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deadly news Community  |
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AGPAL Aboriginal Medical Service of the Year
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The IWC vision:
To be the optimal service of choice, transforming lives "where communities matter"
Find us on Facebook - iwchealthandwellbeing
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IWC named Aboriginal Medical Service of Year nationally
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IWC has been named
national Aboriginal Medical Service of the Year by
Australian
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The article in the Bundaberg NewsMail on 30 May 2016
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General Practice Accreditation Ltd (AGPAL).
A delegation from
IWC was at the AGPAL and QIP 2016 Conference on Friday 27 May to accept the award.
This is recognition at a national level and, in a competitive environment, a strong and high-level endorsement of the IWC whole-of-person care model which is working to improve health and wellbeing across our communities.
IWC is continually undertaking research and consultation to
improve services in line with the needs of our communities, with a focus on empowering Indigenous peoples, the vulnerable, disadvantaged and at-risk.
This award recognises IWC is leading the way in delivering a new paradigm of community and private partnership not just in this town or state, but nationally.
It is a real feather in the cap of the Bundaberg / Burnett region because it is driven and led by community need. 
This award acknowledges at the highest level that IWC is achieving the highest standards of service delivery, underpinned by strong governance and a robust business model.
At the heart of IWC's success is the fact that it is always staying in touch with the real needs of the community and forming strong, realistic relationships with stakeholders that partner in the continuum of care for clients.
Importantly, being named as the top Aboriginal Medical Service in Australia by AGPAL shows that the IWC approach to care for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in our communities works.
With more than 12,500 clients, and growing, IWC resonates with its community and has trust and respect across our region for the way in which it delivers sustainable outcomes.
The IWC model is delivering Reconciliation in Action, removing barriers and building communities, and through that it is shifting expectations around the way Primary Health Care services are provided in communities to deliver the best outcomes and, with that, value for money.
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Bundaberg Region Community Ice Forum
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IWC and the Bundaberg NewsMail will tomorrow (2 June) play host to one of the most important community forums to have ever been held in our region.
In line with our community-centric approach to identifying and solving problems that perpetuate the cycle of disadvantage in our region, IWC has been working hard with stakeholders from across all sectors of our society to deliver the Bundaberg Region Community Ice Forum.
It will involve around 80 key members of our community, including frontline service providers, agencies, organisations and groups. The purpose is to form a single community voice around the way forward on the confronting issue of Ice and other drugs.
We are delighted that new Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey - who as Member for Bundaberg opened the IWC Health & Wellbeing Community Centre in 2014 - will be part of this highly participate workshop, as will Deputy Mayor Bill Trevor.
CEO of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies, Rebecca MacBean, will sit on the Panel of Experts and Jeff Buckley, Director of Statewide Clinical Support Services - Alcohol and Drug Services - is arriving from Brisbane to facilitate this forum with IWC.
The Health Minister's office will be represented by Dr Bill Kingswell, Executive Director of Queensland Health's Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, and Member for Bundaberg Minister Leanne Donaldson also will be joining the community discussion around the issue of Ice and other drugs.
The formation of this community forum sends a very clear message - the time is now for real advancements to be made in the area of Ice and other drugs, and we are all part of the solution.
The focus of the forum - whole-of-community driven, with inclusiveness as its major driver - is outcomes. It's time to stop talking and start action against Ice and other drugs.
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Bulk-billing pathology concerns laid to rest
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Concerns about the future of bulk-billing for pathology services appear to have been laid to rest, which is good news for IWC clients and the whole community.
Pathology testing is central to controlling important, growing chronic diseases including diabetes.
According to peak body Pathology Australia, half of GP visits involve a request for pathology tests, and 60% of GP referrals for pathology relate to preventative health strategies and management of chronic illness.
A report by the Centre for International Economics released in April this year notes that 32% of the increase in clinical demand for pathology is due to preventative health treatments.
No wonder that the
Federal Government's proposed bulk billing incentive funding cut to pathology led to a public furore, with IWC clients adding their voice to the Pathology Australia "Don't Kill Bulk Bill petition" opposing the planned move. Nearly 600,000 people across Australia put their names to the petition.
But with Federal Election campaigning under way,
Pathology Australia has announced:
"The Coalition has ... released a clear statement that provides the means for the pathology sector to more readily maintain the current high rate of bulk billing of pathology tests for their patients."
The "Don't Kill Bulk Bill" petition has now been closed, but it is a message to our governments that our communities know the value of bulk-billed pathology, and other, services in delivering early intervention around health and wellbeing, as well as ongoing treatment.
As a non-government and charitable organisation working to remove barriers to effective and timely primary health care for all, IWC will continue to work with our communities to build personal empowerment for individuals and communities. And it will remain vigilant around any government changes relating to health, wellbeing, family and community services that could hurt our disadvantaged and at-risk peoples across our region.
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IWC is getting the five-star thumbs up from clients, with latest reviews on our Facebook page saying:
"Great doctors and staff, and just about has everything you need there!" - John Kennedy
"Exceptional service and understanding. Recommended to everyone." - Lisa Harvey
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IWC is riding the waves ... the radio waves.
Today (1 June), HitzFM will be giving a live broadcast from the IWC Health & Wellbeing Community Centre.
The HitzFM team will be set up next to the Guava Cafe from 10am-2pm, and there will be interviews with a range of IWC team members.
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Did you know that our phone number - 1300 492 492 - also is 1300 IWC IWC? It's an easy way for our clients to remember it!
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Kenneth Freeman in the Men and Boys' Group workshop.
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Principal Brad Young with IWC Director Stirling Eggmolesse serves breakast
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Crafts strengthen cultural links
When Kenneth Freeman became a casualty of the resources sector downturn, and was made redundant from his mining job around 18 months ago, it was a blow.
