Blog

Welcome to Bendigo video showcases services, sites and opportunities that make community great for Karen

: Thursday 7 March 2019; Written by Rod

We are so proud of our Karen Youth Group for producing this fantastic ‘Welcome to Bendigo’ video.

The video is the result of the group’s desire to showcase Bendigo as a wonderful multicultural destination and make Karen people feel truly welcome by introducing them to the services, opportunities, sites and attractions that make living in this community so great.

The group discussed ideas for the video and wrote the script under the guidance of Bendigo Community Health Services case worker and youth group co-ordinator Nay Chee Aung who has long held an ambition to produce such a resource.

Youth group members starred in the video and then edited the final content with the support of volunteer Cameron Smith from Voice Box Films.

The video covers a wider range of topics including:

The history of Bendigo
Karen community involvement in the city
Religious groups
Karen celebrations
Sport
Cultural differences
Opportunities such as education and work, volunteering, safety and freedom of speech.

Watch the video (English translation below): http://bit.ly/KarenWelcomeToBendigo

The great news is we are finalising production on an Afghan Welcome to Bendigo video written and filmed by another of our youth groups.

Please share the video with anyone you think could benefit from the Karen welcome messages. If you would like a DVD copy of the video please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (03) 5448 1600.

: Wednesday 27 February 2019; Written by Rod

We need 20 women from the Loddon Mallee region to help us raise community awareness about intrauterine devices.

It's all about letting the community know more about IUDs and improving access to this form of contraception for women.

We're getting some wonderful help from renowned expert Dr Paddy Moore from The Women’s Hospital who will travel to Bendigo to oversee free clinics that will help women get access to IUDs and build the capacity of local health practitioners to deliver the service to the community.

So we need volunteers to attend the Bendigo Community Health Services Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub at the Central site in Hargreaves Street for the free clinics in late March.

You will need only pay for the IUD device.

Our sexual health team is committed to raising community awareness about the benefits of intrauterine devices as a form of contraception and ensure this lifestyle choice becomes more accessible to all women.

Sexual health nurse Mary-Anne McCluskey explains an intrauterine device is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy or help manage heavy and painful periods.

: Monday 25 February 2019; Written by Rod

It's going to be a stinker in Bendigo this week! When extreme heat conditions are forecast it's important people consider a heat health action plan ...

Last updated: February 25, 2019, at 9am.

The temperatures in Bendigo are going to sit in the high 30s for the next three days.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions occurring when the body’s temperature rises and the internal organs start to shut down.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion range from muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea to vomiting and fainting.

The risk of heat stress is higher for young children as they sweat quicker than adults and are less likely to be able to tell you they are dehydrated.

There are simple things people can do to prevent their children from suffering dehydration, heat stress or worse.

Make sure they are drinking water rather than sport drinks or fruit juices and if you’re worried they might be dehydrated, ask them when they last went to the toilet. If it’s been a few hours then they’re not drinking enough. If it’s been over six hours then they are likely to be dehydrated.

Here is some general health information for extreme heat conditions.

: Monday 25 February 2019; Written by Rod

We're always looking for ways to improve your experience when visiting us ... so ... on Monday we're relaunching Ask Me 3.

It's all about improving the care you receive at BCHS.

Sometimes given the circumstances people have trouble remembering and understanding information around issues with their health and wellbeing. We're going to help you with that.

Ask Me 3 encourages people to use three important questions during an appointment to understand the problem and the treatment needed.

A survey of more than 34,000 people who used Ask Me 3 found the process helped them feel more informed, encouraged them to take a more active role in their healthcare and gave them a greater understanding of the risks they faced.

Anything that gets people more involved in their health and wellbeing is a good thing - so here we go! If you come to us for care from Monday, don't be surprised if you're prompted to Ask Me 3!

If you're not sure about Ask Me 3, our friendly client services staff will show you the way.

Ask Me 3 is part of the Bendigo Community Health Services commitment to Quality, Safety and the Consumer Experience.

We've committed our staff to training to make sure the Ask Me 3 program reaches its full potential.

Now it's about raising community awareness that Ask Me 3 is a valuable tool to ensure you can take an active role in your healthcare.

Download the Ask Me 3 form here: pdf Ask Me 3 form: Print out and take to your next healthcare appointment (1.06 MB)

Mental health and wellbeing community awareness the focus of 2019 #5ways to Wellbeing

: Thursday 21 February 2019; Written by Rod

Health promotion workers Isabel Nichol-Smith and Siobhan Sullivan.

