BCHS Annual Report 2025 - Report - Page 12
Internal news
BCHS secures major
grant to enhance opioid
treatment
In a signi昀椀cant win for Greater
Bendigo’s most vulnerable residents,
BCHS was awarded a $750,000
Victorian Government grant in
March 2025 to enhance its Specialist
Pharmacotherapy Program.
Wanyanimbik Wayawan:
A new place for discovery,
not just recovery
BCHS has a new, dedicated
multi-million-dollar wellbeing
centre for people seeking
support with dependency
issues.
Premier The Hon Jacinta Allan MP
o昀케cially opened the centre in August
2024, marking a major milestone
during community health’s 50th year
in Bendigo.
Services have been operating from
the site, providing support and
encouragement for people to make
lasting lifestyle changes, in keeping
with the site’s name. Wanyanimbik
Wayawan means ‘昀椀nding myself’ in
the local Djarra language, based on
the BCHS philosophy of discovery,
not just recovery.
BCHS CEO Mandy Hutchinson said
the building’s unique design, and
the services being delivered within,
support this sentiment.
“This is a place where people can
come to build self-care and resiliency
skills that can then be transferred
into everyday life,” she said.
“Most importantly, it’s allowing us to
provide a multi-disciplinary service
with better, patient-centred care and
wrap-around support.”
Wanyanimbik Wayawan is privately
situated o昀昀 Holdsworth Road and
was established thanks to almost
$4 million from the Victorian
Government’s Regional Health
Infrastructure Fund.
BCHS AOD and Mental Health Services
Operations Manager Cilla Boucher said
the Department of Health funding, to be
delivered over three years, will improve
how opioid dependence treatment is
delivered and address critical service
gaps that have long challenged patients
and healthcare providers.
“Now I have stability,
I’ve reconnected with
my family, and for the
昀椀rst time in 15 years,
I have hope for my
future. The sta昀昀 here
don’t judge – they treat
you like a person, not a
problem.” - John
“This is absolutely transformative,”
said Cilla. “For too long, we’ve had to
turn away new clients due to limited
prescriber capacity. Now we can
open our doors again to those who
desperately need this life-saving
treatment.”
The funds will support four major
service improvements: a dedicated
Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine
clinic, an Integrated Care Clinic for
primary health needs, a dedicated
AOD Navigator to support clients
with service access, and a telehealth
partnership with Western Health’s
addiction specialists.
BCHS has delivered Opioid Dependence
Treatment since 1992 and currently
supports 173 clients.
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