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A ground‐breaking new program combatting loneliness and social isolation in the Port Macquarie‐Hastings region is just what the doctor ordered.

Funded by Healthy North Coast, a local not‐for‐profit organisation delivering the Australian Government’s Primary Health Network Program, the ‘Healthy Me Healthy Community’ initiative aims to support, encourage, and empower locals to rediscover their passions and find new social outlets to boost their mental health and wellbeing.

Healthy North Coast Chief Executive, Monika Wheeler, said the free 15‐week program was based on a concept called ‘social prescribing’ – a global movement which takes a non‐clinical approach to combatting the mental and physical effects of loneliness and poor ‘social health’, two factors which can be a major contributor to chronic illness.

‘Increasing social opportunities and purposeful activities is more important than ever after COVID‐19 measures, such as lockdowns and physical isolation, which impacted people’s ability to connect with others, and in turn, their overall wellbeing,’ Ms Wheeler said.

Feros Care is delivering the pilot program, set to roll out over the next 12 months with a goal of supporting 300 participants with tailored social and group activities until June 2024.

Feros Care Head of Fundraising and Supporter Relationships, Jo Winwood, said the program takes a holistic view of people’s health and wellbeing by offering meaningful ‘social prescriptions’ like volunteering, social groups, arts, cultural events and exercise to help people feel connected and a sense of belonging.

‘We address the root cause of ill health caused by poor social connections, rather than treating the symptoms,’ Ms Winwood said.

‘This helps people understand their individual social needs and connect with the things that matter to them, to support their return to good health,’ she said.

Recently, Mayo Private Hospital referred Jeff, 70, to the Healthy Me Healthy Community program to help him improve his social connections and give him more purpose during retirement.

During time as an electrical trades TAFE teacher, Jeff gained extensive experience teaching woodwork. The ‘Healthy Me Healthy Community’ Wellbeing Coach secured a volunteer position for Jeff in the local Community College’s workshop.

‘Spending time with people energises me and the program has given me a purpose. I’m doing 2 days a week, which is enough for the time being. It’s great that I can dictate my own times and work the hours that suit me best,’ said Jeff.

‘It’s very early days of course, but I’m feeling very positive, and the world is my oyster,’ Jeff said.

Northern NSW residents are set to benefit from a free new service that aims to improve access to local healthcare.

North Coast Health Connect, launched today for 29 postcodes across Northern NSW, offers a free 1800 phone number or live web chat for residents to speak with a registered nurse any time of the day or night, including public holidays.

Funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program and delivered by Amplar Health, the service ensures urgent health concerns can be assessed quickly and confidentially by a trusted health professional. If needed, residents can be connected with a local general practice, community pharmacist or a virtual care appointment.

Healthy North Coast’s Chief Executive Monika Wheeler said the service opens a new front door to local health care, including urgent care, for those unsure about the next step, helping to ease pressure on hospital resources.

‘Having launched to Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour residents over the past five  months, the service has already supported thousands of locals to receive health advice quickly wherever they are and in a way that suits them,’ said Ms Wheeler.

‘We understand when there is a health urgency it’s important to get advice quickly no matter the time of day. North Coast Health Connect nurses will assess your symptoms and provide on-the-spot advice.

‘Most people don’t want to go to a hospital emergency department if they can avoid it, but it can be hard to get a GP appointment in some areas. Medical issues also often strike after hours when local services are closed.

‘North Coast Health Connect offers an alternative, with nurses on-call around the clock, ready to listen to your health concerns and connect you to the right level of care at the right time, including bookings with a local GP or pharmacist,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Ms Wheeler said the need to see a GP face-to-face for some health concerns will never change and participating local general practices have made appointments available specifically for users of the North Coast Health Connect service.  The service is also strongly supported by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), with local pharmacists signed up to make consultations available.

Amplar Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Wilson said the Amplar team is thrilled to now be delivering the North Coast Health Connect service to all Northern NSW residents, as improving primary care access is a key element to ensuring the sustainability of healthcare in Australia.

‘Our digital and clinical expertise will ensure the service delivers increased access, choice and control to the local Northern NSW community,’ Dr Wilson said.

