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AUTUMN 2021
A better
normal
PAGE 4
PAGE PAGE
8 Good health
never gets old
10 Beyond
COVID-19
Better than Welcome to issue 15 of Primary Pulse,
our quarterly magazine focusing
before on the key issues and partnerships
shaping health in the North Western
Melbourne PHN region.
L “We can create a much
ooking back on this column from
one year ago, the spectre of the
building COVID-19 pandemic fairer and healthier
loomed large. Cases, hospitalisations,
and deaths were spiralling in hotspots
‘normal’ than what
like Italy, Iran and the US. Locally, we existed before the
were beginning the great shutdown of
the country, hard borders going up to pandemic.”
the outside world, strict rules coming
in limiting movement and interaction the uncertainty about what our new
for those already here. normal will be, and should be, remains.
There is a strong temptation to rush
And in Victoria we were still months
back to our 2019 lives, to idealise the
away from the second wave of
way things were before the pandemic.
Adjunct Associate Professor infections and deaths, which hit our
Chris Carter | CEO region of north and west Melbourne But we must remember that for many
far harder than anywhere else in the people in our community, the old
country. ‘normal’ wasn’t working. And to ignore
the lessons of the pandemic would
Individuals, governments, and the
North Western Melbourne Primary mean that the last year was truly
health system were all doing their best
Health Network (NWMPHN) wasted.
to plan and prepare for what was to
Website: nwmphn.org.au
Telephone: (03) 9347 1188 come. But with the world changing so In this issue we look at the efforts to
Email enquiries: nwmphn@nwmphn.org.au fast, it was clear we had no idea just build back a better health system than
Fax: (03) 9347 7433
what our new normal would look like. before, one that works for everyone,
Street address:
whatever their location, background or
Level 1, 369 Royal Parade Back to the present, signs of recovery
Parkville, Victoria 3052 health needs. The pandemic presents
are quite literally in the air. After many
Postal address: an opportunity for this reform, but the
false starts, the New Zealand-Australia
PO Box 139, Parkville, Victoria 3052 issues long predate COVID-19 – as the
ABN 93 153 323 436 travel bubble has seen international
recent Royal Commissions in mental
flights return to our skies, people
Subscribe health and aged care have cast into
travelling for business and pleasure
Sign up at www.nwmphn.org/subscribe stark focus.
without the need for government
To unsubscribe from Primary Pulse,
exemptions and 14-day hotel A common theme from all three is the
please contact news@nwmphn.org.au
quarantine stays. need for a more flexible approach to
Acknowledgments
health, one that accepts and responds
North Western Melbourne PHN acknowledges On the ground, there has been
to the unique and changing needs
the people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional minimal community transmission
Owners of the land on which our work in the of each person, rather than making
across the country for months now,
community takes place. We pay our respects to people meet the rigid requirement of
their elders – past, present and emerging. and restrictions have eased to the
the ‘system’ to receive care.
Disclaimer point of being barely noticeable. The
While the Australian Government Department
darkest days of Melbourne’s second It’s not a simple process, and it will
of Health has contributed to the funding of this wave are well behind us, though for never be possible to provide a suite
material, the information contained in it does many the scars will take longer to heal. of perfectly targeted services for
not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian
Government and is not advice that is provided, every single person who needs care
While we are undoubtedly in a much
or information that is endorsed, by the Australian and support. But we can build better
Government. The Australian Government is not better place now than a year ago,
responsible in negligence or otherwise for any connections between different types
injury, loss or damage however arising from the
use of or reliance on information provided herein.
Editor: Jeremy Kennett
©NWMPHN 2021
nwmphn.org.au
2
In this issue
A better normal
of health services, so people’s different
Page 4
health needs don’t have to be treated
in isolation. We can provide flexible
mental health supports, that scale up
and down in complexity and intensity
as people move between illness and Good health
recovery.
never gets old
And we can look beyond purely medical
solutions, acknowledging that often a Page 8
person’s health issues are born from
housing stress, or financial uncertainty,
or being isolated from their community.
