New Small Towns Project has big goals
On-the-ground healthcare support launches for families in regional and remote towns throughout the Loddon Campaspe region this week.
The Loddon Campaspe Small Towns Project is a joint initiative of the Loddon Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local and Bendigo Health, and focuses on providing support for developmental, emotional, relational and behavioural health challenges in children.
“The aim is to provide accessible support and care while connecting families to local services available,” says Community Development Officer Sukriti Gera.
“Each month a multidisciplinary team consisting of a paediatrician, child psychologist, mental health social worker, child and adolescent psychiatrist and myself will visit towns in the service area to connect with the community and find out their needs.
“We begin tomorrow, February 28, and will visit two primary schools and a GP clinic in Inglewood before heading to Wedderburn to meet with a maternal child health nurse and visit a kinder.”
The initiative was introduced to reduce service gaps and issues for families in small regional and remote towns including:
- A lack of access to primary healthcare and specialist services.
- Long travel times to access health services.
- Service fragmentation.
- Delays in paediatric assessments.
- Inequitable healthcare access for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island and CALD families.
“One of our biggest goals is to provide not only accessible healthcare but comprehensive, culturally safe and responsive services that support the health and wellbeing of children and their families,” Sukriti says.
“Understanding the needs of these communities and identifying pathways to address any issues will not only build trust but ensure early intervention and provide better health outcomes. It will also strengthen local connections with service providers in each town.
“My team and I are looking forward to meeting with communities and forming lasting partnerships that benefit children and families in need.”
Priority towns for the Loddon Campaspe Small Town Project are:
Loddon Shire: Inglewood, Wedderburn, Boort, Pyramid Hill, Bridgewater, Tarnagulla.
Campaspe Shire: Rochester, Tongala, Kyabram, Rushworth, Lockington.
Central Goldfields Shire: Dunolly, Maryborough, Talbot, Carisbrook, Bealiba.
Mount Alexander Shire: Newstead, Maldon, Chewton, Elphinstone, Harcourt, Taradale, Guilford.
City of Greater Bendigo: Heathcote, Elmore, Goornong.
Macedon Ranges Shire: Romsey, Lancefield, Malmsbury, Woodend.
For information on when the team may be visiting your town email sgera@bendigohealth.org.au
