Alive and Thriving! Barkala Flats Garden Project

The Barkala Flats Garden project is an exciting joint project between Edenhope Lions Club, St Malachy’s Primary School and Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital. The project successfully received funds through the PCP Small Grant program to develop and beautify the garden area for the residents of Barkala Flats.

The Lions Club members were in charge of negotiating plans and implementing the actions with the students assisting in the “hands on” work. Over the course of 2013 significant work was done:

 School students and Lions Club members constructed new timber garden beds. These were raised to working height for either standing or sitting position to meet the mobility needs of the elderly residents  Existing garden beds that were straggly and overgrown were replaced with brick borders, new plantings, mulch and solar lighting  A metal screen was installed to hide the ageing and unsightly rainwater tanks and utility areas, using materials donated by a local land owner  Preparatory painting of the new screen was done by EDMH Maintenance staff  Colourful murals were painted on the screen by students, after consultation with residents on the design and drawings The new outdoor space was unveiled on 13th of December with a celebratory afternoon tea shared by residents and St Malachy’s students. The project has added interest and activity to the daily lives of the Barkala Flats tenants, fostered contact between the generations and provided a pleasant outdoor area for social gatherings and physical activity.

Self-Management Education Seminars for People Living with Chronic Lung Diseases in Regional Areas The 2014 Self-Management Patient Seminar- The Seminar delivers up-to-date information for patients and carers living with lung disease. The event also has many benefits for health professionals working with lung disease patients as well as providing useful information for members of the community. Date and Venue: Tuesday 20 May 2014 Bendigo . For more information visit www.lungfoundation.com.au

ICE Puts a Chill Into Our Community

Warracknabeal has a drug problem and it’s time for the community to act. ’s latest drug problem is no longer confined to the cities. ICE or crystal meth is burning a hole in the Wimmera and its embers are smouldering and reigniting across our own town. As part of the Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce’s region-wide plan to tackle the drug, Secondary College chaplain Lisa Woods is leading an action group to put the community on notice with a forum planned for the end of May.

Mrs Woods said ICE affected almost every community in the region. “It’s negligible to suggest there is not a problem in our community and the consequences of ignoring it would be devastating,” Mrs Woods said. “ICE is the most pure form of methamphetamine which means it has a much more intense high but that intensity also relates to the comedown and dependence or addiction,” she said. “It can cause chronic physical, mental and social problems and it destroys lives and families at all levels of the social scale. We need to make people aware and everyone in the community should learn about the mechanics of this drug and where to go for help.”

Grampians Community Health is the region’s alcohol and other drug treatment provider and each year over 400 Wimmera people seek its services for help with a range of drugs from alcohol and cannabis to prescription drugs and amphetamines such as ICE. The organisation’s alcohol and other drugs counsellor Brendan Scale is also the coordinator of Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce.

Mr Scale said that after alcohol and cannabis, ICE was the most common drug for which people sought treatment. “Around 40 people in the Yarriambiack Shire access our services each year and in 2012-2013, eight people from Warracknabeal and surrounding towns sought our help for amphetamines,” Mr Scale said. “We know that for every person seeking help for a drug, there are many others who may be using but do not seek treatment,” he said. “ICE is an amphetamine and it is a unique drug because it can destroy lives very rapidly.”

Mr Scale said he had seen dramatic changes in people using ICE in the Wimmera. “They can be living functional, productive lives and within a period of a few months of heavy ICE use, can be a shadow of their former selves, with their lives in tatters in every way,” he said. “Marriages have split, jobs have been lost and health has been eroded. “ICE can destroy lives here in the Wimmera so we need to act now.”

Yarriambiack Action Against ICE is presenting the ICE forum as a satellite group of the Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce. Speakers will include Warracknabeal GP Dr Franklin Butuyuyu, psychologist Dr Nyree Hutchins, Grampians Community Health counsellor David Henwood, Rural Northwest Health social worker Pip Watene and Snr Sgt Brad Bennett from Police. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to speak one-on-one with representatives from Victoria Police, Grampians Community Health, Wimmera Uniting Care and Grampians Medicare Local after the forum. The forum is on May 28 at Warracknabeal Community Centre, starting at 6.30pm and will be followed by a question and answer session at 7.15 and a barbecue tea. Free childcare will be available at the forum. Mrs Woods is encouraging those planning to attend, to register online before May 23 at http://www.warracksc.vic.edu.au/WSC/ICE.html

Multiple Sclerosis in the 21st Century – 1 day Professional Development Thursday 29th May, 9:30am to 4:30pm, Cost: $170 This program will support health professionals to understand what MS is, disease progression, current treatments, including symptom management. People affected by MS experience a range of fluctuating symptoms that interplay to add to the complexity of care. For a registration form and for more information, please contact Andrea Salmon, P: (03) 9845 2700 E: [email protected]

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Do You Need to Learn Suicide First Aid?

