Strathdale Walking Group celebrates 10th birthday

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Wednesday 14 December 2016

Please note: This service is no longer available. To see what we are offering through the Active Living Program click here

Our Strathdale Walking Group celebrated their 10th anniversary with a morning tea at Kennington Reservoir today.

About 30 walkers turned up for the event including five members of the original group.

BCHS volunteers were also acknowledged by group co ordinator and healthy lifestyle facilitator Kathy Shatwell.

BCHs manager Kaye Graves congratulated the group on reaching their 10-year milestone.

Kaye said the group was about walking to stay healthy and enjoying a social outing with friends.

Among the group of six ‘originals’ were husband and wife Bill and Anne Flinn.

The couple joined the Strathdale Walking Group after moving to Bendigo from Melbourne in 2006.

“We were part of a health community group in Belgrave called Ranges,” Bill said.

“The only way you got into the group was to have a heart attack – it was a recovery group for heart attack victims. Then we went into the ‘Graduates’ - a walking group very similar to this and that’s why we joined when we got up here.

“In Seniors Week we saw this group advertised and thought it sounds like what we had in Melbourne so we joined up and we’ve been there ever since."

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Father and daughter spoil staff with kindness and generosity

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Tuesday 13 December 2016

John ‘Jack’ Healey and his daughter Glenda Brooker cooked up a plan to deliver one of the kindest gestures experienced by Bendigo Community Health Services staff in some time.

Jack’s daughter Glenda Brooker read a notice on a waiting room TV screen at our Eaglehawk site encouraging people to nominate staff providing excellent service for a Client Award.

Glenda was keen to have staff recognised given the support her father had received to maintain his health, wellbeing and mobility. There was just one problem … how could you nominate them all?

“Because my dad needed such a lot of care and he was constantly there, I felt like that we were part of the furniture and we just about knew every staff member by name there,’’ Glenda said.

"There are just too many wonderful people here at BCHS that take care of my father. I could never fill out a nomination for all of them.

“With all the attention that he’s had, not only there but at the Anne Caudle Centre as well, my father is now able to mow his lawns again and be so active again. It wasn’t like that a few months ago.”

So instead of filling out the nomination forms, Glenda and Jack put together a morning tea for the staff who care for them and the entire Eaglehawk site.

Team member and podiatrist Emma Millard said the staff involved in Jack’s care were delighted by the lovely gesture and recognition of the role they had played in keeping him as healthy and active as possible.

“Jack is a lovely gentleman who always provides a bit of humour and ‘cheek’ when he visits, and again we were very thankful for their kind thoughts,” Emma said.

Glenda who does a 160-kilometre round trip to help her father has also joined the BCHS Carers Wellbeing Program.

BCHS joins new partnership to improve the lives of refugee families in Bendigo

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Tuesday 13 December 2016

Exciting news – we are teaming up with the City of Greater Bendigo and Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services in a new project to improve the lives of refugee families settling in our city.

Our senior manager prevention and population health Kaye Graves explains the BCHS role in the new partnership will be to develop peer education models to address health barriers faced by people making a new home in Bendigo and to increase understanding of Australian culture, laws, systems, rights and responsibilities.

The project is part of a Bendigo Cultural Inclusion Project and funded through the Department of Multicultural Affairs.

“Many refugees and asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable people in Australia, having suffered torture, trauma, loss of identity and separation from family, friends and culture. This can seriously effect existing health conditions, especially when coupled with arriving in a country of unfamiliar laws, culture, a language barrier and poor knowledge of the health and education systems that exist,” Kaye explains.

“Helping these families learn about their new surrounds and Australian systems and providing them with good information about healthy eating and the benefits of physical activity can have such a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.”

The peer education models will include a focus on identifying people at risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, increasing knowledge and access to cancer screening programs and building understanding around the impact of family violence and gambling.

“Our Settlement Services team and the health and wellbeing services across the organisation allow us to enhance the quality of life for these new members to our community and this grant provides us with the security to continue this good work,” she said.

“We want to not only help new families settle here but provide them with the capacity to participate in the broader community.”

Beautiful moments between mothers and babies the focus of photography exhibition

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Tuesday 13 December 2016

Beautiful moments between mothers and their babies will be the focus of a new photography exhibition in Bendigo.

Babies In Focus is the work of Bendigo Community Health Services Young Pregnant and Parenting Program members.

Program co-ordinator Linda Robertson said the mothers were keen to exhibit their work after learning photography in a group workshop.

“Babies In Focus is a celebration of our young mums and their children,” Ms Robertson said.

“Some beautiful images of the babies and children were taken during and after the workshop.

These special moments sparked reflections and conversations from the young mums about their babies and children. There is something special in a mum’s eye when they see their child captured in a moment.”

Program member Sky Beswick experienced such a moment.

“My photo captures our world in a snapshot … there is so much love in one picture,” she said.

Another program member Taylor McLennan said the exhibition would show the value of the Young Pregnant and Parenting Program.