It's time to put the spotlight on mental health and wellbeing with our second annual #5ways to Wellbeing campaign.

The campaign provides a week full of fun and educational activities from March 22 to March 25 to engage you and the rest of the community to think about mental health and wellbeing and why these are important to living a healthier lifestyle.

Our first #5ways to Wellbeing campaign engaged with almost 50,000 people last year and we're keen to spread the message even wider in 2019.

Check out the great activities we have planned below and choose one or more that suits you!

Click on this link to download a #5ways to Wellbeing activities sheet with information on all the great events planned: pdf #5ways to Wellbeing 2019 activities at a glance (314 KB)

RECAP 2018: Check out some of the great videos from people doing inspiring things in our community that formed part of our first #5ways campaign: http://bit.ly/TakeNoticeStories

Day 1: Take Notice

Monday, March 25

Too often we miss the little things, we want you to slow down and ‘take notice’ of the world around you.

Enter our photo competition and show how you take notice of the world around you.

Submit your entry for one of three categories:

Bendigo Highlights: Enter a photo that captures something great that Bendigo has to offer. Could be your favourite building, landscape, nature or something that shows what Bendigo means to you.

Connect: Take a photo of your best friend, family or pets or anyone that makes you feel happy.

Be Active: Enter an action photo that shows how to be active. It could be playing sport, taking the dog for a walk or playing in the playground.

Be creative and enter for your chance to win a great prize!

Send your pictures to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via our Facebook page. Don't forget to include some details about why the picture is special to you!

Please note: Pictures entered will be used on our website and could appear on our social media platforms.

If you are interested in sponsoring our photographic competition to help us with prizes please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today. We'd love your support to help us raise awareness about mental health in the community.

: Wednesday 13 February 2019; Written by Rod

Melanie Eddy has joined the BCHS Board of Directors.

Melanie Eddy has joined the Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors.

The director at Tyndall Eddy Partners accounting firm in Bendigo has joined the board to further passions around equality, social justice, family, health and wellbeing.

“The health, both physical and mental, of myself and my family has always been very important to me. Because of this I have always placed a high priority on putting effort into preventative health and wellbeing measures," Melanie said.

"This includes utilising local health services, participating and being involved in local sporting communities, creating and fostering relationships within our school community and implementing healthy eating habits.

"I have also always had a strong sense of social justice in the past.

"I have tried to work out a way to utilise my finance expertise to help those that need it most.

"Being a BCHS Board Director is a perfect way for me to act on my belief in equality for all by using my finance experience and also my passion for health and wellbeing.”

Welcome aboard Melanie!

Prescription medication - how we can reduce the harm in Bendigo

: Monday 11 February 2019; Written by Rod

It's a horrifying statistic that prescription medications caused the overdose deaths of 49 people in Greater Bendigo from 2009 to 2015.

With such an ever present danger it's essential to raise community awareness about this issue.

Bendigo Community Health Services is supporting a Scriptwise community event in Bendigo on Tuesday, February 26, that will start the discussion about what our community can do to reduce medication harms.

The event in the Bendigo TAFE auditorium at 23 Mundy Street will run from 3.30pm to 5pm.

Our Alcohol and Other Drugs nurse practitioner Cam Cail will join a panel discussion with local health professionals and experts followed by questions and answers from the audience.

A mother who lost her son to an accidential opiod overdose will be a guest speaker at the event while a short documentary called One Too Many will screen.

A new system called SafeScript will be introduced this year after a successful trial in the Wimmera area of Victoria.

SafeScript provides doctors and pharmacists with access to a person's prescription history for high risk pain and seadtive medications to enable safer clinical decisions.

Scriptwise is holding community events to raise awareness about the dangers of medication and the fact there are effective treatments and supports available for people who have developed a medication dependence.

Use this link to register for the Scriptwise community event in Bendigo on Tuesday: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/preventing-harm-in-bendigo-tickets-55321967494

: Monday 11 February 2019; Written by Rod

UPDATED: April 8, 2019.

Our big, bright and welcoming reception area is now open at the Kangaroo Flat site.

The new reception is now on the other side of our Kangaroo Flat building to provide better access to our kidzspace hub.

