were re-elected for another term.

Danielle is excited about getting involved in BCHS with its social model of health and focus on providing accessible, quality health and social services.

She brings a strong interest in public and rural health, media, health workforce, communities and social models of healthcare.

Danielle holds a Master of Public Health and a PhD in public health with her work recognised by the inaugural Violet Vines Marshman Postdoctoral Fellow in Rural Health at La Trobe University in Bendigo.

She has an extensive history working in population health, health promotion and primary prevention with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, funding and commissioning organisations, digital health and peak consumer health bodies. 

Danielle has worked with Murray PHN, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative and Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group.

She is an Associate Editor with the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry and a member of the Public Health Association of Australia and The Australian Sociological Association.

Welcome Danielle!

Jenny Dillon stepped down from the board at the AGM and we thank her for the time and effort she gave BCHS during her stint as a Director.  

Who are the other members of the BCHS Board of Directors? To find out click here

Last updated: November 2019

Eaglehawk site takes direct hit from falling tree on Code Red Day

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Thursday 21 November 2019

Written by Rod

Our sincere thank you to the Eaglehawk community who were quickly on the phone to the Victoria State Emergency Service when our Seymoure Street site took a direct hit from this tree which has come crashing down in today's high winds.

Thankfully, our Eaglehawk site is closed today after we activated our Code Red Day Plan yesterday.

It's a stroke of very good fortune because while the major damage has happened to our new courtyard fence and surrounds, the tree has hit the roof and area above where the City of Greater Bendigo Maternal and Child Health nurses work.

It's safe to say the fact the site is closed and no one was in harm's way is something for which we are truly grateful.

We're on the site now assessing damage but it's clear the tree won't be removed today given the continuing high winds and dangers that creates.

We don't believe this incident should impact on the delivery of our bulk-billed medical practice and Allied Health services when the Eaglehawk site opens as normal at 8am tomorrow but we'll keep you informed if anything changes.

So thank you again to everyone who called the SES - that community support and care means a lot to us!

And thank you to the SES and other emergency services crews who are out and about in these atrocious conditions working to keep our community safe.

Stay safe everyone - it's a filthy day!

www.bchs.com.au I #BCHS #thereforyou

Code Red Bendigo plan activated at Bendigo Community Health Services

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Wednesday 20 November 2019

Written by Rod

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp has declared tomorrow (Thursday) a Code Red Day for the Northern Country region including Bendigo.

This means we need to activate our Code Red Day Plan for the safety of our staff and consumers.

So, on Thursday, November 21, the following will take place:

Kangaroo Flat site - closed.

Eaglehawk site - closed.

Bendigo Food Relief - when and where you can get support through the week

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Wednesday 20 November 2019

Written by Rod

The City of Greater Bendigo has established a list of Bendigo Food Relief options for the week.

To see or download the list click on this link: pdf Bendigo Food Relief - where and when you can go for food support (4.48 MB)

Bendigo Community Health Services operates a Thursday Soup Kitchen from 4pm to 5pm in our Fork In The Road community hub at 165-171 Hagreaves Street.

The soup kitchen provides free meals to those in need.

Last updated: November 2019.

Strategic Plan 2019-2024 launched by Bendigo Community Health Services

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Thursday 14 November 2019

Written by Rod

  pdf Bendigo Community Health Services Strategic Plan 2019-2024 (2.94 MB)

Bendigo Community Health Services launched a new Strategic Plan 2019-2024 at today's Annual General Meeting.

Bendigo Community Health Services embarked on a six-month journey of review and consultation in April 2019 to develop a new Strategic Plan for the next five years.

Clearly identifying our purpose and ensuring all services reach their full potential to support consumers and community were at the heart of the Strategic Plan journey.

The important themes of the Strategic Plan 2019-2024 were identified by an internal and external review of the health environment, community consultation and workshops with our managers, staff, partner agencies and stakeholders.

Please click here for a printable PDF version of the new Strategic Plan 2019-2024.

Please pdf click here (2.05 MB) for a printable PDF version of our Quality of Care Report 2018-2019.

The first draft of the Strategic Plan 2019-2024 was presented to our Board in May before more feedback was gathered through a BCHS Members and Stakeholders Survey and face-to-face community consultations at Eaglehawk Community House, Lansell Square Shopping Centre and a free barbecue outside the IGA Supermarket in Long Gully.

Thank you to everyone who helped us develop the Strategic Plan 2019-2024 – we are excited about what the future now holds.

The Strategic Plan 2019-2024 was endorsed by our Board of Directors on September 24 and will be complemented by a Leadership Charter signed by senior leadership with a commitment to strategic thinking, foresight in decision making, the ethical stewardship of people and management of resources and services.

Budget snapshot for Bendigo Community Health Services 2019-2020

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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. 

Please pdf click here (4.73 MB)  to download a PDF version of the full BCHS Audited Financial Statement for 2018-2019

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

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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

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Wednesday 16 October 2019

Written by Rod

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.