Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Review of Operations: Community Services
Community Health
A range of services and programs
are provided under the Community
Health Program, including counselling,
emergency relief, community health
nursing, diabetes and asthma education,
women’s and youth health, health
promotion and health education
activities. To address staff safety issues
and to improve public access, the
Queen Street office underwent
renovations this year.
Health Promotion
A Community Dietitian and Health
Promotion Officer make up the Health
Promotion team. A comprehensive
health promotion plan, developed
collaboratively with other agencies,
Profile
The Community Services Division operates from four locations; Pettit House in
Warragul, Baw Baw Health and Community Care Centre in Drouin, Rawson
Community Health Centre in Rawson and the Community Services Centre in
Trafalgar. The Division comprises 35 staff in various disciplines, providing a wide
range of community-based services that are delivered in the community settings
as well as in the client’s homes. The range of services are listed on page seven
of this report.
Objectives
1. Continue to implement population based Health Promotion Strategies whilst
consolidating a collaborative partnership approach to service planning
2. Plan for the relocation of services to Gladstone St site incorporating policy
and procedural development for co-location with Community Mental Health
Services
3. Continue to implement the Aboriginal Best Start Program and Falls Prevention
Programs
4. Commence a women’s health clinic to target specific needs in the community
Outcomes
1. WGHG staff involved in Baw Baw Shire integrated planning strategy
incorporating several planning platforms including youth, aged, adult,
child and family
2. Policy and procedural documents drafted in anticipation of co-location
with Community Mental Health Services
3. Djillay Lidji Best Start Project continues to work towards implementing
programs. Falls Prevention program successfully completed
4. Weekly and after hours Women’s health clinics offered in Warragul. Outreach
clinics are conducted at Longwarry, Neerim South, Drouin, Trafalgar and
Rawson. Nursing staff undertook specialised training to provide services
Future Directions
focused on physical activity, nutrition
and mental health. To improve staff
understanding of health promotion
strategies, training was conducted for
management and senior staff. Eight
Community Kitchens commenced
across the Shire in conjunction with
other community organisations.
Specially trained volunteers facilitate
groups where people learn to cook
healthy, budget priced meals in a
social environment. Other major
benefits include social interaction
which contributes to improve mental
wellbeing. The HP team worked with
the Drouin Cluster of primary schools
this year in a whole of school approach
to implement Healthy Schools Policies.
➤ Establish a District Nursing and Podiatry clinic in Drouin
➤ Implement GHA Healthsmart strategy to integrate data collection across
the Group
➤ Continue to work in the Health Promotion priority areas of nutrition, physical
activity and mental health
➤ Implement the ‘Sustainable Farming Families’ program
➤ Continue to participate in the development and implementation
of the integrated planning network for Baw Baw Shire
Counselling
Counselling services were provided to
315 clients this year, six more than last
year. Services include general, family
and youth counselling. Clients are self
referred, referred by family, General
Practitioners, or other Health
Professionals. Reasons counselling is
sought include relationship problems,
grief and mental health concerns
including anxiety and depression.
Groups to support people with
chronic illness, mood disorders
and young mums were conducted
throughout the year.
Adolescent Health Service
The Youth Clinic provides access for
young people to a General Practitioner,
Community Health Nurse and Youth
worker. This year there were 73 contacts
from young people, 11 fewer than last
year.
Aboriginal Services
The Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer
service now comes under the State
Government ‘Improving Care for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Patients’ (ICAP) program. This initiative
focuses program goals to improve
cultural sensitivity and quality of service
provision to Aboriginal patients and
communities. Another key feature is
promoting partnerships between
WGHG and Aboriginal community
controlled organisations in planning
and service delivery responses.
Continence
The Continence Service was recognised
for its outstanding service with two
awards at the National Continence
Conference held in October. The Service
comprises three part-time nurses,
a physiotherapist and a geriatrician
who provide services across four
shires to adults and children including
children with disabilities. Client visits
remained similar to last year with
1390 client contacts occurring in
client homes, adult and paediatric
clinics, hostels and the hospital.
Cognitive Dementia and
Memory Service (CDAMS)
This specialist diagnostic program
is coordinated by a full-time Clinical
Nurse Consultant who provides home
assessments for people with memory
and thinking problems throughout
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