Justin Saunders, CQ RAICCHO General Manager, said that 17th June 2014 had been set aside for a joint Planning Workshop. He praised the willingness of the Executive Director, Rural Health Services of the HHS, Rodney Hutcheons, and the Chief Executive Officer of MLCQ, Jean McRuvie, to discuss integrating health services.

“CQ RAICCHO has now conducted 9 Mobile Health Service visits to Woorabinda since we launched our Chronic Disease Strategy on 9th April”, he said.

“The Community has responded positively. Our Mobile Health Clinic, fitted out and funded by QGC, in seven weeks has completed 120 MBS Item 715 Health Checks, provided by our GP, Nurse and Aboriginal Health Worker whose sessions are funded through CheckUp”, Mr Saunders added.

Mr Saunders said that CQ RAICCHO had amply demonstrated its commitment to the Woorabinda Chronic Disease Strategy and was keen to integrate the Strategy into a broader model of health service delivery.

The CQ Hospital and Health Service oversights the Multi-Purpose Health Centre located in Woorabinda. CQ Medicare Local coordinated allied health services for Woorabinda residents. CQ RAICCHO collaborates with the Aboriginal Medical Services in Rockhampton – Bidgerdii – and in Gladstone – Nhulundu Wooribah – to deliver chronic disease services and health education programs.

“It makes sense to look at what each of us can contribute, to involve other valuable providers such as Red Cross and the PCYC, and to engage with the elected Woorabinda Council to work out how each of us can best contribute to a more effective health journey for Aboriginal clients and deliver improved health outcomes”, Mr Saunders said.

Theodore and Biloela are specified centres under CQ RAICCHO’s service contract with QGC. CheckIUp has also identified these two centres under its MOICDP service contract with CQ RAICCHO.

There was a great turn out for both community events and good feedback from the two Aboriginal communities.

CQ RAICCHO combined the visit of the Mobile Health Clinic with health promotion activities organised by the regional “Deadly Choices” team based in Gladstone with Nhulundu Wooribah. There was a display on nutrition and sugars in food, and footy drills with Jharel Yow Yeh, the “Deadly Choices” Ambassador and members of the local footy teams. Jharel was very popular and also very knowledgeable about the information delivered through the “Deadly Choices” program – even educating some of the school children about the chemicals in cigarettes.

In Theodore, 58 Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents of the community and outlying areas came to the Mobile Health Clinic and 60 people registered for the “Deadly Choices” activities. This is a remarkable turn-out as the Indigenous total population of Theodore itself at the June 2011 Population Census was 55 persons. The Registered Nurse and Aboriginal Health Worker offered checks for BSL, blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, drinker, and whether the individual was a smoker. No clients needed to be referred back to the local GP. The Mobile Health Clinic was very popular and the staff extended the hours available to see all the clients.

The staff of the Mobile Health Clinic also met with the Community Nurse and Aboriginal Health Worker from the privately-owned Theodore Medical Centre. The Theodore Medical Centre has a system in place for following up MBS 715 Health Checks and is keen to work with the CQ RAICCHO Mobile Health Clinic at the next visit.

In Biloela, 88 Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents community members came to the Mobile Health Clinic and 108 residents registered for the “Deadly Choices” activities. The Indigenous total population of Biloela at the June 2011 Population Census was 250 persons, so once again this level of participation was extraordinary. The Biloela Dance Troupe entertained the participants.

Here, too, the Registered Nurse and Aboriginal Health Worker offered checks for BSL, blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, drinker, and whether the individual was a smoker. The RN made suggestions to several parents with regards BSL of some youth. Once again the RN and AHW were kept extremely busy and were forced to call a halt at 6.30 pm.

The staff of the Mobile Health Clinic met with the Practice Manager of the Biloela Medical Centre. The other clinic in town, the Oxley Clinic, is keen to work with the CQ RAICCHO/QGC Mobile Health Clinic when it returns.

First completed health Check lady at Woorabinda proudly displaying her “Deadly Choices” Shirt

A range of service providers in Woorabinda participated, including Queensland Health, Red Cross, AND Employment Services Queensland. Staff from Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID) also assisted with transporting families to and from the event which was greatly appreciated.

Merle O’Donnell from Queensland Health and other colleagues from the sexual health team – including some training GP’s – also attended and setup a stall and handed out promotional information to the Community.

The Queensland Police Service also had two Police Officers and two Community Liaison Officers in attendance who interacted with the young people on the basketball court and spoke to community members.
The Regional Tobacco and Healthy Lifestyle Team from Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Service were accompanied by the “Deadly Choices” Ambassador Damien Hooper.

Damien Hooper chats to a Woorabinda fan.

The Community Day was rated an overwhelming success. 15 MBS 715 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks were completed, with another 40 Aboriginal residents registering for the return visit of the Mobile Health Clinic on 15^th – 16^th April.