If we do all this, starting from the Beyond COVID-19
principles of empathy, flexibility and
person-centred care, then we can Page 10
create a much fairer and healthier
‘normal’ than what existed before the
pandemic. And we can make 2021 and
beyond better years than 2019 ever was. Family violence
Chris Carter is CEO of North Western
Melbourne Primary Health Network.
support
Page 12
Out and about
Page 14
Left: The COVID-19 vaccination rollout
is gathering speed.
Photo: Unsplash
Front cover: Edita Kennedy knows the
value of lived experience in health.
Photo: Leigh Henningham
3
A better
normal
The lessons we have learned visible. Very few and west Melbourne in particular are
from COVID-19 can help us people were getting unlikely to ever forget the second
sick (that we knew wave of infections and deaths which
make a better health system about, anyway) and cut through their communities from
even fewer were talking July last year.
for everyone. about this strange new
virus, certainly outside of Sometimes, the bars are still all we
Jeremy Kennett public health circles. can see.
As you scroll to the right the marks This is even more the case for those
grow, slowly at first but inexorably, of us working in health, where every
from slivers to skyscrapers. By aspect of the system and related
the time the graph runs out in issues have been viewed through the
late January 2021, the bars are all prism of COVID-19 for well over a
O
n one of the many world you can see, the top line of the year now. The pandemic has had a
Health Organisation websites graph breached repeatedly by daily fundamental impact on the way we
dedicated to the COVID-19 infections of over 800,000. deliver and receive healthcare in this
pandemic, there is an interactive country, well beyond the precautions
timeline plotting key actions taken by Things haven’t improved greatly put in place to help stop the spread
the agency, overlaid on a bar graph since then. While a combination of the virus.
tracking the number of reported of good planning, good luck and
many kilometres of ocean have kept But it is important to remember
cases day by day.
Australia relatively untouched, global two things: one, despite upending
It begins on 31 December 2019, and cases and deaths are still near their all our assumptions, work practices
at first the graph is practically empty, highest points. Even in Australia and expectations, COVID-19 did not
the tiny slivers along the bottom line the virus permeates our media, our create the underlying issues of our
representing new infections barely politics, our psyches. People in north health system; it simply cast many of
them into sharp relief. And two, as is
4
SYSTEM
LEVEL
Edita Kennedy from APSU says
people with lived experience
need to be supported to
contribute fully.
Photo: Leigh Henningham
often misquoted to Winston Churchill, “What the pandemic development in mental health since
you should never let a good crisis go deinstitutionalisation in the 1990s.
to waste. has shown is that we
“Far from just recommending more
As we continue to take careful can move mountains, of the same, the Royal Commission’s
steps towards ‘normality’, we must final report articulates a bold new
be careful that the lessons of the
if the need is clear and vision for mental health service
pandemic are not forgotten. Because urgent enough.” design, commissioning, delivery and
while the pandemic didn’t create the governance,” Mr Clelland said.
most challenging issues at the heart
of our health system, the innovation, Indeed, while the pandemic has “For too long, Victorians have had few
adaptation and collaboration birthed dominated health headlines, the options but to present to hospital
during the crisis may hold the key to last year has also seen the Royal emergency departments or to suffer
solving them. Commissions into Aged Care and in silence.
Victoria’s Mental Health System
“What the pandemic has shown is that deliver their final reports. Both went “We commend the Royal
we can move mountains, if the need well beyond calling for incremental Commission’s focus on removing the
is clear and urgent enough,” North improvements, rather recommending barriers Victorians face when trying
Western Melbourne Primary Health far-reaching reforms and to get help and emphasis on making
Network CEO Chris Carter said. fundamental changes to how people services available in the community,
can access and experience care. particularly in regional Victoria.”
“Now we need to apply that mindset
beyond COVID-19, because whether Mental Health Victoria CEO Angus Commissioning better ways of
we are looking at chronic disease, or Clelland said the release of the final designing and delivering health care,
mental health, or many other areas, report of the Royal Commission rather than just funding more of
the need for flexibility and innovation in Victoria’s Mental Health the same, is one of the key reasons
is just as clear and urgent.” System was the most significant
Continued Page 6
5
“Once they enter
treatment, that is
where they feel safest.
And that’s where
they start recovering
different parts of
their lives.”
From Page 5 experience and expertise of alcohol
and drug use and treatment.
