
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.