In his 40s, like many men who find themselves unexpectedly unemployed, at a complete loss.
"It was hard," he says.
The IWC Men and Boys' Group, led by IWC Director Stirling Eggmolesse, has been a way forward and discovered talents he did not realise he possessed.
Today, Mr Freeman is working as part of a team to create, design and decorate traditional Aboriginal artefacts including boomerangs, bull roarers and clap sticks.
More importantly, as part of that team, he feels re-connected to his cultural roots and part of a proactive and positive group of men who are committed to making a difference in their communities.
For Mr Freeman, who has found he has a talent for pokerwork decoration, the work has formed another important connection to his past.
"I've been able to make boomerangs to honour my father and my grandfather," he said.
The boomerangs carry the name of his father and grandfather, and their tribe."
Mr Eggmolesse knows the value of the group, which comprises both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys, and fluctuates in size.
"We work with between six and 10 youths at a time," he said, "and we help to reconnect them with their country."
Geoffrey Lingwoodock is a committed member of the group. He said: "No one tries to be the head.
"We just work as a team. We have mateship, friendship, trust. That's invaluable."
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IWC lays on breakfast for students
There were smiles all around when students at Walkervale State School tucked into a special breakfast after IWC dropped in to deliver some healthy options.
Thanks to the support of Kellogg's in donating boxes of cereal, the IWC was able to lay on a Healthy Breakfast event on 20 May as part of National Walk Safely to School Day 2016.
IWC delivers a range of early intervention and initiatives across the community, and saw National Walk Safely to School Day as a way of promoting the
benefits of our communities' children eating a healthy breakfast and fuelling up for the day's studies.
As part of the Healthy Breakfast, IWC delivered a range of information around good eating habits to the students. These included information about label reading, and portion sizes.
Walkervale State School Principal Brad Young said the Healthy Breakfast event was welcomed, because it was important that all students and their families understood the importance of eating regularly and well.
"The information provided by IWC also included activities for the children to engage with," he said.
"The work of IWC with our school is always much appreciated, and this event has been well received by both students and teachers.
"It certainly is information the children can take home and use every day."
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March against Domestic Violence
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Sarah Watson and Agnes Vaeagi of IWC march against Domestic and Family Violence.
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IWC's South Burnett-based Child and Family Support team took part in the 2016 Domestic Violence March in Cherbourg on 17 May.
The team works to improve the wellbeing and safety of children, young people and their families.
"We do this through building the capacity of families to care for, and protect their children, and to reunify and preserve the family unit," said IWC Child and Family Support worker Agnes Vae
agi.
She said Domestic and Family Violence could rip apart families.
"The march was designed to spread the message that domestic violence is unacceptable in our communities - a message that is important for both children and adults to understand," she said.
The march involved more than 200 school students and community members, including the IWC team, which has its office in Murgon.
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The community turned out for the Cherbourg Domestic Violence March on 17 May.
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Relapse prevention
Following the success of the recent Drug Education and Relapse Prevention Program, IWC has set the date for the next delivery of this initiative.
The IWC Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Program is offering a four-session group education program for people who have or have had drug and/or alcohol concerns.
The program is free of charge, confidential and open to anyone who wishes to work on their problem.
The first session starts on 14 June, and runs for consecutive weeks.
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Glasses needed
Do you have unwanted prescription glasses that would help disadvantaged people in remote areas of Indonesia?
IWC is getting behind Ron Hope, who lives in Bali and helps people in remote areas of Indonesia by collecting prescription glasses and giving them out free of charge where they are needed so badly - places where optometrists are not available.
There are collection points at the IWC Health & Wellbeing Community Centre at 184 Barolin St, Bundaberg - you'll find them in the Guava Café, the Medical Centre and the Corporate reception (upstairs). From there, we'll get them to Ron and his team of fellow volu
nteers in Bali.
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Praise for Ice session
"I now have an understanding of Ice and what to expect to see if working with people using."
That was just some of the positive feedback after IWC, Bundaberg Regional Council and the Queensland Police Service delivered a Professional Development Information Session on Ice to community sector workers on 10 May.
The two-hour session provided an overview of Ice, and its effects.
It was designed to provide a skills / support toolkit for people working with the community every day who wanted to know what to expect, and how to respond, to Ice in their environments.
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 A tasty event for a good cause was laid on by the IWC Bundaberg Home Care team on 19 May.
The team held the fundraiser as part of the Cancer Council's Australia's Biggest Morning Tea campaign, which
supports the organisation's research, prevention and support service programs.
The Home Care team laid on delicious goodies created by
the IWC's Guava Café, and clients and staff were invited to partake for a gold coin donation to the Cancer Council.
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IWC presents at Indigenous suicide prevention conference
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I
WC Director and Chaplain Aunty Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian at the Alice Springs conference.
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Why do so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples die by suicide?
People from all over Australia gathered in Alice Springs on 5 and 6 May to try to find answers to this question at the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Conference.
Over two days, the delegates exchanged learnings, shared lived experiences, built knowledge and looked at how to strengthen communities to tackle the issue of suicide.
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Anyone who likes IWC's approach to improving health and wellbeing of communities, providing services to all in our region, can let the community know by giving us a thumbs up in the NewsMail.
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An innovative initiative by IWC for World No Tobacco Day on 31 May met a
positive response.
"Interesting and encouraging," said one participant, while another said it was "very enlightening".
The IWC Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) program delivered three smoking mindfulness half-hour sess
ions during the day, helping people who wanted to quit or cut down their smoking.
It was all about using the power of meditation to quit smoking the natural way.
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