Most people thinking about suicide signal their pain and intentions - they offer us opportunities to respond. Suicide first aid learned in ASIST can help all of us see, hear and respond to these signals. It prepares us to work with and help persons at risk to increase their immediate safety and to get further assistance and support.

Lifeline Ballarat is proud to offer ASIST training to all members of the community: people concerned about family or friends; counselors, teachers and ministers; workers in health, welfare or justice; community volunteers; emergency service workers. ASIST is an internationally recognised, two day intensive, interactive course which is applicable to everyday situations with family, friends, clients, co-workers or teammates, and in professional, personal or volunteering roles.

Date: Thursday, 29th & Friday, 30th May 2014 9.00am – 5.00pm Where: North Ballarat Sports Club

Cost: $280 (includes GST + a tune-up session 6 months after this training; all materials, lunch and refreshments)

For further information, please contact: Kellie Dunn, Lifeline Manager & Trainer on Ph: 5337 2751 or 0402 789 672, [email protected] or Anne Watson, Get Mental Health & Wellbeing Manager & Trainer on Ph: 5364 2977 or 0419 755 780, [email protected]

14 Hour Youth Mental Health First Aid Workshop Coming up on 28th and 29th May

This workshop covers Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Psychoses, Substance Misuse and Eating Disorders. The crisis situations it covers include suicide, non suicidal self injury (deliberate self harm), panic attack, traumatic events, and severe psychotic reactions. The material relates to young people though many of the first aid principles taught can be utilised across age groups. Facilitator Anne Watson, Anne is a credentialed Mental Health Nurse who has spent many years working in Mental Health Services and currently provides training in this area. For parents of a young person aged between 12 – 15 years of age, you may be eligible to attend free if you wish to participate in a study being conducted by University. When: 28th and 29th May 9am to 5pm Where: Ballarat Business Centre, 15 Dawson St South Ballarat

Cost: $300 (inc gst) Discounts are available for group bookings

For further information contact [email protected] or Ph: 5364 2977 or visit www.mhfa.com.au

Communities in Control 2014: The Lucky Country Conference Reflecting on 50 years since Donald Horne's seminal book At the 2014 Communities in Control Conference (The Lucky Country Conference) the aim is to bring the spotlight back on what we’ve gained and lost as a society, and how we can organise ourselves to get from where we are to where we need to be. Date: Monday & Tuesday, May 26 & 27, 2014 Venue: Moonee Valley Racing Club, Melb. Pre-Conference Not-for-Profit Skills Day: Income generating strategies for enterprising not-for-profits Date: Sunday 25 May. Date & Time: Tuesday 20th May, 9.30am - 3.00pm Venue: Women's Health Victoria, Level 8, 255 Bourke St, Melbourne. For more information visit http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/control/control_main.jsp

Domestic Violence Response Training Lifeline is providing free accredited trainings called DV-alert or (Domestic Violence Response Training) across all states and territories in Australia. DV-alert is a nationally-run accredited training that provides skills to recognise signs of domestic and family violence respond with appropriate care and refer to the best possible support services. Date & Time: Tuesday 20 & Wednesday 21 of May 9 am to 5 pm Venue: Peart Wing, 103 Lydiard St South, Ballarat Register at: www.dvalert.org.au for enquiries: Call 02 6215 9418 or email [email protected] What is the cost of the training? The course is absolutely free. On top of that, Lifeline will cover reasonable costs of participants requiring travel, accommodation and staff backfill to attend the course.

