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22
Jun
2021
Sixty per cent of North Coast residents who responded to a community consultation on COVID-19 vaccination either plan to be vaccinated or have been already.
A further 18% said they would probably have the vaccine, 10% said they probably wouldn’t and 12% rejected the idea of COVID-19 vaccination.
Healthy North Coast, which delivers the Australian Government’s PHN program from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie and inland, partnered with 89 Degrees East to develop the short online survey. It ran from 14 April to 15 May 2021 and attracted more than 1,000 respondents.
Healthy North Coast CEO, Julie Sturgess, thanked all participants for sharing their thoughts and feedback.
‘These responses from across the community help us to understand local sentiment, what people are thinking and how we can best serve their needs,’ Ms Sturgess said.
‘We’re interested in people’s views on vaccination and we’re carefully studying the feedback we’ve received, to help shape the local rollout of the vaccine program.
‘In the meantime, Healthy North Coast will continue to support our primary health carers and the community to stay COVID-safe right across the region.’
Key findings from the survey include:
The survey found 56% of people who support vaccination intend to get the jab when the vaccine is available to them (see table below). This compares to 42% from a national survey in April.
Ms Sturgess said it was understandable there was a level of vaccine hesitancy. She said Healthy North Coast would continue to provide the community with evidence-based information and guidance while supporting the Australian Government’s national vaccine rollout.
‘As we look to analyse and understand the survey results with other health sector partners, we expect to provide additional information on the findings and how they can help us tailor our approach to local communication, resourcing and engagement,’ she said.
*NB: this survey employed a non-probability sampling technique known as selective sampling. Under this technique, oversampling was undertaken to ensure that the sample sizes were large enough to provide statistically valid sample estimates for all sample strata. While the absence of random sampling of respondents means that the findings from this survey may not be statistically representative of the general population, they nevertheless provide an accurate and reliable picture of the Healthy North Coast region.
As at 15 June, more than 109,000 vaccine doses have been administered across the Healthy North Coast footprint, which covers from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie and inland.
The Ballina Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic (CVC) began administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this week and will be able to start accepting people aged 40 to 59.
Planning is underway to increase the number of CVCs offering the Pfizer vaccine. The 6 other CVCs in our region are at Murwillumbah, Casino, Yamba, Nambucca Heads, Kempsey and Wauchope.
Additionally, 20 local general practices are due to begin administering the Pfizer vaccine from 5 July, with a further 10 commencing on 12 July. More practices are expected to be onboarded from 19 July.
The best way for people to find out when and where to book a vaccination is by using the online Vaccine Eligibility Checker and clinic finder.
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Contact for media enquiries
Zoe Satherley (Mon-Wed)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0428 623 093
Mike Hely (Wed-Fri)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0437 978 473
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across our region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and on their journey. We recognise these lands were never ceded and acknowledge the continuation of culture and connection to the land, sky and sea. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Land’s first peoples and honour the rich diversity of the oldest living cultures.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
North Coast is identified as the region most likely to be impacted by climate change in Australia and also forecasted greatest growth in those 65+.
Healthy North Coast takes a lead role in ensuring the older population and the sector that supports them are prepared for, can respond to and recover from disasters and other emergencies.
We have led eight regional disaster management capacity building workshops, bringing together SES, community organisations and the aged care sector.
We have also developed disaster preparedness tip sheets for both residential and community aged care providers.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
In May 2022, the NSW Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022. Effective from Tuesday, 28 November 2023, eligible people have the choice to access voluntary assisted dying.
Healthy North Coast has developed a webpage for both health professionals and consumers, with links to available information and resources.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
Healthy North Coast has worked with people living with dementia, their families and local service providers to develop an information booklet that will help them connect with local and national supports along their journey.
The booklet includes commonly asked questions for people to ask their GP and/or specialist.
The resource is available in digital and printed copies, with more than 5,000 distributed across the region. An e-version is available to clinicians via the Dementia and Cognitive Impairment HealthPathway.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
The Deteriorating Resident Response Tool (DRRT) has been developed to guide RN’s in Residential Aged Care homes (RACHs) to better understand, anticipate and make clinical decisions responding to the deteriorating health of residents.
The objective of the DRRT is to give RACH staff clear information to triage and provide appropriate care for a range of residents’ health conditions, and, in turn, prevent unnecessary presentations to ED.
The tool has been designed together with a specialist geriatrician, consulting with stakeholders such as Residential Aged Care Managers, NSW Ambulance, GPs, and experts from Mid and North Coast LHDs.
The pilot commences in March with four participating RACHs. Evaluation measures will include effectiveness in building RN confidence and reported reduction in unnecessary hospitalisations. Findings will inform a future planned, region-wide implementation.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
The Care Finders program is a free region-wide service to support vulnerable older people who have no-one else to help them, to learn about, apply for and set up support services.
Care finders can help people understand what aged care services are available, set up an assessment, and find and choose services. They also help people with access to other supports in the community, both accessing services for the first time and changing or finding new services and supports.
On the North Coast, Healthy North Coast has commissioned four organisations to provide this important service: EACH, Carexcell, Lifetime Connect and Footprints.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Healthy North Coast commissions two service providers to deliver psychological therapies and supports for older people with, or at risk of developing, a mental illness and who are living in residential aged care homes (RACHs).
The aim of the program is to both provide direct support to residents and their families and carers, as well as upskill the RACH workforce to respond to the needs of residents presenting with mental health concerns.
Strategic Priority Area: Securing a Healthier Future
Delivered by Feros Care, the Healthy Me, Healthy Community program aims to build individual and community connections to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing in Port Macquarie.
The program helps people to connect with community, activities, supports and services that address their broader social determinants of health, as an alternative or supplement to a clinical approach.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Timely access to primary health care professionals, whether through face-to-face consultation or telehealth, is recognised as an issue for many Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs), that in some cases can lead to potentially preventable hospitalisations. RACHs require adequate telehealth facilities to support access to virtual consultations for their residents.
Project goals
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Aims to provide people who have life limiting conditions the opportunity to exercise choice and receive high quality care at home, harnessing improved and better coordinated supports and services that meet their individual needs.
Program objectives:
These objectives will contribute to achieving the following intended overarching outcomes of:
Funding is open to all primary care providers within disaster affected communities across the Healthy North Coast footprint.
Workforce Locum support and R&R funding criteria
Wellbeing Flexible Funding Criteria & Eligibility
| *Team Size (Total staff and contractors) | Funding Available |
| Small (1-5) | $500-$1500 |
| Medium (6-20) | $1500-$4000 |
| Large (>20) | $4000-$5000 |