Primary Health Network’s exist. The
Edita Kennedy is the Program
pandemic and the concurrent Royal
Coordinator of the Association
Commissions have only sharpened
of Participating Service Users
that focus. Going ‘back to normal’
(APSU). She says APSU tries to be a
isn’t going to cut it. With apologies to
conduit for people’s voices, finding
US President Joe Biden, we need to
opportunities for people with lived
build back better.
experience of addiction to be heard
One of the key ways we are doing and to have an impact.
that is through our Alcohol and
“We also advocate for processes
Other Drug recommissioning project.
to be embedded where people
Following an extensive review and
who have experienced addiction
guided by ongoing consultations,
and recovery can be involved in
we are recommissioning $2.5m
decision making, like this process we
of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) to successful consumer engagement,
went through with North Western
treatment activity per year to better Ms Kennedy says.
[Melbourne] PHN.”
meet the needs of our community.
“It’s a little bit different than having a
The role of APSU was to bring
Providers will need to be willing to group of professionals where there
together a group of consumers and
work with consumers both in the are certain kinds of professional
family members, who have either
development of services and in their boundaries, everyone is protected by
supported someone in using AOD
ongoing delivery across the region. their title.
treatment services, or have used
The new approach is informed by them directly in the NWMPHN region. “When a person comes to participate
input from service users and subject in something with their personal
“We recruited the participants, and we
experts to ensure it addresses the baggage - you know, we all have it.
assessed those that have applied and
needs of people using AOD treatment And when you have to bring that to a
then we’ve been supporting them
services, and is better integrated professional setup, it’s a bit different.”
throughout the process. And we’ve
with relevant supports and services,
also collaborated with the PHN … in APSU assisted NWMPHN to run two
such as mental health, primary care,
arranging the workshops: what they workshops where consumers were
housing and social services.
will look like, what the process will asked about what they considered
We are fortunate to have many highly be, what important things are to pay would be an ideal AOD service, and
engaged and dedicated subject attention to, and what are the risks.” how that could look in practice. Their
experts in our region to help co- ideas were refined and prioritised
Having a clear understanding of
design this project. But equally if not to support a joint workshop with a
the risks and creating a safe and
more important has been the deep subject matter expert group of AOD
respectful environment for people
engagement of people with lived and related sector representatives for
to share their experiences is critical
further development.
6
SYSTEM
LEVEL
Engaging with our community, every day
Our commitment to putting them. I came away from that
personal experience at the heart with a real jump up boost in my
of health system reform goes confidence.”
beyond the AOD recommissioning
project. Several years ago we Mr Taylor says it is critical
established PeopleBank, a register that more people with lived
of people who want help us to experience are involved when
improve the health of people planning health reform and
in the north, west and central designing services.
Melbourne area. Everyone in our
“It needs the contribution
community is welcome to join.
of people who’ve had the
For Ken Taylor, becoming experience, but it also needs the
involved with NWMPHN through willingness of the bureaucracy
PeopleBank was borne out of and the organisation, not
personal crisis. necessarily to agree – no one
agrees with everything I say – but
“The PeopleBank aspect of it to at least consider it.”
was a couple of years ago I think,
when my situation became quite As well as enabling more effective
desperate and I actually attempted and relevant services for the
to kill myself,” Mr Taylor said. people who use them, there can
also be personal benefits for the
“A few weeks after the disaster, people who take the opportunity
I was invited to a forum about to get involved.
suicide prevention and I was the
only civilian in the room, everyone “There’s a real possibility that you
else was a serious professional. can take the challenge, that you
can offer something useful, and
“I was given a lovely opportunity that you can come away from it
to present my views and then feeling that you are more able,
to read my written statement to than before you went there.”
Becoming an active PeopleBank member has given
Ken Taylor a big confidence boost.
Photo: Jeremy Kennett.
well beyond things directly related to Health System, that we need to
“We need to break their alcohol and drug use. break down the barriers that prevent
down the barriers that people from accessing care and
“Once they enter treatment, that is support that meets the full spectrum
prevent people from where they feel safest. And that’s of their needs.
where they start recovering different
accessing care and parts of their lives. There are many parts of the past
support that meets the “It’s not only about ceasing alcohol
nearly 18 months we would all like to
leave behind forever.
full spectrum of their and drug use, it is about becoming
a citizen, you know, starting to do The pandemic has shown us that
needs.” things, socialising again. many things we thought were
impossible are, in fact, very possible –
“And so they rely a lot on alcohol and both good things and bad.
