Health and Wellbeing Update – May 2021

Our Health and Wellbeing Executive Manager, Shannon Drake, has an update on this service area.

Chronic Care Team

The Chronic Care team have had a steady start to the year. Like all other programs, we have had to adjust to how services have been delivered with COVID-19 restrictions. We are now pleased that the team are now able to reengage with all clients with face to face visits and back to providing transport to and from appointments.

There have been a few staff changes within the team. Karen Whitting has moved on from the role as Outreach worker and we all wish her well in her next journey. Teagan Flanagan had a short stint as Outreach Worker, but has now transferred into a new role. Thanks Teagan. Rebecca Kelleher backfilled as Care Coordinator while Julie-Anne has been on placement at GV Health as part of her further studies for Bachelor of Nursing. Thanks Bec for all the hard work and for sharing your goodies with us. We would like to welcome Mickey Morgan to the Chronic Care team as Outreach worker. Mickey has many years of experience previously in role of Medical driver and is a great asset to our team.

Medical

Over the past 4 weeks, Rumbalara Health Service has given 133 COVID-19 vaccines to community members and staff.

Clinic staff have been conducting random follow up with some of these people. Out of the 35 people contacted, 15 have had no reactions at all, and the other 20 have had minor reactions that are identified as common side effects on the information we give people to take home.

A number of our medical staff have had their vaccine and are well.

We now have majority of our visiting specialists returning for clinics, please see GP if referral is needed.

Specialist’s services include:

  • Gynaecology/Obstetrics
  • Midwife
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Dietitian
  • Speech Pathology
  • Podiatrist
  • Paediatrician
  • Psychologist
  • General Physician

Flu vaccines will be available from the end of April, please contact the medical clinic to make a booking.

Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program

The Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program (ANFPP) clients have been kicking many goals this year already, and very happy to be out of lockdown. We are so pleased to see three of our ‘strong mums’ graduate the program already in 2021. These mums have been with us from pregnancy, infancy and toddlerhood, and graduate when bubs turns 2yrs old. These mums and their families received home visits with an ANFPP Nurse and Aboriginal Family Partnership Worker over 2.5yrs, to help them achieve their goals, be supported and be the best parents they can be.

Another of our ‘strong mums’, Jakita, has achieved her dream and opened her very own Aboriginal owned business in Mooroopna called, ‘KJ & Co’ in March 2021. Jakita’s store is the perfect addition to Mooroopna, being the only store selling children’s clothes and accessories. Worth checking out!

We are proud to be able to acknowledge these successes within our community.

Rumbalara Health Service would like to remind all community that we need to ensure we continue the practices we have learnt in the past year.

A COVID-19 vaccine is just one part of keeping the community safe and healthy. It is important for everyone to continue to wash their hands regularly, stay two big steps away from others, stay home when unwell, and get tested for any COVID-19 symptoms.

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