Carers Vic Professional Development Portland: Tuesday 27 May Self care for care workers 3hrs Working in health, aged care or community care can be very rewarding, but may throw up challenges and stressors which can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout. No one can care for others effectively unless they care for themselves. As a participant in this practical workshop, you will:  Identify how beliefs and habits can be barriers to self-care  Learn strategies to identify and manage stress  Find ways to make stress work for you instead of against you  Develop your own workable self-care plan  Identify supportive strategies in your workplace Carer Recognition Act (targeting management) 3hrs Did you know that there is federal and state legislation which recognises the family carer and which is aimed at producing attitudinal and practical change in organisations? In this workshop, you will:  Come to understand the principles which underpin the legislation, and the issues which carers face  Learn about the measures your organisation needs to take to comply with the legislation.  Learn how to ensure that family carers – both as clients and employees – are included and recognised as laid down in the Act. This workshop will not be dry and dusty legal talk! It will be practical and lead to strategies you and your organisation can implement to ensure compliance with the Act. For more information or to register email [email protected] RSVP by Friday 23rd May

Melbourne Workshop - Person-Centred Facilitation - May 29 & 30 You are invited to a 2 day workshop - An Introduction to Person-Centred Facilitation – delivered by two leaders in the field – Patricia O’Brien and Ray Murray. The purpose of this two day workshop is to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of person –centred facilitation. Opportunities will be provided to practice facilitation strategies and action methods suitable for leading groups, delivering training and giving presentations. The course delivery will model facilitation teaching. Date, Time & Venue: Thursday 29 May and Friday 30 May 9:30am -4pm at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. Cost: $420.00 + GST Register: http://www.cds.med.usyd.edu.au/ Contact: Centre for Disability Studies, Stephen Curtis Executive Assistant. Ph: 90363600 Fax: 90363613 Email: [email protected]

Invitation to Free Session on Discrimination for Community Organisations Victoria Legal Aid invites you to attend an information session that will enable you to identify discrimination law problems and make appropriate referrals for your clients. It is not always obvious when unfair treatment might constitute unlawful discrimination, and without your help your clients may not think to seek legal advice. Please RSVP to one of two sessions:  Breakfast session from 8:30am to 10am on Tuesday 27 May 2014  Lunch session from 12pm to 1:30pm on Monday 14 July 2014 Venue: 360 Queen Street, Melbourne. Cost: These events are free and a light breakfast or lunch will be available. RSVP: [email protected] by Monday 19 May 2014.

Reducing Race-Based Discrimination for Health The two-day short course will equip participants to build leadership and skills in organisations and communities to address race-based discrimination and to develop a greater appreciation of the benefits of cultural diversity. Who should attend? The short course has been designed for people coming from diverse sectors including: health, community, education, state and local government, not for profit agencies, social policy, arts workplaces, justice, housing and sports.

Date: Tuesday 27 May & Wednesday 28 May 2014 Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm (Registration starts at 9.15am on Day 1) Venue: North Shepparton Community & Learning Centre, 10-14 Parkside Drive, Shepparton VIC 3630 Cost: Cost covered by the Greater Shepparton City Council

For further information and to register contact Marieve Lessard [email protected] Please note that spaces are limited. This course is expected to fill so please apply early. You will need to be available for the FULL TWO DAY course.

Recovery and Dual Diagnosis: Mental Health and Substance Use

Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD) is pleased to have the opportunity to share with you, a very exciting Professional Development Opportunity.

 Recovery and Dual Diagnosis ( Mental Health and Substance use).  Two Presentations followed by Practical Workshop to help apply the learning. (Assoc. Prof David Best and Dr Anshuman Pant will deliver presentations and David Best will facilitate a workshop around a case study).  The event is subsidised by WRAD and offered at $40 per person which also covers morning tea and lunch.

If you would like to learn more about the Recovery model and what it means for services and consumers- if you’d like practical examples of how to apply it in your work and have it related to common issues among complex clients – you are encouraged to join in. Places are limited so email [email protected] asap with expressions of interest and numbers.

When: May 20th 9.30am until 3.30pm Where: SouthWest TAFE. For more information and to register contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Palliative Care Breakfast 2014 Come join the Wimmera Hospice Care Team for Breakfast to help celebrate National Palliative Care Week A complimentary breakfast will be provided. When: Wednesday 28th May 2014 Time: 8.00am -10.30am Where: Conference Room Wimmera Health Care Group. RSVP by Wednesday 21st May to Melanie via email [email protected] or Phone: 5381 9363

Free Rhymetime at Library Fun, music, singing and story time for families with babies and children 0 to 3 years old. Dates: Starts 8th May, for 6 weeks Thursdays 9.30 - 10.00am Library opens from 9am for a cuppa beforehand.