“What strongly came up is, for drug services and they want to get a
example, supporting gap moments. lot of those additional things to help But if one of the things we can carry
Most alcohol drug treatment services them embark on their lives. forward is the will to create a health
and treatment supports operate system that is truly shaped around
in office hours, nine to five, [but] “So that is a desire for holistic care, the needs of the community it serves,
most crises happen at night, during but not just holistic care, also then it will have almost been worth it.
weekends, during Christmas. That additional things [that are not] to do
was a major issue.’ with alcohol drug use.”
Another key area highlighted was the This aligns with a key theme of the
breadth of support needed by people recommendations of the Royal
who use AOD treatment services, Commission into Victoria’s Mental
7
Good health
never gets old
Ruby Selwood-Thomas
They are sometimes called the ‘golden years’, the
period of our lives after retirement and the end of
primary caring responsibilities when we have the time
to live for ourselves and pursue our interests.
B
ut while this may be true for health nurses, mental health social
some, growing older also workers and psychologists provide Rhonda Withers (left) and Jenni
comes with many challenges, psychological support to residents. Dickson from Better Place Australia.
especially related to health. These Photo: Leigh Henningham
Rhonda Withers, Clinical and
can include not just physical ailments
Program Lead of Elder Services
but mental health issues as well.
at Better Place Australia, said the
As people age, they can experience program has been able to reduce the residents and it is great to be able
higher levels of psychological reliance of prescription medication to independently and confidentially
distress. It is estimated 10 per cent for mental health issues in older support residents in their home.”
of adults over 65 are currently adults.
Ms Withers said being able to provide
experiencing psychological distress
“It is recognised that residents in support to residents in aged care
and 10 per cent are experiencing
RACF’s have high rates of mental facilities throughout the COVID-19
chronic loneliness due to social
illness and that the most likely pandemic has been a highlight of her
isolation.
intervention is the prescription of time working on the service.
North Western Melbourne Primary medication,” she said.
“We have had so much wonderful
Health Network (NWMPHN) wants
“Research suggests that there are feedback from residents, particularly
to help older people in our region
a range of non-pharmacological around seeing our teams faces on
live healthy lives, both physically and
psychosocial interventions that are the telehealth screen as the RACF
mentally, rather than simply living
very effective alternatives to the staff were wearing face masks and
long lives.
prescription of medication for the shields,” she said.
That’s why we’ve been working with treatment of mental illness in frail
aged people living in residential care “To see telehealth work so well with
Better Place Australia to implement a
facilities.” the older people was also incredible!
stepped care approach to improving
Some residents had not ever used
the mental health and wellbeing of
Ms Withers has been leading the technology before, and they really
older adults living in residential aged
mental health in RACFs service since embraced it.”
care facilities (RACFs).
it began in 2020 and has seen a very
positive impact among residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has also
The service is free for those living in
taken a toll on the physical health
RACFs and is targeted at residents
“We have received so much wonderful of RACF residents, especially those
at risk of or experiencing mild to
feedback from RACF staff, residents living at facilities impacted by
moderate mental health concerns.
and relatives about the positive COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns.
This includes residents living with
impact the counselling and support Without being able to move around
anxiety or depression, those who are
services have had. The residents freely or access physical therapy
experiencing social isolation and new
have felt very supported and not services, many residents have seen
residents transitioning into residential
forgotten,” she said. their physical conditioning decline.
care.
“There has not previously been any NWMPHN is helping tackle this issue
Experienced mental health
service like this available to support by commissioning intensive physical
practitioners including mental
8
Royal Commission into Aged Care
therapy for residents in RACFs
affected by COVID-19 outbreaks.
While it’s important to provide aged care residents, subject to
The program will include targeted responses to COVID-19 a clear mandate and associated
physiotherapists, exercise in aged care, the pandemic has funding from the Australian
physiologists and occupational only exacerbated issues that Government.
therapists to provide group physical already existed long before the
first cases reached our shores. The National PHN Cooperative,
therapy, with RACFs with two or
These issues have been brought representing all 31 Primary Health
more cases of COVID-19 as of 23
sharply to prominence by the Networks, said in a statement that
October 2020 being eligible to
Royal Commission into Aged they support recommendations
participate in this program.