Northern NSW Local Health District Acting Chief Executive, Lynne Weir, supported the service as an additional avenue for residents to receive expert medical advice and care outside of the hospital setting.

‘This service is a welcome addition to the range of healthcare options for people in our region, and will help keep our emergency departments for emergencies,’ Ms Weir said.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President Dr Fei Sim applauded Healthy North Coast for their innovation in a health system under increasing stress.

‘With the Australian health system under enormous pressure, there is an important role for pharmacists to play in supporting patients with non-urgent health care needs,’ Dr Sim said.

‘Services like North Coast Health Connect that connect patients with an appropriate healthcare profession – whether it be a GP, a pharmacist, or another health professional – are vital to ensuring our health system efficiently utilises all resources,’ said Dr Sim.

Ms Wheeler said North Coast Health Connect delivers on what the North Coast community asked for – being able to speak to a health expert for free over a convenient and confidential 24/7 channel with connections to face-to-face local health care.

‘We are excited to see all Northern NSW residents have access to this service which has already supported many in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour. We encourage you to speak with a North Coast Health Connect nurse on 1800 198 888 or live chat at northcoasthealthconnect.org.au next time you have an urgent health issue,’ said Ms Wheeler.

North Coast Health Connect will also be evaluated by world-leading medical research centre, The George Institute for Global Health, over the next five years.

Healthy North Coast, the not-for-profit organisation delivering the Australian Government’s Primary Health Network program for our region, has welcomed the recent announcement of new mental health service funding and the planned establishment of a Coffs Harbour Head to Health service. 

Head to Health services are designed to be set up in convenient, central locations and to help to increase access to free mental health support for people over 18. 

Monika Wheeler, Healthy North Coast’s Chief Executive, is pleased that Coffs Harbour has been named as one of seven new NSW Head to Health sites, part of a joint commitment by the Australian and New South Wales Governments of $45.7 million of new mental health funding over 4 years. 

‘People living in and around Coffs Harbour will have access to a free walk-in service that can provide on-the-spot support,’ Ms Wheeler explained. 

‘This will be the second Head to Health site for our region. Lismore’s Head to Health service opened in March 2022 after the floods and has provided close to 1,000 occasions of service to-date,’ said Ms Wheeler. 

Like Lismore and other established Head to Health locations, the Coffs Harbour service will offer immediate, short- and medium-term care for people with moderate to severe mental health needs, including adults seeking help in times of crisis. 

Ms Wheeler said that Healthy North Coast will be responsible for contracting a suitable local provider to deliver the new service. 

‘We have worked alongside the Mid North Coast Local Health District to submit the funding proposal and look forward to consulting with other local stakeholders to ensure the service meets the needs of the Coffs community. 

‘Head to Health services are known for being welcoming, supportive and non-judgmental environments. Once established, clinical and peer support workers will be on hand to offer assessment, advice and care for people when they need it most.’ 

Ms Wheeler said cost of living pressures following on from the COVID-19 pandemic, floods and bushfires of recent years meant an increasing number of people are needing mental health support. 

‘We all need to prioritise our mental health and wellbeing and the new Coffs Harbour Head to Health will be a welcome addition to the region’s existing services,’ Ms Wheeler said. 

Even though walk-in locations for Head to Health services are still limited, people living anywhere in the region can call the free Head to Health 1800 595 212 number for mental health advice, information and local referrals. The phone service operates weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, except public holidays. However, it’s not a crisis service, and people needing immediate support can contact the Mental Health Access Line at 1800 011 511, Lifeline at 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service at 1300 659 467, or go to their nearest hospital emergency department in case of an emergency. 

Coffs Harbour residents are set to benefit from a free new service that aims to improve access to local healthcare.

North Coast Health Connect, now available for those living in Coffs Harbour postcodes, including the Nambucca and Bellingen regions, offers a free 1800 phone number or live web chat for residents to speak with a registered nurse any time of the day or night, including public holidays.

Funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program and delivered by Amplar Health, the service ensures urgent health concerns can be assessed quickly and confidentially by a trusted health professional. If needed, residents can be connected with a local service or a virtual care appointment.

