Blog

Futsal tournament proves a victory for Bendigo multicultural community

: Monday 23 July 2018; Written by Rod

Long Gully Legends are the Bendigo Futsal Multicultural Tournament champions for 2018.

Sporting the tops of world football clubs Liverpool, LA Galaxy and Tottenham Hotspur, the Long Gully Legends overcome Karen Culture and Social Support Foundation B to win the final.

The tournmanent was another great success with teams enjoying some high quality play at the Futsal Institute Bendigo stadium in Golden Square.

Our Settlement Services team organised the annual tournament to encourage fun, participation and inclusion.

Each team featured at least four players who have lived in Australia for less than four years.

Long Gully Legends received a Bendigo Futsal Multicultural Tournament perpetual trophy.

Futsal is a modified version of traditional soccer and embraced around the world.

The popularity of the sport with Karen and Afghan communities in Bendigo motivated BCHS to kick off the annual tournament in 2014.

Settlement Services manager Martine Street said organising events such as the futsal tournament was important for the BCHS team.

"Participation in organised activities, social connection and physical activity are priority areas for the work done by our staff - it's great to see that effort rewarded with events such as this multicultural futsal tournament," she said.

To learn more about our refugee and settlement services visit www.bchs.com.au

Run For Dad Bendigo - registrations open for 2018 Father's Day fun run

: Friday 20 July 2018; Written by Rod

The Run For Dad has a superhero theme. Dress up and be part of the fun.

Registrations are open for the Run For Dad Bendigo 2018 at Bendigo Racecourse on Father's Day.

The annual fun run organised by Athletics Bendigo raises awareness of men's health and prostate cancer while supporting our men's health clinic and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

The September 2 Run For Dad Bendigo features a 3.75km run/walk or a 7km run.

All entrants receive a participation medal and a free breakfast.

TO REGISTER YOUR PLACE CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/RunForDad2018

Barry Plant Bendigo has signed on as the major sponsor of the Run For Dad Bendigo in 2018. To read more: click here

Volunteers wanted to help new refugee families settle in Bendigo

: Friday 6 July 2018; Written by Rod

Do you have at least one spare day each week and a desire to help us settle refugees into a new life in Bendigo?

Yes! Brilliant! Please read on ...

With a large number of new families arriving in Bendigo, we need some dedicated, long-term volunteers to support our Humanitarian Settlement Program.

These volunteers must be available at least one full day each week to support our refugee families attend appointments, learn how to use public transport and to find private rental properties.

In the area of housing, our volunteers will need to:

build strong relationships with real estate agents.
carry out online real estate searches.
attend open inspections to ensure properties are appropriate.
support clients to complete lease or bond applications.
attend lease signings.
organise utility connections.
complete condition reports before families move in.

: Thursday 5 July 2018; Written by Rod

Move over FIFA World Cup - the Bendigo Futsal Multicultural Tournament is almost here!

Our Settlement Services team has organised the tournament for July 21 at the Futsal Institute Bendigo in Golden Square.

We're now looking for teams to register for the tournament.

The six-a-side tournament is all about getting out and having some fun with all teams needing to have at least four players who have been in Australia less than five years.

Players need to have proper shoes and shin pads too.

Sound good? Register your team by calling Settlement Services team members Zahir Azimi or Nay Chee Aung on (03) 5448 1600.

The winning team will receive a perpetual trophy.

: Tuesday 26 June 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services staff Charles Davies and Hannah Coghill with posters promoting the responsible sale of alcohol.

Bendigo bottle shop owners and licensees must help protect improving trends in teenage drinking by maintaining strict controls on alcohol sales without appropriate proof-of-age identification.

Bendigo Community Health Services is working with schools through a Smart Generation Program to educate students and parents on the dangers of alcohol.

BCHS Smart Generation co-ordinator Anne-Marie Kelly said studies in 2014 and 2016 had shown welcome improvement in the attitudes of young people to alcohol.

“A 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found 80 per cent of 12 to 17 year olds had abstained from alcohol. This compares very favourably to an Australian government survey in 2014 that found 68 per cent of 12 to 17 year olds were obtaining alcohol from home, friends or buying themselves from a bottle shop,” Ms Kelly said.

Ms Kelly said monitoring bottle shop sales was a key component of the Smart Generation Program and with a 2018 audit planned the organisation wanted to see better results than 2017 which showed some outlets weren’t doing enough to ensure improving teenage drinking trends continued.

“We had two 18-year-olds of underage appearance visit 28 Bendigo outlets on two separate occasions to try and buy alcohol without proof-of-age identification,” she said.

“The audit found 67 per cent of outlets sold alcohol without the presentation of identification.

“We even had one bottle shop do the right thing by asking for proof-of-age ID but when it wasn’t provided, sold the alcohol anyway.”

: Wednesday 20 June 2018; Written by Rod

Ma Ka La and Tha Hser have called Bendigo home for five weeks.

The Karen refugees have only known life in the Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand where they were born and raised.

Today they share their stories, thoughts and dreams as we celebrate International Refugee Day and Refugee Week 2018 ...

Tell us about yourself

Ma Ka la

I am 20 years.

I was born in Mae La Refugee Camp and until coming to Australia have spent my entire life in the camp. I was not able to go outside the camp.