Care, which handed down eight to implement a new voluntary
53 RACFs in our region have been volumes of findings and 148 primary care model for people
identified as eligible and will receive recommendations on 1 March receiving aged care services.
this new service when it commences 2021.
“We would argue that the new
later in 2021.
This has resulted in an initial $452 model should incorporate
With the population aged 65 and million being promised to address proactive monitoring approaches
older in our region expected to immediate challenges such as for healthy ageing, interfacing
increase from about 175,000 people aged care provider governance with aged care services as older
in 2014, to about 324,000 by 2031, and reducing the wait for home people’s needs change, to enable
NWMPHN will continue to seek new care packages. ongoing management of older
ways to provide support to older people’s long-term conditions
adults in our community. A further recommendation and to support their transition into
was made for more specialist aged care services.”
For more information on how dementia care units to be
NWMPHN is addressing issues in the established, with at least one unit Further recommendations
aged care sector, visit nwmphn.org. operating in each PHN catchment to PHNs regarding aged care
au/older-adults by 2022-23. services include data collection
and use of My Health Record,
NWMPHN stands ready to play improved public awareness of
a greater role in supporting the Aged Care and social supports
health of older adults, including to reduce and prevent social
isolation and loneliness.
9
Beyond
COVID-19
Dr Ines Rio
Australia’s response to the
However, there is no illness in Australia is $600 million a
coronavirus pandemic has not doubt we will be left day, and only likely to grow with the
always been perfect, but with an ongoing health ongoing fallout from the pandemic
and economic burden that and recent drought and bushfires.
we still have much to needs acknowledgement
be proud of. and addressing. We have seen We also need to consider the effects
cancer diagnoses fall, fewer of long COVID in our community,
presentations to general practice for given the majority of COVID cases in
cardiovascular events, preventative Australia have come from our region.
We need more research and support
T
he human and economic cost of health screening and chronic
disease management, and more for people suffering long COVID, and
COVID-19 has been high, but
presentations for distress and mental to reinforce the importance of anyone
not nearly as high as it could
health concerns. diagnosed with COVID to stay in
have been. And it has shown us time
touch with their GP in the long term.
and again what we are capable of;
All of these can be expected to have
from the reslience of the millions I have argued previously that t.
flow in effects in the next few years.
who endured the many effects of From where I sit, a successful
Cancer stage progression, more
lockdown to the tireless efforts of system development has been the
end organ effects from vascular
healthcare workers, there are many HeadtoHelp service in Victoria.
diseases and diabetes, and the
success stories from 2020. Announced by the Australian
effects of poor mental health on the
wellbeing of individuals, families, and Government in August as a measure
communities. The cost of mental to support Victorians struggling
10COVID-19 will change
the health system for
many years to come.
Photo Leigh Henningham
or social worker; at medium it may outcomes, patient experience,
be referral to dedicated health care provider experience and cost.
hubs that have multidisciplinary
teams that include mental health HeadtoHelp is currently funded
nurses, psychologists, social workers, as a temporary, pandemic-
alcohol, and other drug workers; related measure. It is a missed
and at higher acuity to the regional opportunity to let this crucial part
hospital run mental health care of system development fall away.
service. HeadtoHelp should be expanded,
with the hubs also having access
While COVID-19 may have to psychiatrists and drug and
exacerbated it, Australia’s mental alcohol medical specialists. Better
health epidemic is far from new, integration between services was a
and it has long been acknowledged key recommendation of the Royal
that we are not dealing with it well. Commission into Victoria’s Mental
It is beyond time for us to apply the Health System and from the hundreds
solutions-based thinking we have of stakeholders that contributed to
shown in the face of COVID-19 to our Regional Plan for Mental Health –
a problem that affects so many of this is a chance to make that happen.
us every day. With a collaborative
mindset and a stringent focus on
a patient-centred, evidence-based “The problem is not
model, we can seize this moment to so much the lack
deliver the mental health system that
Australia truly deserves. of services, as the
The recent National Federation difficulty in finding a
Reform Council statement on
mental health reported that patients
way through the maze
are currently confronted with a of different providers.”
system that is “fragmented, complex
to navigate for Australians and
their families and carers, and not HeadtoHelp should also be extended,
sufficiently focused on prevention and so that it is a permanent part of the
early intervention”. The same goes
for their GP and other care providers. In times like
system and continues to evolve in
response to feedback form patients,
It quotes recent reports, including
Victoria’s Royal Commission into
these, it’s OK to
families, GPs and other providers and
performance indicators.