Healthy North Coast’s Chief Executive Monika Wheeler said the service opens a new front door to local health care, including urgent care, for those unsure about the next step, helping to ease pressure on hospital resources.

‘Having launched to Port Macquarie residents in December and Kempsey residents last month, the service has already supported hundreds of locals to receive health advice quickly wherever they are and in a way that suits them.

‘We understand when there is a health urgency it’s important to get advice quickly no matter the time of day. North Coast Health Connect nurses will assess your symptoms and provide on-the-spot advice.

‘Most people don’t want to go to a hospital emergency department if they can avoid it, but it can be hard to get a GP appointment in some areas. Medical issues also often strike after hours when local services are closed.

‘North Coast Health Connect offers an alternative, with nurses on-call around the clock, ready to listen to your health concerns and connect you to the right level of care at the right time, including bookings with a local GP or pharmacist,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Ms Wheeler said the need to see a GP face-to-face for some health concerns will never change and participating local general practices have made appointments available specifically for users of the North Coast Health Connect service.  The service is also strongly supported by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), with local pharmacists signed up to make consultations available.

Amplar Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Wilson said the Amplar team is thrilled to be delivering the North Coast Health Connect service to Coffs Harbour residents, as improving primary care access is a key element to ensuring the sustainability of healthcare in Australia.

‘Our digital and clinical expertise will ensure the service delivers increased access, choice and control to the local Coffs community,’ Dr Wilson said.

Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Stewart Dowrick said he fully supported this new and innovative model and will be promoting North Coast Health Connect through the Mid North Coast hospital system.

‘For those who may have been struggling to access the health system, North Coast Health Connect is a direct line to a qualified and trusted health professional, rather than facing a long wait in a busy ED.

‘It’s up to all of us to make the best possible use of our hospital resources and keep our emergency departments for emergencies,’ Mr Dowrick said.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President Dr Fei Sim applauded Healthy North Coast for their innovation in a health system under increasing stress.

‘With the Australian health system under enormous pressure, there is an important role for pharmacists to play in supporting patients with non-urgent health care needs,’ Dr Sim said.

‘Services like North Coast Health Connect that connect patients with an appropriate healthcare profession – whether it be a GP, a pharmacist, or another health professional – are vital to ensuring our health system efficiently utilises all resources,’ said Dr Sim.

Ms Wheeler said North Coast Health Connect delivers on what the North Coast community asked for – being able to speak to a health expert for free over a convenient and confidential 24/7 channel with connections to face-to-face local health care.

‘We are excited to see Coffs Harbour residents have access to this service which has already supported many in Port Macquarie and Kempsey. We encourage you to speak with a North Coast Health Connect nurse on 1800 198 888 or live chat at northcoasthealthconnect.org.au next time you have an urgent health issue,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Amplar and Healthy North Coast are planning to make North Coast Health Connect available to all North Coast residents by mid-2023.

North Coast Health Connect will also be evaluated by world-leading medical research centre, The George Institute for Global Health, over the next five years.

A comprehensive survey of Northern Rivers school children, completed in late 2022 and coordinated by Healthy North Coast, has set a baseline to measure our young people’s mental health and wellbeing, following the 2022 floods.

6,611 children and young people from 75 Northern Rivers schools completed the Resilience Survey, Australia’s most widely used mental health and wellbeing survey for schools, in October and November last year.

Healthy North Coast Chief Executive, Monika Wheeler, said this was the largest group ever to complete the survey following a natural disaster and represents just over 12 per cent of all schoolaged young people in the Northern Rivers region.

‘This is a ground-breaking result and I am very grateful to all the students, parents and school staff for their participation in the survey,’ said Ms Wheeler.

‘We now have a clear indication of how our young people are faring in terms of resilience and wellbeing, which means we can design local mental health supports, tailored specifically to their needs,’ Ms Wheeler said.

Healthy North Coast commissioned the survey as the first step in Healthy North Coast’s Resilient Kids Program, a $10 million initiative funded by the National Emergency Management Agency to support community recovery from the 2022 flood events.