“It was great to see everyone participating in the photography workshop,” she said.

 The City of Greater Bendigo has provided great support for the YPPP group and exhibition.

See the Babies In Focus exhibition between 9am and 4pm in The COG building at 45 Mundy Street in Bendigo from November 8 to November 16.

An official exhibition launch will be held at The COG from 10.30am on November 8.

The Young Pregnant and Parenting Program supports young people 25 years or under with pregnancy and parenting information in a fun and social environment.

For more information on the program, call Linda Robertson on 5430 0500.

Cancer survivor says people must take bowel cancer screening seriously

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Monday 12 December 2016

Respected community identity Alan Ellis has urged people to take bowel cancer screening seriously after a lucky escape from the disease.

The former CFA Deputy Chief Officer and Bendigo Regional YMCA board president credits a decision to get serious about his health and visit his GP for regular check ups for saving his life.

Mr Ellis had no idea the fatigue and vague gastro-like symptoms he revealed to his GP would signal the start of a traumatic 11-month journey of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and recovery from bowel cancer.

He has told his story in support of the Bowel Cancer Screening and Early Detection Project being run by Bendigo Community Health Services with partners Murray PHN, Bendigo Health and Department of Health and Human Services.

“The fact that I took action early and decided to get things checked out enabled early diagnosis and treatment, and this is the primary reason I was able to successfully overcome the disease,” Mr Ellis said.

“This is the reason I believe very strongly in the importance of a bowel screening program.”

Bowel cancer screening is recommended every two years from the age of 50.

Mr Ellis has made a full recovery and today can regularly be seen out jogging or walking as part of an active life that includes honorary roles on the committees of the South Bendigo Football Netball Club and Relay For Life.

He has called on Bendigo residents to use their GP to help achieve good health and ensure cancer screening is up to date.

“Until something goes wrong, you take your health and wellbeing for granted,” he said.

“For me the big lesson I took from my experience is that you can make appropriate lifestyle choices which enhance your health and fitness but that is only a part of the equation. Routine visits to your GP can provide benchmarks for later in life when things start to naturally deteriorate and, as in my case, they can also enable early detection and intervention if something has gone suddenly wrong.”

Where you can you get a bowel cancer screening kit

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) provides Australians with kits sent through the mail.

The NBCSP is being phased in, and by 2020, those aged between 50 and 74 will receive a free kit every two years.

In 2016 free kits will be sent to those aged 50, 55, 60, 64, 65, 70, 72 and 74.

You can check when you will receive your next free kit at cancerscreening.gov.au or call 1800 118 868.

You can also speak with your GP about bowel cancer screening.

Dual Tools online training system goes statewide

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Monday 12 December 2016

A Bendigo Community Health Services training system to improve the treatment of people with co-occurring alcohol or drug and mental health conditions has expanded across Victoria.

The web-based Dual Tools training system has been successfully trialled in the Loddon Mallee region and will now be offered statewide through funding from the Federal Government’s Department of Health.

Dual Tools uses online modules and videos to deliver quality training to health and welfare professionals.

BCHS CEO Kim Sykes said around 300,000 Australians with a substance use condition had at least one co-occurring mental health issue.

“This must be a horrible situation for these Australians and their families so we designed Dual Tools to support the health and welfare workers that help them,” Ms Sykes said.

“We use this system because it is proven to support the workforce in increasing knowledge, awareness and confidence of Dual diagnosis.”

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Welcome a board - three new directors join BCHS

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Monday 12 December 2016

The Bendigo Community Health Services Board of Directors has welcomed three new members.

Vicki Pearce, Josh Pell and Dean McKay bring a wealth of knowledge to the organisation.

Vicki has extensive experience in the banking finance industry with the past 26 years at the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in senior roles including state manager of Victoria and Western Australia.

A BCHS board position continues Vicki’s passion of helping communities.

“I hope to make a difference to many people, especially those who are disadvantaged within our community,” Vicki said.

“I am keen to roll up my sleeves and get involved and assist in any way that I can to help people to gain access to positive life options.”

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Run For Dad raises $6600 for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

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Monday 12 December 2016

A wonderful effort with the annual Bendigo Run For Dad has raising $6600 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

More than 280 people took part in the Run For Dad on Father’s Day at Bendigo Racecourse with many dressing up to honour the event’s ‘super hero’ theme.

The Run For Dad was part of the first Bendigo Community Health Services Men’s Health Marathon – 11 days of activities to get men active and thinking about their health.

Foundation state manager for Victoria and Tasmania John Strachan said the Bendigo Run For Dad had become an important part of the calendar.

“Not only are the funds raised significant, it allows a fantastic opportunity to highlight prostate cancer awareness and men’s health messages to a strong regional community,” he said.