Mental Health, that call for a more
compassionate, coordinated and
a bit uncertain
The COVID pandemic is a key
consumer-centred system. We need moment for Australian health,
Maybeand a little stressed,
to build on the HeadtoHelp model an opportunity we must take.anxious
If the or sad.
to reduce fragmentation and build past year has taught us anything, it
integrated models. is that when pressed, we can adapt
our systems rapidly and effectively
It is hard to overstate the importance to meet a crisis. Just as Victoria
through a protracted lockdown, it is of this. The international evidence tells has evolved in leaps and bounds
run by Victoria’s six Primary Health us the best results come when the on systems for contact tracing in
Networks. It consists of a state-wide patient is surrounded and supported COVID-19 when it was apparent
single point intake service where by a team that responds to their there was systems failure, we have
patients, families or GPs and other individualised care and service needs. recognised failure our mental health
health professionals can refer all but And this is nowhere more important care systems and the embedding
the most acutely unwell person to. than in the mental health space. and evolution of a HeadtoHelp
The central service is staffed is a sensible and demonstrated
This is not to say there is a smooth
by experienced mental health enhancement with major positive
or easy road ahead. Entrenched
professionals who (along with impacts .
divisions and silos will require hard
referring GP if a GP has referred) work and good will to break down.
make an initial assessment and With the present the connection
determine the level of care required between inputs and need and
and then access that service for the outcomes far from clear, we will also But what if these feelings get too much or go on for a wh
person. need tools to evaluate the success The sooner you HeadtoHelp, the better you’ll feel.
At lower level acuity it may be or failure of what we are attempting. Call 1800 595 212
cognitive behavioural or talking These measures should be viewed and find the best mental health support for you.
through the prism of the quadruple 1800 595 212
therapy and mindfulness apps and
social connectio; at low-to medium aim of primary care by measuring
To find out more go to headtohelp.org.au
it may be referral to a psychologist
HeadtoHelp is a collaborative initiative of Victoria’s Primary Health Networks and funded by the Australian
11People often
turn to their
GP for help
with family
violence.
Photo: Unsplash
General
practice
leading the prevent many from
seeking help for family
The training program is one arm of
a whole of region suite of capacity
way on family violence. “Accessing
external services can
be difficult or impossible
building and system integration
activities, which will include:
›› A targeted social marketing
violence for many of Forsyth
Park’s patients, especially
new migrants who rely on
campaign to address the lack of
awareness of the prevalence of
their abuser for money, visa, family and domestic violence in
translation, transport and often the community and within general
phone access,” Dr Tamis said. practice, including promotion
of existing material such as the
“Having an enhanced service at the video ‘Starting the Conversation
practice will give these patients an About Family Violence’ and Family
L ocal gener al pr actices are opportunity for support in a local, Violence Health Pathways
continuing to innovate and expand familiar and trusted surrounding, one
the breadth of care they can of the few they may be able to access
›› A series of annual Communities
of Practice, bringing together
provide to their patients, despite the by themselves. professionals from general practice,
ongoing challenges of the COVID-19
The program, which is a partnership mental health and drug and
pandemic.
between NWMPHN and University of alcohol services, hospitals and the
30 general practices from across Melbourne Safer Families Centre, can family violence sector to foster
the North Western Melbourne also help strengthen existing practice interdisciplinary and cross-sector
Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) activities. learning and pathway development.
region will be part of the Primary The first Community of Practice
Care Pathways to Safety program, “Currently we have a model in on 20 April 2021 was attended by
a comprehensive, practice-based the practice for patients to alert 28 representatives from across the
education program tailored to reception at booking that they are a sector, including speakers with lived
overcome challenges in responding victim of domestic violence and at experience of family violence.
to family violence. risk,” Dr Tamis said.