WIRE Inviting Participants for a Survey on Women's Experiences of Financial Abuse Women's Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE) is conducting research to learn how financial abuse impacts women and to identify the barriers and challenges women face when seeking a fair share of the finances and assets following the end of a relationship. This research will also help to indicate what information and support is most useful to women when they leave a financially abusive relationship. Interested participants are invited to complete a short survey about their experiences. To participate visit http://www.wire.org.au/research-and- advocacy/financialabuseresearch/

Memory Lane Café: Conquering Alzheimer’s Connecting Australia

Are you caring for a person with dementia? Would you like to meet others, share your experiences and enjoy a social outing with the person you care for in a friendly, relaxed environment? Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is running Memory Lane Café Programs in the Grampians region for people experiencing memory loss and their carer or family member. The café events will be held in Warracknabeal, Nhill, Edenhope and Horsham, bi-monthly. The next Horsham Memory Lane Café will be held at the Angling Club Rooms on Wednesday 28th May at 2:00pm. The theme of the café is Weddings. Afternoon tea and entertainment will reflect a wedding theme of the 1950’s / 1960’s. Guests are invited to share stories of courtship and marriage.

Nhill CFA Hall Tuesday 27th May 2014 10.00am - 12.00pm Gold coin donation is appreciated Please RSVP by Monday 26th March to: Hindmarsh Shire Council on 5391 4444

Warracknabeal Neighbourhood House Tuesday 27th May 2.00 – 4.00pm Gold coin donation is appreciated Please RSVP by Monday 26th May to Lisa on 5398 0130

Horsham Memory Lane Café Wednesday 28th May 2.00pm - 4.00pm Gold coin donation is appreciated Horsham Angling Club Rooms Sawyer Park, Dixon Drive Please RSVP by Monday 26th May to HRCC on 5382 9795.

Edenhope Golf Club Wednesday 28th May 10.00am – 12.00pm Gold coin donation is appreciated Please RSVP by Monday 24th May to West Wimmera Shire on 5585 9933

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL for all sites.

State Disability Plan

The Dept. of Human Services is wanting feedback on the State Disability Plan. Please could you forward this to contacts who have a disability in your networks. The survey will take approximately ten to fifteen minutes to complete and will close on 16 May 2014. To start the survey, simply click on the link below, or copy and paste the entire URL into your browser http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1487885/Victorian-state-disability-plan-2013-2016- survey . Everyone who completes the survey will be eligible to win two gold class movie tickets. Your feedback is important to the Victorian Government and will be kept confidential (used strictly for improving the Victorian state disability plan). If you have any questions contact the Office for Disability on 1300 880 043.

Caring Connections: Free Information & Support for Kinship Carers

Are you a relative, grandparent or friend sharing your home with children who can’t live with their parents, for whatever reason? This can be so different from parenting your own kids. Maybe other people just don’t get how it is in your life now? You are invited to a program for Kinship Carers. Caring Connections will link kinship families providing secure & safe experiences for children when they need them most. Those attending the group (or selected sessions of interest) will: • meet with kinship carers in similar situations • learn positive parenting approaches that really work with children & young people • talk about and share your experiences

FACILITATOR: Gill Oliver, Anglicare Victoria. Gill’s 30 years’ experience as a social worker has led to a strong interest in supporting adults who take care of vulnerable children and young people. DATES Tuesdays for 4 weeks 3, 10, 17 & 24 June 2014 TIME 10.00am – 2.30pm VENUE 28 Urquhart Street, Horsham ENQUIRIES Anglicare Vic: Gill 9412 6169 Wimmera U/Care: Deb 5362 4000