First completed health Check lady at Woorabinda proudly displaying her “Deadly Choices” Shirt

Some community residents happily waited for up to 3 hours so that they could participate and have their Health Check competed, including respected Elders from Woorabinda.

CQ RAICCHO and Nhulundu Wooribah supplied the Locum GP, a registered Nurse (the CQRAICCHO Spearhead) and the Health Worker / Medical Receptionist.  Collectively they ensured that Medicare compliance was achieved by telephoning the hotline to ensure that individuals were eligible for a Health Check / MBS 715 – that is, they had not already received their Health Check.
The Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council Chairman/Mayor, the CEO, Executive Assistant and a Council Member also attended the day and where pleased with the overall event and services. They also proudly donned their Deadly Choices Shirts and said that they looked forward to meeting with the CQRAICCHO Board and GM to ensure continuity of services.

Woorabinda Shire Council and Community Leaders and Damien Hooper

The Deadly Choices team were kept busy with Good Quick Tukka demonstrations and providing education on quitting the smokes.

Damien Hooper and Sharrna Parter prepare the younger community members for the Good Quick Tukka demonstration.

“Deadly Choices” Ambassador Damien Hooper was a huge crowd pleaser and shared his story with the community.  Damien represented Australia in Boxing at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010 London Olympic Games in 2012.

Damien proved a crowd pleaser with these two young ladies from Woorabinda.

Because of the overwhelming response from more than 300 adults and children, the Organising Group has agreed on a return program for two days on 15^th – 16^th April to hold another “Deadly Choices” Community Day and to allow for the completion of further MBS 715 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks, as well as follow-up care to the people seen on 9^th April.

As the Community day was aimed at sending a positive message about health, Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Service used the QGC/CQ RAICCHO Mobile Health Van to offer free flu vaccinations to families and to provide health checks.  7 health checks were completed, 7 flu vaccinations were administered, 3 new Aboriginal clients were registered and an additional 10 health checks were booked in to the Nhulundu Wooribah Clinic.

Carly Cooke, the General Manager of Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Services, reinforced the importance of educating people about their health.

“Many health problems and chronic diseases can be avoided through making the right lifestyle choices,” she said. “If we can encourage people to seek assistance in quitting smoking, eating  healthy and exercising regularly, we can help them avoid getting diseases such as type-2 diabetes, smoking related cancers and high blood pressure. “

Special guest and Olympic boxer Damien Hooper was on hand to share his own personal story about how making positive choices turned his life around. After being introduced to the sport of boxing by a policeman when he was just a teenager, Damien credits the sport with saving his life.

“I was headed down a path of substance abuse. Boxing gave me a drive to be successful and helped me through some tough times in my life,” he said. “I want to be a leader for my people and show how making good choices can have a positive impact on your life.”

Kids at the event were thrilled when their hero invited them into the ring to spar with the champion.

“I want to inspire kids to reach their potential. Sport encourages kids to set goals and developing discipline and this can translate to other areas of life.”

The Good Quick Tukka team treated families to a tasty lunch and cooked up a storm with their healthy food options. Peta-Marie and her team from Express Fitness got everyone moving and shaking with their fitness routines and had kids and adults alike joining in the fun to work off the calories.

Giving a flu vaccination while the young patient’s data is recorded for follow-up

Dr Claudia Collins with a Health Check for young patient

Damien Hooper, Olympic and Commonwealth Games boxer, with the Express Fitness team

Damien Hooper sampling fresh fruit with young Community members

Good Quick Tukka preparations

The Nhulundu Wooribah regional “Deadly Choices” team with Damien Hooper

The whole Nhulundu Wooribah Clinic, “Deadly Choices””, Aged Care and Community Links staff with Damien Hooper

]]> http://www.cqraiccho.com.au/gladstone-deadly-choices-community-day/feed/ 0 http://www.cqraiccho.com.au/national-close-the-gap-day-in-gladstone/ http://www.cqraiccho.com.au/national-close-the-gap-day-in-gladstone/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2014 04:46:17 +0000 http://cq.15.goodgood.com.au/wp/?p=370 Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Service chose the occasion of National Close the Gap Day ton 20^th March 2014 to use the QGC/CQ RAICCHO Mobile Health Van to offer flu vaccinations to community members in Gladstone.

The Mobile Health Van was parked in the car park of the Health Service and was staffed with Dr Sabitha Yakkala, Senior RN Skye Manthey and Aboriginal Health Worker Tori Cowburn.

This team provided 79 flu vaccinations on the day. Staff also took advantage of the clinic to rebook MBS 715 health screenings if required.

Community members who attended the vaccination clinic were treated to a healthy morning tea/lunch provided by the Healthy Lifestyle team at Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Service. The team also provided a Good Quick Tukka demonstration to show how easy it is to provide healthy meals, quickly and easily.