I arrived in Australia on 3 May, 2018. For one year I knew I was coming to live in Australia. I knew little about Australia before leaving Thailand but I did know that all people are equal in Australia, people are treated equally under the law and people have freedom of speech and that is why I am so happy to be able to come to live in Australia.

If I have a chance to live in Australia it will be a chance to have study past Year 12 for my future. This is a great opportunity for me to continue to study and achieve my aim of becoming a nurse.

I can also help my family who are still in Mae La Refugee Camp.

Tha Hser

I arrived in Bendigo on 3 May, 2018. 10 years ago I found out about the chance to come to Australia. I knew the location of Australia, kangaroos, koalas and other Australian animals.

What are your goals?

Ma Ka la

I want to improve my English and practice English conversation. I have studied English at the school at Mae La camp for the past nine years with a Karen teacher but need to improve. I have to try hard on my study and to improve English, it is broken. I like English class to improve English but need more chance to practice English.

At school the teachers help us and treat us as friends, we are not looked down on.

I learnt about health as a subject at school in the camp. Actually I will try hard for higher education and to study nursing. I wish to look after people with a disability to help if they need help. If I become a nurse I can help other people who need my help and also because my family and Karen people who don’t have education I can help them as well.

Tha Hser

I would like to become a nurse; I like helping people and learning about health. Getting a licence and getting my own house. Leaning about the Australian government systems and the Australian way of life will help me achieve my dreams.

: Wednesday 13 June 2018; Written by Rod

The Bendigo TAFE students and teacher Shane Kennedy.

What a truly amazing gesture.

This group of Bendigo TAFE students read about our plans to establish a community hub to help disadvantaged, vulnerable, lonely and homeless people build work and life skills so they promptly volunteered to paint the entire space.

The Painting and Decorating Certificate II students spent a week cleaning, repairing, preparing and painting walls, cupboard and tiles under the guidance of teacher Shane Kennedy.

“What a great way to help out the community and give these students some real life training,” Shane said.

“None of these students had painted before so what they have achieved in a short time is impressive and a credit to them all for sticking it out.

“If they don’t end up in the painting industry, I think it has inspired them to participate in other training.

“Vikki, Luke, Sebastian, Zac and Otto played a big part in the project and just wanted to help out people less fortunate.

“Thanks for the project and I know there are five students that are proud of their achievements.”

: Friday 8 June 2018; Written by Rod

Bendigo Community Health Services and Burnet Institute is embarking on an All Time High regional roadshow to support professionals working with people using any type of drug.

The roadshow will involve a series of workshops covering topics such as evolving drug patterns, injecting behaviour among forensic cohort and Hep C transmission in communities that inject drugs.

Castlemaine, Maryborough, Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura will host roadshow stops.

The roadshow is an expansion of the successful Bendigo All Time High forums run by Bendigo Community Health Services last year.

The State Government's Ice Action Plan will fund the roadshow with Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley announcing the grant during a visit to Bendigo last year.

BOOK YOUR PLACE: See the full list of venues and dates and links to book your place below

The workshops are designed to deliver the latest information to professionals to help build knowledge and skills so they can provide the best support to people under their care.

Burnet Institute will provide presenters for the roadshow, including:

Michael Curtis

Michael is working as a research assistant for the PATH Cohort Study and MIX Cohort Study. His research interests include injecting drug use, homelessness, mental health, young people and post-prison outcomes.

: Thursday 31 May 2018; Written by Rod

Our own staff might have sneaked a cookie or two!

Well, our aim was to 'connect' with as many people as possible today through the #5ways to Wellbeing campaign.

The response has been amazing. Thank you Bendigo!

Our staff were run off their feet delivering more than 3000 cookies to over 50 businesses and community organisations across the city.

The cookies carried wellbeing messages and encouraged people to take time out to spend some time together.

It's all about raising awareness of the importance of health and wellbeing in daily life and no matter how busy you are taking time out for yourself.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our #5ways cookie giveaway.

It's been a huge thrill for us and we hope you enjoyed it too.

Check out some of the great cookie pictures from today

#5ways to Wellbeing Week recap

Have you missed all the action from the #5ways to Wellbeing Week so far. Here's a recap.

: Monday 28 May 2018; Written by Rod

Welcome to our #5ways to Wellbeing Week.

It's our way of reminding the community that wellbeing is about how you are feeling and dealing with daily life.

A refresher that good mental health is essential to living a happy and healthy life.

From today until Friday we’re hosting a different activity each day designed to remind the community why wellbeing is important.

It's time for ...

Day 1: Take Notice

Today we meet six people who spend their days doing great things to make a difference and inspire others.

It's about showing positivity is important and can make a difference to the community.

Leanne Turner

Business owner and mum to four children

Leanne has two children on the autism spectrum.

Frustrated at the lack of toys readily available for children on the spectrum, Leanne decided to do something about it.

The family opened Fidget Kids in February this year.

Passionate about creating awareness of autism and supporting special needs families, Leanne goes out of her way to make sure parents and kids are happy.

Watch a video of Leanne's story here: https://youtu.be/P87wpsREHsY

Lisa Rashleigh

Staff member at Bendigo Health

Lisa is described by the colleagues her nominated her as the sunshine of the Bendigo Health office.

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.