The Resilience Survey was designed and administered by Resilient Youth Australia and the University of Adelaide and has been completed by more than 500,000 students in over 1,500 schools since 2013.

Ms Wheeler said Healthy North Coast is currently reviewing the survey report prepared by the University of Adelaide and will release an in-depth analysis in April, along with insights gathered from student workshops held from December 2022 to February 2023.

‘In terms of preliminary results, though, we can already see that 2022 wellbeing and life satisfaction levels in our young people are generally similar to the national averages for the 2021

Resilience Survey cohort, a group of nearly 64,000 young Australians aged 7 to 18.

‘Despite everything that has come at them in the past 12 months and even before that, our young people reported generally feeling supported and connected within their schools, families and communities.

‘However, the survey also highlights areas in need of future focus. Reports of depressive and anxiety symptoms were slightly higher than the 2021 Resilience Survey national averages for primary students, though similar to the 2021 national average for secondary students.

‘Almost one in three Northern Rivers primary students and more than one in three secondary students were at risk for depression and anxiety, which is of concern,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Using data from the Resilience Survey, research evidence and the information gathered from codesign workshops in March 2023, Healthy North Coast will commission a suite of mental health and wellbeing initiatives for children and young people to be delivered from July 2023.

‘We know that recovery is not a one-off event. It’s multi-year and multi-layered and our approach to supporting our young people might change over time as we see how they respond,’ said Ms Wheeler.

‘Right now, though, I would encourage everyone to prioritise their mental health over the coming months. If you are feeling overwhelmed or just want to have a chat, please reach out to one of the free or low-cost mental health support services funded by Healthy North Coast,’ Ms Wheeler said.

One year on, Healthy North Coast and the NSW Government continue to support Northern NSW communities impacted by the 2022 floods through Community Wellbeing and Resilience grants already delivering benefits on the ground.  

Funded through the NSW Government’s three-year, $5 million flood recovery funding package, the Community Wellbeing and Resilience Flood Recovery Grants program supports individuals and communities to recover from the impacts of natural disaster and build their capacity to face future challenges.  

Healthy North Coast Chief Executive Officer, Monika Wheeler, said a range of activities and programs are supporting communities to connect, learn and heal through the recovery process. 

‘All funded activities build on the foundations of community connection, which is our region’s great strength,’ Ms Wheeler said.  

‘The programs have been designed by local communities to facilitate tailored, community-led solutions that acknowledge that recovery is a multi-year process. For this reason, funding will be released in stages to better respond to community needs as they arise,’ said Ms Wheeler.  

NSW Minister for Regional Health and Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said it is important that Northern NSW communities are given the tools and support they need to continue their recovery from last year’s devastating flooding events.  

“These grants will help provide a much-needed boost for communities who have been through a very difficult time, and the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to ensuring we are doing everything we can to support them.”  

In this funding round, eleven Northern NSW organisations will deliver an initial $2.7 million in grant activities, with a key focus on community recovery, vulnerable population groups and First Nations people.  

The programs include funding for grassroots community-based recovery organisations including Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort (CORE), Resilient Lismore, Resilient Uki and Murwillumbah Community Recovery and Resilience project.   

‘A new group of grassroots organisations have emerged organically in response to the floods and we are building a new model of community-led recovery in our region,’ said Joel Orchard, Executive Director of Wardell CORE.  

‘With funding from Healthy North Coast and others, we have been able to implement wellbeing activities and in-house mental health support, leading to a new sense of community connectedness in Wardell and surrounding villages that were devastated by the floods.’  

Mr Orchard said Wardell CORE was seeing around 350 people a week, with many seeking peer support and company. 

‘We have counsellors on site, so that people don’t have to dance between multiple practitioners,’ he said. ‘We’re dealing with a typically older demographic. Everything we do is therapeutic by nature.’ 

Aboriginal community-controlled organisation Rekindling the Spirit and The Returning Indigenous Corporation have also been funded through the program. Rekindling the Spirit will auspice a Community Healing Hub and a Mobile Healing Hub that delivers services and healing activities to First Nations people across the Northern Rivers.  