“As we are aware from research, prostate cancer presents a great challenge for men in rural Australia. There is a 21 per cent greater rate in mortality compared to their city counterparts. This is not due to a lack of local health services, but more so a delay in men seeking their testing options. As such it may mean they may be diagnosed at a more advanced stage of prostate cancer.

“The message is clear … men need to start having discussions with their GPs about PSA testing from the age of 50 or 40 if there is a family history of prostate cancer.

“The Run For Dad event is a perfect vehicle to get this message out there.”

Athletics Bendigo organises the Run For Dad and Keith Macdonald and the group are delighted with the success of the event this year.

“The fifth running of the Moira Macs Run For Dad was a great success with a great family atmosphere,” he said.

“Lots of family groups got involved in the theme of dressing up as their favourite super hero.

“Many people participated to support a loved one battling prostate cancer as well as creating an awareness of men’s health and that made for a very successful day.”

Mr Macdonald and his group has high hopes for the Run For Dad concept.

“It would be great to see a Run For Dad held in lots of towns across Australia to make it a truly national event and raise very significant funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.” 

Poyser Motor Group and BCHS partnership to support health and wellbeing of staff

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Monday 12 December 2016

A new partnership between Poyser Motor Group and Bendigo Community Health Services will support the health and wellbeing of staff.

Poyser Motor Group HR and OH&S officer Jo Taylor said the quality of working life for staff was a high priority for the company.

“We place a particular emphasis on the availability of work/life balance arrangements and aim to assist our team in ways which best fit their personal needs and those of our company,” she said.

“We want to invest in our team and ensure that they have the appropriate support they need to work to the best of their potential.”

Ms Taylor said Bendigo Community Health Services had helped the company plan and introduce a new health and wellbeing program.

“We are excited to start this journey with Bendigo Community Health Services,” she said.

Bendigo Community Health Services executive director Liz March said the organisation was keen to help Poyser Motor Group in taking a proactive approach to supporting the work/life balance of staff.

“Staff who proactively manage stress in their lives have fewer sick days and are more productive during work time," Ms March said.

"We value this partnership with Poyser Motor Group and would love to see other workplaces follow Poyser’s lead and implement their own health and wellbeing programs for staff."

Any business or organisation wanting more information about a health and wellbeing program or Work Health Assessment Program should call us on 5430 0500.

Fun day at Lansell Square puts women's health in the picture

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Monday 12 December 2016

We put women's health in the picture with a fun day of information, prizes, health assessments and photographs at Lansell Square on Wednesday.

The event was in support of Jean Hailes Women's Health Week and raised awareness about important issues such as regular check ups, blood pressure and diabetes.

The day was attended by women of all ages.

Importantly, our staff carried out more than 50 health checks on the day, referring four people to their GP for high blood pressure and 15 to our Life! Program after a risk assessment for Type 2 diabetes.

Huge thanks to nursing students from La Trobe University, Victoria University and Monash University who helped with the event as part of their placement with BCHS.

Oh, we even had the pleasure of meeting Moose from Seeing Eye Dog Australia.

Our staff have a strong commitment to caring for women in Bendigo.

Our Women’s Health Clinic, medical practices and wide range of support programs are committed to allowing you to live life well!

The Women’s Health Clinic is staffed by a female general practitioner and nurses and has a focus on:

• understanding puberty

• common issues with periods

• contraception options

• fertility information

• pregnancy tests

• early pregnancy care and referral to maternity hospitals

• unplanned pregnancy counselling and support

• sexually transmissible infection risk assessment, testing and treatment

• cervical cancer screening – pap tests

• breast health and breast checks

• bowel cancer screening

• emotional and physical issues of menopause; assessment and testing and support

• menopause

• managing life as an older woman

• women’s health education sessions

The clinic caters for all ages and you do not need a referral.

The Women’s Health Clinic runs from our Eaglehawk and Bendigo sites.

Choose the site nearest you and make an appointment by calling:

Bendigo 171 Hargreaves Street. Phone: 5448 1600. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm There is no cost for the appointment. If you have an emergency, call 000 immediately.

Eaglehawk 3 Seymoure Street Phone: 5434 4300 Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 9am – 5pm If you have an emergency, call 000 immediately.

Our doctor and nurses can offer information and advice on a wide range of sexual health issues including contraception, sexually transmittable infections, blood borne virus, pregnancy testing and unplanned pregnancy support.

Your appointment is carried out in a confidential environment with our sexual health nurses and is protected by privacy laws.

Medical practice

We have general practitioners to cater for all your health needs at our medical practices at the Bendigo, Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat sites. To see one of our GPs, call your nearest site below and make an appointment:

Bendigo 171 Hargreaves Street. Phone: 5448 1600. Hours: 9am to 5pm. If you are facing an emergency, call 000.

Eaglehawk 3 Seymoure Street Phone: 5434 4300 Hours: 9am to 5pm. If you are facing an emergency, call 000.

Kangaroo Flat 13 Helm Street. Phone: 5430 0500 Hours: 9am to 5pm. If you are facing an emergency, call 000.