Blog (Latest news) ...

Bendigo mental health support provided through great team in HeadtoHelp hub

: Tuesday 29 June 2021; Written by Rod

Meet some of our wonderful HeadtoHelp hub staff.

Our community has faced tough times with the COVID-19 Pandemic impacting on mental health, finances, job security and the pure joy of seeing family or friends.

It's okay to admit things aren't going well and talking to someone is the first step. Call 1800 595 212 to make an appointment with our HeadtoHelp hub staff.

We'd like to share the following feedback from some of our HeadtoHelp clients to show that reaching out can make a big difference. We publish these with the permission of the clients to help others in need .....

"The experience today was good. I have felt heard, and I feel that you are interested in me - this is new to me and I was going to give up on the system, but not now, I am comfortable to come back and see you again. It gives me hope."

: Tuesday 29 June 2021; Written by Rod

Health Promotion team member Siobhan sorts the coats.

Homeless and vulnerable residents in the Greater Bendigo area are being kept warm this winter through a generous Royal Flying Doctor Service donation of new UNIQLO coats to the Bendigo Community Coat Drive.

The donation has allowed Bendigo Community Health Services to supply coats to organisations including Haven Home Safe, Bendigo Family and Financial Services, Mad Cow homeless cafe and community houses in Eaglehawk, Heathcote and Long Gully.

"We distribute around 2000 coats each year so this generous donation from the Royal Flying Doctor Service means we can continue to care for the homeless and vulnerable members of our community even through these uncertain times around COVID-19 and ever-changing restrictions,'' Bendigo Community Health Services CEO Gerard José said.

"These coats are high quality and will do much to help the homeless, individuals and families struggling to make ends meet through these tough winter months. We can't thank the RFDS enough for not only their interest in regional healthcare but going above and beyond by supporting our community with a donation like this."

RFDS Victoria Chief Executive Officer Scott Chapman said the challenges of 2020 had brought out the best in some people.

''In the peak of the pandemic, our wonderful partners at UNIQLO came forward to see how they could help us directly, and in our broader efforts to support Victorians in need. Following a very generous donation of surgical face masks to keep our patients and staff safe, UNIQLO offered to work with us to identify a group who may be in need of winter jackets," Mr Chapman said.

: Monday 28 June 2021; Written by Rod

When you work together you can achieve great things.

Staff from Bendigo Community Health Services and Bendigo Health teamed up with the Karen Culture and Social support foundation Inc. to create history at the weekend - Bendigo's first COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the Karen community.

Our ongoing consultation with the Karen community to raise awareness around the vaccine showed a need for a special clinic.

Bendigo Health stepped in to provide staff to deliver the vaccines and Ashin Moonieinda offered the temple as a site.

That's team work!

It was a fantastic to see everyone working together to support the Karen community.

That's what community spirit is all about.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in this clinic.

Video: To step inside Saturday's historic COVID-19 vaccine clinic watch our video from the day. To watch click on the 'read more' button below.

Hazara community support: Watch a video as our staff help the Hazara community to attend the Bendigo Health COVID-19 vaccine centre in Mollison Street click here

Media: To read the Bendigo Advertiser's story on the Karen clinic click here

: Friday 25 June 2021; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services is a proud gold sponsor of Bendigo NAIDOC Week 2021.

It's part of our commitment to providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.

NAIDOC Week will run from July 4 to July 11 with the theme of 'Heal Country'.

To support the week we are sharing the official pdf Bendigo NAIDOC Week calendar of events (1.38 MB) .

Read our Acknowledgement to Country which is used before all internal and external meetings featuring Bendigo Community Health Services staff click here

Last updated: June 2021

Victorian Refugee Young Leader Award is great recognition for Ku Htee's wonderful work

: Wednesday 23 June 2021; Written by Rod

It's so exciting our Community Guide Ku Htee has won the 2021 Victorian Refugee Young Leader Award.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence MP announced the winners this afternoon.

“Victorian refugees and asylum seekers are a vital part of what makes Victoria so special and diverse – these awards are a wonderful way to celebrate their achievements and contributions,” Ros said.

Ku Htee is an absolute trailblazer ... the first refugee to complete a traineeship with BCHS and continuing that wonderful work today with the Settlement Services and Cultural Diversity and Relationships teams to keep the Karen community informed and educated on important health issues.

Ku Htee has been so important in helping to raise awareness and understanding in the Karen community about COVID-19 safety and the vaccine.

: Wednesday 23 June 2021; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services takes consumer rights seriously.

The rights of our consumers are important but so are the responsibilities of consumers in using our service.

Anyone who uses our services should be informed about rights as a service user and be aware of your responsibilities.

These are outlined below.

We appreciate your support and at times patience in following these guidelines.

