Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Review of Operations: Community Services
Participants in the Trafalgar
Community Kitchen are (L-R)
Jean Brown, Phillip Storer,
Bob Moore, Meg Abrecht
and Rose Sawyer.
Gippsland. The Service hosted the
CDAMS state-wide conference in
Warragul in December with 11 of
14 services represented. Additional
clinics were offered in Bairnsdale this
year to alleviate waiting times. A new
client follow-up system introduced
during the year identified areas for
additional support to newly diagnosed
clients.
CDAMS contacts this year totalled
1520, well above their target of 1290.
Home and Community Care
(HACC) Services
The HACC Service provides
home-based allied health services
for aged and disabled persons in
the community. Services include
Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy,
Dietetics, Podiatry, Aged and Disability
Support worker and Speech Pathology.
To improve access to Podiatry Services,
a District Nursing and Podiatry clinic
opened in Trafalgar in February. The
waiting list for Podiatry services is now
two weeks compared to three months
last year.
Emergency Relief
The Emergency Relief program is
a Commonwealth-funded program
providing emergency financial
assistance to people in crisis and
assistance with food parcels and
vouchers. This year there were 588
client visits assisting a total of 1696
people, 51 more than last year. The
program is supported by regular
community donations which are
gratefully appreciated.
Community Based Falls
Prevention Projects
The Central West Gippsland Falls
Prevention Projects work to reduce
the occurrence, injuries and impacts
of falls for adults aged 65 and over
in conjunction with the Primary Care
Partnership. The project conducts
Tai Chi for Balance classes as well
as education for health professionals,
home carers, volunteers, residential
aged care workers and residents.
Awareness raising strategies are
promoted through local media and
presentations to community groups.
A falls risk assessment and action
tool introduced in the Emergency
Department has been developed
to assist in reducing medium and
long term risks factors for patients
considered at high risk of falling.
Rawson Community Health Centre
The Centre provides comprehensive
health services to the residents
and visitors of Erica, Rawson and
Walhalla. Services include health
clinics, District Nursing, Hospital in
the Home, Post Acute Care services,
visiting doctor service and visiting
allied health, specialist nursing
services and a transport link to Moe
three times each week. The Centre
introduced falls prevention and
strength training classes in March.
A women’s health clinic, commenced
during the year, provides access to
services for women in remote areas.
The Community Services Division was the recipient of the Murray to Moyne Cycle Relay this year.
$22,000 was raised to purchase a range of equipment to enhance services.
Pictured at the start line in Echuca are Community Services staff (L-R) Samantha Hamilton,
Alison Hescock, Linda McCoy, Richard Adams, Grace Smith, Kay Bews-Bundle, Elizabeth Fraser
and Margaret Wallace.
33