23
Feb
2021
The first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccinations on the NSW North Coast will begin this week at 15 residential aged care facilities (RACFs) — seven in Ballina/Alstonville and eight in Port Macquarie.
As we are seeing in other parts of Australia, and, indeed, across the globe, the availability of the first COVID-19 vaccines in our region is a welcome start to the vaccination program that will help to safeguard our communities against the continuing threat of COVID-19.
This coincides with today’s announcements about easing restrictions in RACFS:
This is an exciting week in the fight against COVID-19 and our continued efforts to protect some of the most vulnerable in our community.
With our local RACFs focusing on vaccination preparedness and support for their residents and health workforce, Healthy North Coast is now acting as a coordination point for media enquiries and interviews for the Commonwealth’s RACF vaccination program. This is an evolving situation and changes are expected, but we will continue to provide information as is comes to hand.
Please note, the majority of RACFs do not wish to be contacted by media this week as they prepare for the start of their vaccination rollout and are supporting their residents, families and staff. See below information for planned media event tomorrow.
Healthy North Coast is in contact with some local RACFs, such as Garden Village Port Macquarie, who can share this good news story and provide media content.
Healthcare Australia’s clinical workforce is scheduled to deliver vaccines to Garden Village Port Macquarie on Saturday 27 February, with residents expected to receive vaccinations over the weekend.
Garden Village are really pleased to be commencing their vaccination program of over 130 aged care residents. Garden Village and their dedicated staff are supporting their residents — and their families, carers or decision makers — to make informed decisions about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ahead of the scheduled vaccine delivery, Healthy North Coast is supporting Garden Village to host a media event this week — Wednesday 24 February @ 10am — and media are invited to attend.
Access to the facility will be restricted to the event area, and only pre-identified spokespeople will be available to speak to the media.
An aged care resident who is planning to have the vaccine will be speaking.
Media attending the event are invited to submit two questions to Healthy North Coast’s media team by 5pm today, Tuesday February 23. A selection of these questions will be put to the resident by the event MC. There will be no further opportunity to interview the resident.
However, a family member and several RACF staff members will be available for interview afterwards.
Please do not contact Garden Village directly ahead of the media event. All enquiries and questions for the resident should be directed to Healthy North Coast: [email protected]
A second follow-up media event is also being considered for the following week (TBC).
Healthy North Coast has analysed population health data and primary care availability to assess the service provision required to support Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap. We are using this modelling to assess areas of high need and advise the Australian Government on recommended priority areas.
The modelling incorporates:
These summary points are based on the below Healthy North Coast data analysis.
Figure 1:Â At a glance:
|
North Coast |
Australia |
|
|
Median age |
47 |
37 |
|
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander |
5% |
3% |
|
Over 65 |
24% |
16% |
|
Under 14 |
17% |
19% |
Â
Figure 2:Â North Coast populations by LGA:
|
LGA |
Population |
|
Tweed Valley |
94,857 |
|
Port Macquarie-Hastings |
81,404 |
|
Coffs Harbour |
75,503 |
|
Clarence Valley |
51,570 |
|
Lismore |
43,905 |
|
Ballina |
43,457 |
|
Byron |
33,987 |
|
Kempsey |
29,534 |
|
Richmond Valley |
23,317 |
|
Nambucca Valley |
19,688 |
|
Bellingen |
12,946 |
|
Kyogle |
8,979 |
Figure 3:Â North Coast percentage of population who are over 65 years of age by LGA:
|
LGA |
% of population over 65 |
|
Port Macquarie-Hastings |
27% |
|
Nambucca Valley |
27% |
|
Clarence Valley |
25% |
|
Ballina |
25% |
|
Tweed Valley |
25% |
|
Kempsey |
23% |
|
Bellingen |
23% |
|
Kyogle |
23% |
|
Richmond Valley |
22% |
|
Coffs Harbour |
21% |
|
Lismore |
18% |
|
Byron |
17% |
Â
Figure 4: North Coast population size relating to the Commonwealth’s vaccination program phases:
|
North Coast |
Australia-wide |
|||
|
People |
Region % |
People |
Region % |
|
|
1a |
20,663 |
4% |
678,000 |
3% |
|
1b |
133,260 |
26% |
6,139,000 |
24% |
|
2a |
179,515 |
35% |
6,570,000 |
26% |
|
2b |
82,467 |
16% |
6,643,000 |
26% |
|
3 |
103,242 |
20% |
5,670,000 |
22% |
Healthy North Coast can assist with coordinating media interviews this week with the following spokespeople.
North Coast General Practices Invited to Take Lead Role in COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients Report Positive Experience
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
Healthy North Coast acknowledges 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.Â
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.
Highly regarded by a range of professional supporting those on or starting the dementia journey, the booklet includes commonly asked questions for people to ask their GP and/or specialist.
“It’s a fantastic resource and I give it to everyone on their first diagnosis. Its easy to read, so well planned and thought through and has lots of really useful information, tailored to the region.
I also find it very helpful when educating clinical staff.”
−Geropsychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Mid North Coast.
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
Connection and a sense of belonging are protective factors for both individual and community health and wellbeing. Evidence highlights that the social determinants of health play a critical role in addressing many of our regions health challenges.
That’s why Healthy North Coast has long been committed to supporting communities to strengthen and to build social health. Our initiatives, including contemporary ‘Social Prescribing’, help people to connect to activities, supports and each other, and assist communities to integrate services and bridge gaps.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified several critical areas affecting aged care residents and our health system. Key challenges include:
Telehealth offers valuable opportunities to enhance support for residents living in aged care homes. Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, this initiative provides telehealth equipment and staff training as part of the response to the Royal Commission’s findings.
By improving access to primary care clinicians, specialist services, and other service providers through telehealth, we can significantly enhance health outcomes for residents, reducing unnecessary hospital transfers and emergency department visits.
The selection of telehealth equipment was guided by our Healthy Ageing Strategy (HAS), a comprehensive digital discovery questionnaire, and consultation workshops with various stakeholders. These efforts included interviews with residents to understand their attitudes toward telehealth, ensuring the initiative meets their needs and preferences.
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 &Â Eligibility
| *Team Size (Total staff and contractors) | Funding Available |
| Small (1-5) | $500-$1500 |
| Medium (6-20) | $1500-$4000 |
| Large (>20) | $4000-$5000 |