One speaker with lived experience
Practitioners and staff at an initial “This allows us to provide a reason to said being part of the event gave her
six practices began the program in ask to consult with the patient alone. hope. “It was so nice to see a range of
January 2021, including Dr Kirsty With better education we can further professionals from a cross section of
Tamis from Forsyth Park Medical develop this model to encompass the services interested in making positive
Centre in Truganina. complexities of the presentation of changes to what is a very broken
domestic violence. This, in turn, helps system,” they said. “It gave me hope
Dr Tamis said many of her practice’s us to help our patients.” that finally something is happening.”
patients faced a range of barriers
to accessing support, which could
12Staff at Bacchus Marsh Medical
Centre perform a drive-through
COVID-19 test.
Photo Leigh Henningham
Supporting
COVID-19 Photo: Unsplash COVID-19 vaccine FAQs
vaccinations the needs of our aged care
Q: How many practices are eligible
to administer the COVID-19
vaccine?
in our region
community are being met. A: Since phase 1B of the rollout,
Our role in the rollout of nearly 300 practices in our
COVID-19 vaccines in aged region have been administering
vaccinations. More general
care includes facilitating
practices may be able to get
communications between RACFs,
involved in the future. Community
vaccination workforce providers
pharmacies have also been able to
(Aspen Medical and Health Care
administer vaccines since phase 2A
Australia), GPs, hospitals and other
of the rollout, which started in May.
local health providers, and state and
N orth W estern M elbourne P rimary federal health authorities to ensure Q: Have there been any
Health Network (NWMPHN) is aged care residents have access HealthPathways developed for the
playing a lead role in supporting to vaccines and adequate GP care COVID-19 vaccine rollout?
general practices and other afterwards. A: There are 23 COVID pathways on
primary care providers to deliver HealthPathways Melbourne, which
COVID-19 vaccines to patients in our We have also conducted a needs together have been viewed more
community. assessment of the approximately than 30,000 times. These include
130 facilities in our region to identify the ‘COVID-19 Aged Residential
Our primary role is to assist general needs and issues and connect with Care Assessment and Management’,
practices in joining the rollout and GPs who provide care to aged care ‘COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure’
providing a regional point of contact residents. and ‘COVID-19 Vaccination
between general practices and the
Information’ HealthPathways. Go to
Australian Department of Health. Information and eligibility rules
melbourne.healthpathways.org.au
around COVID-19 vaccines can
Along with this, we also facilitate change at short notice. Visit Q: Where can I go to find out
communications between general health.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines more information about COVID-19
practices and the Victorian regularly for the latest updates. vaccines in residential aged care
Department of Health, local facilities?
hospitals, and other local health If you have any questions regarding A: Visit nwmphn.org.au/
providers. the support NWMPHN can provide COVIDagedcare
for primary care regarding COVID-19
NWMPHN has also been the primary vaccinations, please contact Q: Where can I go to find our
contact point for residential aged primarycare@nwmphn.org.au or call more information about COVID-19
care facilities throughout the 03 9347 1188. vaccines in general practice?
COVID-19 vaccines rollout. This has A: Visit nwmphn.org.au/
involved forming a COVID-19 Aged COVID19vaccines
Care Expert Advisory Group to ensure
13Out & about
Dr Rajini from Juniper
Avenue Medical Centre
helped kick off our After
Hours campaign.
Photo: Icon Agency
NWMPHN
in the era of
COVID-19
While we are returning to the office, our training and education events remain online for
the time being. Although we miss face-to-face engagement, it has allowed more people
from our region to participate in events and activities with NWMPHN.
We are assessing the ongoing benefits of online training delivery and identifying where
face-to-face delivery could add significant value, and will keep you updated with any
changes as they are decided.
We have also used this time to develop a broader range of video content on new
programs and local health issues. Our online events are regularly posted on our You
Tube page – just search for ‘NWMPHN YouTube’. Here are some you might have missed.