The Returning’s recovery program includes a series of cultural connection retreats, an Indigenous Knowledge Hub and a podcast series that will reflect upon and consolidate lessons learned through Indigenous community-led recovery following the Lismore floods.  

An additional group of programs are tailored to support displaced community members, women, young people, older people and LGBTQ+ community members thought trauma education, counselling, case management and recovery activities for individuals impacted by the floods.  

Residents living in Port Macquarie area postcodes will be the first to benefit from a free new service that aims to improve access to local healthcare.

North Coast Health Connect, launched on December 8, offers a free 1800 phone number or live web chat for residents to speak with a registered nurse any time of the day or night, including public holidays.

Funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program and delivered by Amplar Health, the new service ensures urgent health concerns can be assessed quickly and confidentially by a trusted health professional. If needed, residents can be connected with a local service or a virtual care appointment.

Healthy North Coast’s Chief Executive Monika Wheeler said the service opens a new front door to local health care, including urgent care, for those unsure about the next step, helping to ease pressure on hospital resources.

‘We understand when there is a health urgency it’s important to get advice quickly no matter the time of day. North Coast Health Connect nurses will assess your symptoms and provide on-the-spot advice,’ said Ms Wheeler.

‘Most people don’t want to go to a hospital emergency department if they can avoid it, but it can be hard to get a GP appointment in some areas. Medical issues also often strike after hours when local services are closed.

‘North Coast Health Connect offers an alternative, with nurses on-call around the clock, ready to listen to your health concerns and connect you to the right level of care at the right time, including bookings with a local GP or pharmacist,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Ms Wheeler said the need to see a GP face-to-face for some health concerns will never change and North Coast Health Connect is supported by participating local general practices who have made appointments available specifically for users of the North Coast Health Connect service. Local pharmacists have also signed up to make consultations available.

Amplar Health Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andrew Wilson, said the Amplar team is thrilled to be selected to deliver the North Coast Health Connect service, as improving primary care access is a key element to ensuring the sustainability of healthcare in Australia.

‘We look forward to providing our digital and clinical expertise to deliver a service for Healthy North Coast that increases access, choice and control for the local community,’ Dr Wilson said.

Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Stewart Dowrick said he fully supported this new and innovative model and will be promoting North Coast Health Connect through the Mid North Coast hospital system.

‘It’s up to all of us to make the best possible use of our hospital resources and keep our emergency departments for emergencies,’ said Mr Dowrick.

‘For those who may have been struggling to access the health system, North Coast Health Connect is a direct line to a qualified and experienced health professional, rather than facing a long wait in a busy ED, ‘ Mr Dowrick said.

PSA National President Dr Fei Sim applauded Healthy North Coast for their innovation in a health system under increasing stress.

‘The Australian health system is under enormous pressure, and there is an important role for pharmacists to play in supporting patients with non-urgent health care needs, Dr Sim said.

‘Services like North Coast Health Connect that connect patients with an appropriate healthcare profession – whether it be a GP, a pharmacist, or another health professional – are vital to ensuring our health system efficiently utilises all resources,’ said Dr Sim.

Ms Wheeler said North Coast Health Connect delivers on what the North Coast community asked for – being able to speak to a health expert for free over a convenient and confidential 24/7 channel with connections to face-to-face local health care.

‘We are excited to see Port Macquarie residents be the first to get on board. We encourage you to speak with a North Coast Health Connect nurse on 1800 198 888 or live chat at northcoasthealthconnect.org.au next time you have an urgent health issue,’ said Ms Wheeler.

Healthy North Coast is planning to make North Coast Health Connect available to all North Coast residents in early 2023.

North Coast Health Connect will also be evaluated by world-leading medical research centre, The George Institute for Global Health, over the next five years.

Healthy North Coast Acting Chief Executive, Monika Wheeler, is urging North Coast residents to stay vigilant when it comes to COVID-19.

‘With mandatory self-isolation rules changing today Friday 14 October, it would be easy to think COVID is no longer a threat to our community.

