BCHS Community Newsletter - Other - Page 9
BETTERING BENDIGO
BCHS is advocating for a number of essential projects that require
government and/or philanthropic support. Together, we know that
we can grow and greatly improve our community.
Community Paediatric
Clinic
headspace GP Clinic
BCHS provides the only
bulk billing paediatric
service in the Loddon
Mallee region.
Local youth trust headspace Bendigo.
Having a specialist youth GP onsite is
encouraging and allowing young people to
access health services beyond mental health
and wellbeing, in a place they feel welcome,
safe and comfortable.
Despite our multidisciplinary nurse-led model
triaging children based on need, families are
waiting up to 12 months for an appointment with
a paediatrician. We make the most of limited
staff and resources, but we need more of both to
meet current and increasing demand and
complexity within our community.
The headspace funding model does not cover
the cost of a GP service. We need a properlyfunded primary health service utilising the
MBS, within the headspace model. Without it,
there will be less early intervention care for
local youth.
Refugee & migrant health resources
BCHS has delivered Settlement Services to refugees since 2010, assisting our
clients to settle in Bendigo and establish jobs, education, homes, meaningful
community connections and participation in the social, economic, and
cultural life of the city. To complement initial settlement needs, we have
initiated culturally-appropriate clinical services; GPs, nurses and counsellors,
plus programs to build health and service literacy and safe living.
As conflicts heighten and foreign aid is cut overseas, refugees are arriving
with more complex health needs. Our current Refugee Health Clinic is
operating at capacity and with short-term funding.
CP@Clinic (community paramedics)
We know many people are putting off visiting
GPs due to rising costs, while others can’t access
doctors due to shortages across the region. A
CP@clinic can help fill the gap and make use of
a ready-made workforce of community
paramedics either at the start of their careers,
or post having worked in the ambulance system.
CP@clinic is an evidenced-based model,
developed in Canada by McMaster University
and adapted to the Australian setting by
Sunraysia Community Health Services.
We require funding to trial a CP@Clinic locally.
Community Connector service
Homelessness in Bendigo has increased 93.4 per
cent since 2016. This fact is changing the CBD,
particularly around the library.
Since June 2023, a Community Connections Project
Worker, based at the library, has supported people
in vulnerable situations to access health and
economic care, housing/shelter, food, safety
and more.
Funding for the role is due to end in December
2025. Without this now-vital program, we predict
huge impacts on clients, library staff and the wider
Greater Bendigo community.
Read more details about these essential projects and others we’ve identified at bchs.com.au