To access the new reception you must use the kidzspace driveway about 50 metres further along Helm Street from our old carpark beside the kinder and City of Greater Bendigo Maternal and Child Health Centre.

EARLIER: There’s exciting things happening at our Kangaroo Flat site in Helm Street.

We’re creating a new ‘welcoming’ reception area with huge windows for plenty of natural light and extra space to make the consumer experience more comfortable and nicer all round.

Reception will move to the other side of the building to provide better access to our kidzspace hub too.

BUT… yes, there’s always a but right!

We’re going to need your support for the next five or so weeks as it’s going to get a bit hectic out there as Bendigo company Total Fit Out get to work on building this new reception.

It’ll be business as usual at Kangaroo Flat as far as service delivery goes, but to make things easier and safer for all, we’ve set up a temporary reception in our kidzspace building.

You can easily access this reception via a driveway that’s about 50 metres or so further along Helm Street from our traditional car park.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call on 5430 0500 and we’ll help you out.

We really appreciate your support and patience as we create this brand new reception area for everyone. Thank you.

Learn more about all the services we run from Kangaroo Flat at www.bchs.com.au

To download a map that shows you how to get from the old reception area to the new one image click here (566 KB)

Black Saturday Bendigo memories remain with BCHS staff who helped with recovery effort - 10 years on from Victorian bushfires

: Wednesday 6 February 2019; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services staff Steve Hart, Maria Sheldon, Mary-Anne Richardson, Kaye Graves, Lisa Walklate, Martine Street, Brooke Williams, Bronwyn Moore (front left) and Melissa Killen (front right).

Bendigo Community Health Services played a key role in the Bendigo recovery effort after the devastating Black Saturday bushfire of February 7, 2009. A dedicated team of our staff supported and cared for those most affected by the trauma of the fire as part of the State Government’s Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service established within hours of the event. As Victoria marks the 10th anniversary of Black Saturday, the staff who remain with Bendigo Community Health Services today reflect back on the time and the memories that have stuck with them through the past decade …

Kaye Graves walked into the Bendigo bushfire recovery centre on February 8 and ‘left two years later’.

Such was the enormity of the Black Saturday bushfire and the impact on Bendigo.

Kaye’s work in the recovery centre in the immediate aftermath of the fire flowed into establishing a Bendigo Community Health Service case management team to work with those most affected.

The utter shock and devastation for those that lost everything is what Kaye remembers most.

“Precious belongings lost forever and, of course, pets. Survivor’s guilt for some that they survived and others perished. Grief was palpable,” Kaye said.

“The demand was huge and initially there were few systems and resources. Initially, we helped by assisting with identity and bank cards, teeth, hearing aids, glasses, underwear.”

Kaye case managed one client.

“I cared for the woman who lost her husband and her cats … we keep in touch occasionally,” she said.

Kaye remembers the community spirit.

“I made an arrangement with dentists to do some pro bono work and got Specsavers to replace glasses using a voucher system. Blue Illusion donated masses of new clothes and we stored them at Beck Legal. My dear mother sent over two car loads of toiletries which stayed on my billiard table with family bagging them up … all hands-on deck!” she said.

Kaye remains proud of the Bendigo Community Health Services work at the time.

“The Bendigo Community Health Services response was awesome, as were our staff,” she says.

“It was a privilege to undertake this work, walk beside the devastated, influence the model of care. BCHS also developed an innovative health assessment, health coaching model funded by the Bendigo Bank which was unique and highly-regarded as stress levels remained high which has a negative physiological effect as we know. Many would access this program instead of counselling. It acted as a vehicle for engagement, too.”

Walking the streets most impacted by the bushfire to knock on doors and find people needing support who had not registered is the most vivid memory for Bronwyn Moore.

: Thursday 31 January 2019; Written by Rod

We have been so fortunate to receive two wonderful donations from Share the Dignity through the #Itsinthebag campaign.

These handbags have been donated by generous people across the state and will be delivered to our consumers in need through all our teams.

Our delivery of more than 200 handbags at Christmas time have already gone to grateful consumers, many reduced to tears by the kindness of strangers.

So, what makes people be so generous? Well, we'd like to share with you one of the cards attached to a donated handbag which included a host of products including Village Cinemas Gold Class movie tickets.

The card read:

"To whom my bag finds it’s way too.

"We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that 2019 brings you good fortune, good luck, happiness and great health.

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.