Category: Blog

Jega Benny: It’s such a gift to be involved so closely with the lives of the children and their families

It’s National Family Day Care Australia Week.

A time to celebrate the unique and valuable contribution the family day care sector makes for families, children and the community.

The theme for this year is ‘Every Child Is A Star’ and there are more than 107,000 children in Family Day Care across Australia.

Our Bendigo Family Day Care team wants to celebrate the diversity, knowledge, passion and dedication the FDC educators provide in City of Greater Bendigo and Loddon Shire.

We are lucky to have FDC educators that have been with us for over 30 years and some only three weeks.

To recognise National Family Day Care Week we’d love to introduce you to some of our amazing educators.

We thank each and every one of our educators, both past and present!

Today, let’s meet …..

Jega Benny 

Jega is a passionate art enthusiast, science and nature buff.

We all have learnt so much from Jega with the amazing experiences and projects she provides to the children over the years.

Jega is a mum to two fabulous adult children, with a strong faith and family focus.

We asked Jega to reflect on her time with Bendigo Family Day Care:

How long of you been working for Bendigo FDC?

I have been with Bendigo FDC since 2014, the seven years has simply flown by!

Prior to that I was the textiles, art, horticulture (just to name a few) specialist teacher at Creek Street Christian College since 2010 where I could practice and share my skills and passions with large groups, now however I love the intimacy and one-on-one type learning I can do with small groups in family day care.

Why did you choose to start an FDC service?

It was on my wish list since moving to Australia from India over 17 years ago, however, being in a small rental and getting settled in, the opportunity didn’t arrive until I moved to Bendigo and I have never regretted the decision.

What do you find most rewarding about being a family day care educator?

Jo Morris: It’s a great honour to be entrusted to help nurture and inspire the children

It’s National Family Day Care Australia Week.

A time to celebrate the unique and valuable contribution the family day care sector makes for families, children and the community.

The theme for this year is ‘Every Child Is A Star’ and there are more than 107,000 children in Family Day Care across Australia.

Our Bendigo Family Day Care team wants to celebrate the diversity, knowledge, passion and dedication the FDC educators provide in City of Greater Bendigo and Loddon Shire.

We are lucky to have FDC educators that have been with us for over 30 years and some only three weeks.

To recognise National Family Day Care Week we’d love to introduce you to some of our amazing educators.

We thank each and every one of our educators, both past and present!

First up, let’s meet …..

Jo Morris – Heathcote

How long of you been working for Bendigo Family Day Care?

I started FDC in 1992 when it was with the Shire of McIvor which then transitioned to Bendigo Regional FDC.

Why did you choose to start an FDC service?

Family Day Care Week 2021: Meet some of our wonderful childcare educators

It’s National Family Day Care Australia Week.

The theme for this year is ‘Every Child Is A Star’ and there are more than 107,000 children in Family Day Care across Australia.

Our Bendigo Family Day Care team wants to celebrate the diversity, knowledge, passion and dedication the educators provide in the City of Greater Bendigo and Loddon Shire.

We are lucky to have educators that have been with us for over 30 years and some only three weeks.

To recognise National Family Day Care Week we’d love to introduce you to some of our amazing educators.

We thank each and every one of our educators, both past and present!

Meet some of our wonderful Family Day Care educators?

Kylie Jacka

Kylie is a passionate educator dedicated to the Early Childhood sector and to the wellbeing of children.

She enjoys mentoring other educators and working closely with the team.

With a strong value of natural open-ended play and a ‘Can Do’ attitude, Kylie brings some fun to the Strathdale community.

To read Kylie’s full story click here

Wendy Whelan

Wendy as been with the Bendigo FDC family for 21 years! 

Wendy would hate us saying that … LOL.

However, we have been lucky enough to enjoy and not only share the growth of her three children whilst they were in care, but we saw Wendy grow into a confident educator who motivates others and is always there for her peers and families since she applied to be an educator herself.

I think most of Wendy’s families and children would agree when we say that Wendy is always there to help others and is such a hoot to hang out with, the children adore her and her family.

We asked Wendy to reflect on her time with Bendigo FDC. Read what Wendy said click here

Bendigo Solar Panel Project shows the real ‘energy’ we’re putting into creating a healthier community

Bendigo Community Health Services is putting real ‘energy’ into creating a healthier community by installing 425 solar panels across the Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk sites.

The Solar Panels Project was driven by a new focus on the impact of climate change on health.

Climate change is recognised as a significant health risk by the World Health Organisation and Victorian Department of Health and appears as a pillar in Victoria’s current Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.

Health organisations such as BCHS that have traditionally concentrated on delivering quality care to the community must now look at how services and sites impact on the environment and how we can make change to meet our obligations of creating a healthier community in all areas. 