Launch of the 2014 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards

Victoria’s most prestigious health awards program is proudly presented by the Premier of Victoria, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Mental Health and the Department of Health Secretary. The Awards are our annual account of excellence and innovation across public health, healthcare services and service initiatives that deliver innovative, informed and effective health care. The Awards program is strongly aligned with the Victorian Health Plan to enable recognition across all parts of the public healthcare system including health promotion and disease prevention, primary healthcare, secondary care and tertiary care, and mental health initiatives. With Awards including the Health Lifetime Achievement Award, Health Leader’s Awards and Healthcare Innovation Awards, opportunities are open to all Victorian public health services, including private healthcare providers, to celebrate leadership, innovation and excellence. This year there are two additional awards - the Minister's Awards for mental health employer excellence and the Minister's Award for mental health educator excellence - details about these two new Awards and eligibility requirements are on the Awards website: www.health.vic.gov.au/healthcareawards Entries open 7 May 2014 and close on 16 June 2014. Find out more: www.health.vic.gov.au/healthcareawards or email [email protected]

Breastscreen Victoria Ambassadors Wanted Local women listen to local women - BreastScreen Victoria is always looking for ambassadors and supporters of the program to help spread the word to other women in their community. Encouraging other women by sharing personal experiences of the program in local media is a fantastic way to spread the word. Sign up to our consumer register to learn how you can be more involved. http://www.breastscreen.org.au/Consumer-Register

Playgroup Victoria – Community Playgroups: Connecting Rural Families Locally

This project provides a platform for families to have access to and participate in community playgroups. Playgroups build the capacity of parents/carers as first educators and increase children’s connection to early learning opportunities and early years’ services. Lisa Gillard is the Playgroup Development Consultant for the Wimmera region which includes; West Wimmera, Horsham, Northern Grampians, Buloke, Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh. Lisa is very keen to build relationships with key stakeholders and agencies in the region to assist in facilitating these goals. Lisa can be contacted on 0456 869 390 / [email protected] and for additional information about playgroups please check out the Playgroup Victoria website www.playgroup.org.au

Horsham Apex Club 15 Community Grants Program 2014

Horsham Apex Club 15 raises funds from a number of community activities. Since 2011, the club has run a community grants program where over $70,000 in grants ranging from $300 to $5000 have... been donated to local community groups including Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation 500, kindergartens, schools, bands, sporting groups and other community focused organisations. This year, they have allocated up to $25,000 to be distributed. Organisations are invited to submit a grant application by contacting Marty Montgomery on 0429 361 368 or email [email protected] Submissions close Friday, 30 May, 2014.

What is Your Ideal View?

Horsham Rural City Council Public Art Advisory Committee, are seeking community suggestions for four sites in the municipality to be framed. Similar to the ’s frame of Mt Arapiles. It could be a mountain vista, a lake or a dusty road. Your suggestion could be credited for the next iconic view of the Wimmera to be framed!

Where to go to provide your view: Facebook | Framing the Wimmera

Instagram | #framingthewimmera

For more information visit www.hrcc.vic.gov.au or Phone: 03 5382 9595

Commissioned Artists: Dr. Greg Pritchard & Dónal Molloy-Drum

Art Is.. Festival: Time to Launch The 2014 Festival program has been launched! It is now available online and in hard copy about town and in the Festival office, 43 Firebrace Street. The new look website is also launched check it out at www.artis.wimmera.com.au

Now it's time for creation! Invited Erth artist Andrew Blizzard and local artists Mary French and Adelle Rohrsheim are running creative workshops with Primary School students from Horsham North, , and Murtoa and an elders group at Goolum Goolum. They are creating creatures and artefacts for the Museum of Land’s Past, a stunning visual experience that brings to life the Wimmera landscape through interactive installations, animation and imagined artefacts created by our community. If you want to be part of the Museum you can bring yourself or the family to community workshops at the Wimmera HUB on Sunday 18 May and Sunday 25 May 10am -2pm, light lunch provided. Gold coin donation for materials.

Geoff Witmitz – Executive Officer Donna Bridge – Agency Liaison Officer [email protected] [email protected] p: 5362 1225 m: 0428 358 672 p: 5362 1221 m: 0429 174 763

Sarah Natali – Agency Liaison Officer Jan Hall – Grampians Region HACC Project Officer [email protected] [email protected] p: 5362 1223 m: 0468 387 121 p: 5362 1221

Ruth Williams – Evaluation Officer Melissa Powell – Administration [email protected] [email protected] p: 5362 1224 p: 5362 1222

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