14NEIGHBOURHOOD
LEVEL
Supporting our Indigenous community
NWMPHN worked with the
Eastern Melbourne Primary Health
Network and Dardi Munwurro to
develop videos about social and
emotional wellbeing featuring
members of Melbourne’s
Aboriginal community. The videos
cover themes such as self-care,
social isolation, help seeking,
anxiety and panic attacks and
community supports. Watch
Uncle ‘Bootsie’ Thorpe talk about
social and emotional
wellbeing here:
Good mental health is Being well, in any language
important, no matter what
language you speak, but it can
be hard to find straightforward
mental health information in
languages other than English. كيف تشعر؟
NWMPHN has released a series المكان الذي يمكنك التوجه
إليه لتلقي المساعدة العاجلة
of videos and printed resources خدمات الصحة العقلية المتخصصة
in Arabic, Burmese, Simplified هذه الخدمات متاحة للدعم العاجل عىل
أعاني ح ًقا أعاني من أعراض شديدة
Chinese, Karen and Vietnamese, مدار الساعة وطوال أيام األسبوع .وتوفر الوطأة .إنني أشعر بمعاناة
لك إمكانية التواصل الفوري عبر الهاتف
addressing key concerns and مع طبيب سريري متخصص في الصحة حقيقية وأحتاج إىل تلقي
العقلية يمكنه تقديم المساعدة لك في
linking people to support تحديد نوع االستجابة المطلوبة ومدى المزيد من المساعدة
services. Watch our ‘My Mental كونها عاجلة .وهي خدمة مجانية .تتحدد
أرقام هواتف الدعم العاجل وفق مناطق
عىل الفور.
خدمات الصحة العقلية
Health’ video with Simplified الحكومة المحلية ،حسب محل إقامتك:
المتخصصة
Chinese subtitles لمناطق بريمبانك ،وداربين ،وهيوم، • تتوافر خدمات الصحة العقلية
وملبورن ،وميلتون ،وموني فالي،
المتخصصة لدعم األشخاص المتأثرين
here: ومورالند اتصل عىل الرقم التالي:
بشكل خطير بمرضهم العقلي .فهي
1300 874 243
تقدم كال ً من التقييم في حاالت
لمناطق خليج هوبسونز، •
وماريبيرنونج وويندهام اتصل عىل
الطوارئ وفي الحاالت المخطط لها
الرقم التالي1300 657 259 : وكذلك العالج في أي مركز مجتمعي
أو في مستشفى.
ولمنطقة ماسيدون رينجز اتصل عىل •
الرقم التالي1300 363 788 : إذا كنت تحتاج إىل مساعدة عاجلة،
ولمنطقة يارا اتصل عىل الرقم التالي: • فاتصل بخدمات الصحة العقلية
1300 558 862 المتخصصة مباشرة أو يمكن لطبيبك
العام القيام بذلك نيابة عنك.
خدمات الدعم النفسي
يمكن للدعم النفسي واالجتماعي أن
إذا كانت لديك مخاوف
Helping GPs gain new skills
يساعد األشخاص المصابين بأمراض
ابحث عن
عاجلة عقلية حادة .فال شك أن الدعم العملي
… ...حول رفاهيتك أو سالمتك أو رفاهية يساعد األشخاص عن طريق حل األمور
التي تؤثر عىل الصحة العقلية مثل؛
المساعدة
أو سالمة أي شخص عزيز عليك ،فتوجه
إىل أقرب قسم للطوارئ الحياة االجتماعية أو المال أو السكن أو
إذا كانت حياتك -أو حياة شخص آخر - المشكالت المرتبطة بالصحة البدنية.
المناسبةonلك
معرضة لخطر وشيك ،فاتصل بخدمات يمكن لطبيبك العام أن يحيلك إىل هذه
الطوارئ عىل الرقم التالي 000
Dr Gavi Ansara led a discussion الخدمات.
trans, gender diverse and non-binary
mental health back in December
2020, one of the many online training
events for GPs and other health
professionals we’ve facilitated since
the beginning of the pandemic. You
can watch the full
session here:
15‘When my Principal spoke up
for me, it made me feel
supported and safe.’
Natalie
High School Student
Without support, people who are LGBTIQ+ are
more likely to attempt suicide. Don’t stay silent.
Learn more at speakingupspeaksvolumes.org.auYou can also read