A huge thanks to the Bendigo Sustainability Group for providing such valuable support to Bendigo Community Health Services with the Solar Panels Project.

Colin Lambie and the Bendigo Sustainability Group not only encouraged us to pursue this project for environmental reasons but provided evidence to support how the solar panels would not only help our environmental footprint but save money in the years to come.

The Bendigo Sustainability Group provided excellent data on the benefits of solar panels which allowed us to see this was a very worthwhile project that would pave the way for a health organisation to better support the environment.

This project will allow Bendigo Community Health Services to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of Co2 across the two sites by about 270,000 kilograms per year. That’s 126,972 kilograms at our Eaglehawk site and 142,613 kilograms at our Kangaroo Flat site.

We estimate the solar panels will save us around $31,500 per year at Eaglehawk and $35,500 at Kangaroo Flat. That’s $67,000 – a considerable amount for a not-for-profit health organisation that can be invested into programs and services to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community. 

When you consider all these benefits it’s clear that taking an environmentally-friendly approach to delivering health services can have significant impact on our community and our planet.  

Bendigo Foodshare appeal enjoys generous support from BCHS staff through Christmas Party donation

We’re so proud of our staff for their wonderful ‘Mission Possible’ pledge to help Bendigo Foodshare raise the $1.8 million needed to build a new warehouse and community food hub in Garsed Street.

Life circumstance should not stop people having access to food in this day and age right!

COVID stopped us from having the annual Christmas Get Together last year so our staff wanted to use the $2000 set aside for a very worthy cause.

Helping a wonderful organisation such as Bendigo Foodshare to increase their ability to get even more food to those in need in our community through the Hungry For Change Appeal is perfect!

To watch the video to see the host of great organisations who like us have already pledged their support to Bendigo Foodshare click on the read more button below:

Remembering four brave Victoria Police officers one year on from the Eastern Freeway tragedy

Our Board of Directors and staff pause today to remember the four Victoria Police officers who tragically lost their lives on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne on this day 12 months ago.

The names of the Victoria Police officers are:

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor.

Constable Glen Humphris.

Senior Constable Kevin King.

Constable Josh Prestney.

These members are in our thoughts today.

We also reflect on the selfless and valuable work of the Victoria Police and all emergency services workers in keeping our community safe.

Thank you all.

Bendigo Men’s Health Clinic gets great support from Aviva Communities Bendigo social group’s Blue Day

WOW!

Sending out heartfelt thanks to the Aviva Communities Bendigo social group for inviting our Men’s Health Clinic nurse practitioner Peter Strange to your Blue Day to talk about men’s health.

We love getting out into the community to raise awareness around the need to look after yourself and answer questions people have around men’s health and wellbeing in general.

Your amazing generosity in donating $1800 raised from the Blue Day to help our Men’s Health Clinic keep caring for the community is just wonderful.

Thank you so much.

We love this great feedback too: “We all had a most enjoyable day and I’m still getting lots of compliments. It was for such a great cause.”

It was our pleasure to support groups doing great things to raise awareness around health and wellbeing and we will be sure to use your donation to help people in need.

Keep up the great work!

To learn more about our Men’s Health Clinic and how we are caring for the community click here

Last updated: April 19, 2021

Bendigo early learning childhood services celebrate proud achievements in improving health and wellbeing

Bendigo endometriosis support: Chloe tells how asking for help was vital to help manage painful condition

Endometriosis is a painful condition that effects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age.

It’s estimated around 176 million suffer from this chronic condition across the world – many in silence.

Severe pain is the most common symptom especially before or during a period or sex.

Many women live with endometriosis totally unaware of the condition or what’s causing the pain they endure.

As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month our Women’s Health Clinic staff worked to make more women aware of the condition and the need to seek help.

Bendigo resident Chloe lives with endometriosis and answered some of our questions below to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of finding the right people to support you to ensure everything is being done to make life better …

Did you know much about endometriosis and were you aware that was the condition causing your pain?

I didn’t know anything about endometriosis. I’d never heard of it until a family member mentioned it to me during a very heavy period. I thought it was ‘normal’ to get the heavy, painful periods I was getting until I went to my GP to seek help.

How did you find out where to turn to get help with endometriosis?

Bendigo AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine change – most common questions answered

There are a lot of questions being asked around the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine today.

Please only use trusted sources of information when learning more about the vaccine changes and recommendations. For the very latest use the Department of Health website

Here’s some answers to the most common questions:

What is this side effect everyone is talking about with the AstraZeneca vaccine?

There is evidence of a likely link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and an extremely rare blood clotting syndrome (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia). The recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is that use of Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer) is preferred over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in adults under 50 years old who have not already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Is the AstraZeneca vaccine safe?