Mental Health Month a reminder to be kinder to ourselves and others
BENDIGO Community Health Services is encouraging people to use Mental Health Month as a reminder to be kind to themselves and others.
October is a time when people come together to raise awareness and promote better mental health for all.
Bendigo Community Health Services Mental Health Clinician, Oriane Landry, says while this month focuses on mental health, we should always be mindful that many people are carrying heavy loads and ‘we can all be kinder to ourselves and those around us’.
“Across the globe, we are experiencing worker shortages and cost of living pressures,” she said.
“Most people are carrying the heaviest load (physically and metaphorically) they’ve ever carried, and the road ahead is long.
We’re delivering important road safety education for new arrivals to Bendigo
A program for new Bendigo residents arriving from overseas is making our roads safer for all – while building important relationships.
Bendigo Community Health Services is delivering the road safety program thanks to a State Government Community Road Safety grant.
Through the program, newly arrived migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aged over 21 years are increasing their road safety knowledge, awareness and skills.
The program supports new residents to understand road rules, along with pedestrian, cyclist and driver behaviour – building their confidence on Victorian roads.
Participants who hold a licence can also access up to two paid professional driving lessons with a driving instructor.
Get your comfy shoes out, This Girl Can week is all about you
Girls and women of Bendigo, it’s time to get your comfy shoes out – the next two weeks are all about you.
Bendigo Community Health Services, Sports Focus and City of Greater Bendigo are inviting you to a fortnight of fun, free, female-friendly activities as part of the This Girl Can movement.
Head of Vichealth’sThis Girl Can (Victoria), Rebecca Ahern says the week is about creating more opportunities for women be active in their local community, no matter their age, background, or abilities.
“This Girl Can – Victoria is all about celebrating what women can do, whether that’s a walk around the block or a few laps of the pool,” she said.
Australian-first research study ‘Learnings from a pandemic – connecting with communities in social housing’
Bendigo Community Health Services today joined Swinburne University of Technology, Connect Health and Community, Star Health, Merri Health and Peninsula Health to launch the Australian-first research study ‘Learnings from a pandemic – connecting with communities in social housing’.
The five community health organisations worked with Swinburne to undertake research into the lived experiences of social housing residents and managers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each organisation was responsible for delivering the High-Risk Accommodation Response program, which was co-designed by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and community health providers across the state, to engage with and respond to the needs of vulnerable communities during the multiple COVID peaks and outbreaks in these settings.
BCHS urges liquor outlets to ask for identification
Bendigo Community Health Services is urging takeaway liquor outlets to recognise their responsibility not to serve alcohol to people under the age of 18.
Our latest Supply Monitoring audit, which involves a number of people appearing ‘under age’ visiting 30 Bendigo outlets to purchase alcohol without identification, found:
- 11 sold alcohol without first asking for ID
- 1 sold alcohol even after the purchaser said they did not have ID
- 18 outlets asked for ID and refused to sell if the purchaser didn’t have any
- 29 per cent of chain outlets sold alcohol without asking for ID
- 67 per cent of independent outlets sold alcohol without asking for ID
- 70 per cent of franchise outlets sold alcohol without asking for ID
- 76 per cent of audited stores were almost empty at the time of purchase, and of the 23 per cent quite busy outlets 43 per cent sold alcohol without asking for ID.
BCHS Board of Directors – call for nominations
BCHS currently has three positions for strategic and collaborative leaders to join our board, who will help guide and grow our organisation into the future.
Bendigo Community Health Services delivers more than 50 programs across the region, which help people live healthier and more connected lives.
This includes access to GPs, along with services covering families and children, mental health and counselling, alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, men’s and women’s health clinics, supporting the LGBTIQ community and refugee settlement. BCHS also helps people manage specific health and wellbeing needs, such as managing their mental health or living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory issues or heart disease.
Embracing the spirit of friendship
At a time when the world feels unstable, the people of Greater Bendigo are being called upon to embrace the spirit of friendship this weekend.
Bendigo Community Health Services, the City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services and Believe in Bendigo are encouraging residents to celebrate the International Day of Friendship, which falls annually on July 30.
The United Nations International Day of Friendship was proclaimed with the ‘idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities’.
BCHS to lead new Loddon Infant, Child and Family Health Wellbeing Hub
Bendigo Community Health Services has been named as the lead agency for a new Loddon Infant, Child and Family Health Wellbeing hub.
The hub is one of three across Victoria announced today by the State and Federal governments.
Families across the Loddon region with children aged 0-11 years will have access to a one-stop shop for mental health care and health and wellbeing support, with the hub delivering a range of specialist medical and allied health services such as paediatricians, psychologists, parenting support and speech pathologists under one roof.
The hub will also provide free assessments for development issues and autism.
BCHS says women should have autonomy over their health
Bendigo Community Health Services supports a woman’s right to make decisions about her own health.
Following the dangerous US decision to overturn Roe V Wade, BCHS is concerned about the impact at a local level on women seeking pregnancy terminations (abortions).
BCHS provides specialist nurse-led care for women seeking terminations until 9 weeks gestation.
On average, our Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub supports four women a week to medically terminate a pregnancy, however the number of women phoning our service seeking information or referrals for surgical termination is much higher.
BCHS resumes Thursday Soup Kitchen
Bendigo Community Health Services will next week resume providing free meals to those who need them.
After a two-year break because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the soup kitchen will again operate out of Fork in the Road community hub each Thursday evening.
The Thursday Soup Kitchen operates in partnership with the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Clients working with the Department improve their cooking and customer service skills, by preparing meals for distribution to those who attend each week.