You have the right to:

Be treated with courtesy and respect.
Receive health care which does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexuality or health status.
Individual, responsive and considerate care.
Prompt service, subject to staff availability.
Quality health care from trained and experienced staff.
Know the identity, professional status and qualifications of staff.
Request a transfer to, or obtain a second opinion from, an alternative health care worker from the same team, although this may involve travel to a different site.
Participate in decisions affecting your health care.
Have a friend, family member or professional advocate with you when receiving a service.
Decline any advice, information or treatment options given to you by your health care workers and to be fully informed of the consequences of that decision.
Refuse student involvement in the provision of your health care.
Refuse to participate in education or research programs.
Expect that information concerning you will be treated confidentially within Bendigo Community Health Services, according to privacy or information requirements.
Make a complaint about any matter to Bendigo Community Health Services and to have that complaint resolved through fair and adequate means.
Continue to receive services after making a complaint.

Consumer responsibilities:

Treat staff and others in the service with courtesy and respect.
Respect the privacy of others attending Bendigo Community Health Services.
Keep appointments and/or if unable to keep an appointment, to notify Bendigo Community Health Services as soon as possible.
Assist in planning your health care by giving accurate and complete information about your current health concerns.
Be actively involved in your own treatment, rehabilitation and health care.
Acknowledge the consequences of your decision if declining advance, information or treatment offered by a health care worker.
Respect any agreement made between you and your health care worker.

If you have any questions about your rights and responsibilities please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BCHS Consumer Information Book

To read or download a copy of our complete Consumer Information Book please click here

Last updated: June 2021

NDIS Bendigo - learn more about how the program can help you (Karen language)

: Tuesday 22 June 2021; Written by Rod

The National Disability Insurance Scheme supports people who have a permanent disability to achieve their goals.

You could qualify for NDIS support if you were born with a permanent disability or have acquired one later in life that severely impacts on the ability to do everyday tasks.

The NDIS can be very hard to understand for people using the scheme for the first time.

Our Settlement Services team have created this information booklet to help the Karen community learn more about disability and the NDIS.

To download and print out the information booklet pdf click here (4.60 MB)

This initiative has been created in partnership with Intereach, Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC), Amicus, Carer Support Services and Bendigo Health.

VIDEO: Understanding the NDIS (Karen language)

Our Community Guide Ma Paw explains the NDIS to the Karen community. To watch the video click on the 'read more' button below:

: Friday 11 June 2021; Written by Rod

Super proud of our nurse practitioner Louise Holland who won the Outstanding Contribution by a Nurse/Midwife category of the Victorian Rural Health Awards last night.

Louise does so much for our Women's Health Clinic and Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub but in true style declines to take the credit for herself.

"None of my work is done in isolation and we have SUCH AN AMAZING TEAM that my sincere thanks go to all of you," Louise said.

Wonderful stuff and thanks for all you do.

To watch Louise's little presentation from last night's awards ceremony click on the 'read more' button below.

: Friday 4 June 2021; Written by Rod

Sexual health is such an important issue but one that society doesn't like to talk about all that much.

So we're teaming up with Thorne Harbour Country and Women's Health Loddon Mallee to change that with a special online chat for the LGBTIQA+ community at 5.30pm on June 24.

Our sexual health nurse Mary-Anne will join with Claudia from Thorne Harbour Country, Ashleigh from Women's Health Loddon Mallee and Adam from Thorne Harbour Health to talk all things sexual health and most importantly answer any questions you might have.

You can absolutely do this anonymously by turning off your camera and displaying your preferred title if identity is an issue.

Or you can send questions in and the panel will answer them during the event.

RELATED INFORMATION

Bendigo Community Health Services calls for expressions of interest for new LGBTIQA+ Community Reference Group

Last updated: June 2021

Bendigo bottle shops urged to check ID for anyone who appears 25 or younger

: Thursday 3 June 2021; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services has called on bottle shops to stay vigilant in asking for identification before selling alcohol.

The call comes after the BCHS Health Promotion team conducted a Supply Monitoring Project that saw three volunteers aged over 18 but appearing 'underage' visit 30 Bendigo bottle shops to buy alcohol without identification.

BCHS volunteers found 16 bottle shops sold alcohol without requesting identification.

Two outlets asked for identification but sold alcohol despite the buyer saying they had no ID on them.

The remaining 12 bottle shops requested identification and refused to sell alcohol when ID could not be produced.

The Victorian Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 states it's illegal to supply alcohol or permit liquors to be supplied to a person under the age of 18 years.

It's considered 'best practice' for alcohol sale outlets to request ID for anyone appearing 25 years or younger.

BCHS Health Promotion team member Kahla Else said bottle shops had a responsibility to ensure Liquor Licensing Laws were followed to protect young people.

"If we are serious about reducing the impact alcohol has on communities then it's essential that the practices and laws put in place to protect young people and stop habits being formed are strictly followed," Ms Else said.

"It was encouraging that 12 bottle shops followed the law to the letter but really disappointing 18 did not.

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 executive

News from our executive
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.

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Bendigo mental health support provided through great team in HeadtoHelp hub

Bendigo coat drive helps homeless and vulnerable in community after wonderful donation

Refugee COVID-19 vaccine clinic creates a little bit of history for Bendigo Karen community

Bendigo NAIDOC Week calendar of events for 2021 - theme Heal Country

Victorian Refugee Young Leader Award is great recognition for Ku Htee's wonderful work