‘In case people think COVID-19 has faded away, in the past week in NSW there have been 6,799 cases confirmed by RATs and 3,968 cases confirmed by PCR tests, so the virus is still quite active.

‘There is also the possibility of new COVID-19 strains emerging, so we can’t be complacent,” Ms Wheeler said.

Following a national Cabinet decision earlier this month, all Australian states and territories agreed that from 14 October 2022, it will no longer be mandatory to self-isolate at home if you test positive for COVID-19 unless you work in the health or aged care sector.

“It’s still vital, however, that we all work together to keep our community safe,” said Ms Wheeler.

‘Since the arrival of COVID-19, we have learnt a lot about infection control and reducing the spread of diseases like COVID-19 and influenza.

‘The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 and influenza is to continue to follow the health advice we know so well – be vaccinated, wash your hands, stay home if you are unwell and get tested if you have symptoms,” Ms Wheeler said.

“To protect our most vulnerable, all people over the age of 12 must still wear a face mask at public hospitals, private health or residential care facilities, and hostels.

‘It’s still very important to stay up-to-date with vaccinations, particularly for children, and to book in for your relevant COVID-19 booster,” Ms Wheeler said.

The NSW Government has also ended mandatory reporting of positive rapid antigen tests.

However, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant asks people to continue to report positive results, as it allows NSW Health to connect people to medical care – particularly older people and the immunocompromised.

Community organisations can now apply for funding through the three-year, $5 million Community Wellbeing and Resilience Flood Recovery Grants program, as well as assistance to help with their grant application.

Grants will be awarded to non-government providers helping the community from the ground up, by providing community-based trauma and healing programs that support local recovery and build community resilience.

Funded by the NSW Government as part of the Northern NSW flood recovery package, the grants will be delivered by Healthy North Coast to help communities recover from flood impacts and strengthen their capacity to meet future challenges.

Healthy North Coast Chief Executive Officer, Julie Sturgess, said Healthy North Coast is seeking innovative proposals that get people connecting, communicating, learning and supporting each other – activities that tap into the region’s social support networks.

‘We know many people are focussing on the basics right now, but we also need to rebuild community connections that are so vital for a positive outlook when times are tough. This is about supporting hearts and minds to get the North Coast back on its feet,’ Ms Sturgess said.

Collaboration, cooperation and the desire to help those in need has seen the establishment of a new mental health support service in Lismore just 4 weeks after floods devastated the region.

Healthy North Coast and the Samaritans are delighted to open the doors on a dedicated headspace Kempsey offering free or low-cost, holistic and youth-friendly health care and advice.

Located at 65 Smith Street, Kempsey, on the traditional homelands of the Dunghutti nation, the new headspace Kempsey service has been funded by Healthy North Coast through the Australian Government’s PHN Program to meet the needs of young people in the community.

“As well as the usual challenges of growing up and finding your place, young people in our region have also had to deal with the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of natural disasters over the past two years,” said Healthy North Coast Chief Executive Officer, Julie Sturgess.

“Now, thanks to Samaritans’ community partnerships, strong advocacy from our Federal Nationals Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan, and the support of Kempsey Shire Council, young people in Kempsey now have a dedicated centre purpose-built to meet their needs,” said Ms Sturgess.

Liz Knight, Executive Director of Education and Child Development in the Samaritans Foundation based in Newcastle, said that the last few years have been uncertain times for all.

“The Samaritans Foundation is strongly committed to providing high-quality, early intervention youth services that empower young people to overcome challenges and engage with their community to find their purpose and flourish.

“We know that youth mental health continues to be a leading cause of concern for our region, and one that needs to be addressed with a person-centred, compassionate and inclusive approach. Our work in this regard is a true reflection of the Anglican Church’s commitment to ensuring that no person feels alone on their mental health journey,” said Ms Knight.

headspace offers early intervention services across four key areas—mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use. Services are co-designed with young people to ensure they are relevant, accessible and highly effective, including input from Samaritan’s Youth Representative Group (YRG).

While Kempsey’s young people can now access the headspace service, which is receiving referrals by phone or email, more details will be released soon about a community launch event planned for the coming weeks.

For more information or to access headspace Kempsey: