30
Jul
2018
A young man has turned his life around after taking part in the Buttery’s b.well program. The program, funded through North Coast Primary Health Network, operates across the Northern Rivers Region.
b.well provides support within the community for people with mental health issues who are concerned about the impact of their use of drugs and alcohol on their well-being.
Now I believe in myself: Jonathan’s story
Now 22, Jonathan is a former North Coast resident and b.well client who has started a new life in Melbourne. Recently he reported that he is happy, employed and has a new network of friends.
By 21 Jonathan had overcome more challenges than most young men his age. After a childhood dealing with a host of family issues, at 16 he broke his back in a motor bike accident.
“I thought I’d never walk again and have a life of pain.”
After major surgery and rehabilitation, he managed to walk again. However, after the accident Jonathan suffered extreme anxiety.
“I was so anxious I couldn’t even go into a supermarket. I was unsteady around people and depressed.”
It was an unsettling time for him. Although he’d never taken illicit drugs, Jonathan started going to doofs and taking Ecstasy and MDMA. Expelled from school, he started delivering pizzas until the pizza shop went bankrupt. Unemployed and aimless he smoked cannabis daily.
“I didn’t want to be lonely so I hung out with people smoking pot all day.”
Jonathan’s life changed dramatically after testing positive for cannabis in a police drug test. He lost his licence and he said his anxiety became even worse. Jonathan started taking part on The Buttery’s b.well program for people who may have substance misuse and mental health issues.
His counsellor Amanda Hewitt has the lived experience of recovery from addiction and of managing her own mental health issues.
“I’d been to a psychologist before and I didn’t relate to him at all with his nice clothes and the way he talked. I came away from the sessions feeling worse. With Amanda it was different. She really understands what it’s like to feel extremely anxious and to have issues with drugs.”
“Amanda has taught me how to understand the triggers for anxiety and how to practise mindfulness and other techniques. I feel 100% more comfortable in my own body.”
“Amanda taught me how to start my day. She suggested I buy some joggers and start walking for regular exercise. She told me to stop thinking about my troubles, get a routine, go out for a walk and eat healthily.”
“Words can’t describe how good she’s been for me. She makes me believe in myself and gives me practical advice on how to lead a better life.”
Jonathan now has a job he likes and is becoming physically fit. He’s optimistic about his future and is considering further study to become a counsellor so he can help other people.
b.well is free and confidential and people of all ages can self-refer to the program. Through b.well people can access services including:
psycho education, peer support groups, individual support, activities programs, life skills programs, and living healthily programs.
b.well Coordinator Frances Pidcock told HealthSpeak that her team involves people from different walks of life.
“We have 50% lived experience, we have a peer worker and two lived experience counsellors, a great skills mix and we also have some great volunteers.
“b.well activities include walking groups, drumming groups, weaving and art therapy,” said Frances.
For details of current groups contact bwell@buttery.org.au or phone (02) 6687 1658.
Your Health In Your Hands
Coffs Dentists Rally to Emergency Call Out Service: NCPHN Brokers a Local Solution
Contact for media enquiries
Janet Grist, NCPHN Media Relations Officer
Phone: (02) 6618 4535
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.
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
Empowering aged care teams to deliver safer, more consistent care.
The Deteriorating Resident Triage Tool (DRRT) supports aged care staff to confidently recognise and respond to signs of resident deterioration. It enables timely, evidence-based decisions, strengthens communication with health services, and promotes early intervention and effective care planning, helping residents receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. By doing so, it reduces unnecessary Emergency Department presentations and improves resident outcomes.
Developed in collaboration with a specialist geriatrician and informed by input from Residential Aged Care Managers, NSW Ambulance, GPs, and clinical experts across the Mid and North Coast Local Health Districts, the DRRT is practical, relevant, and aligned with contemporary best practice.
Aligned with the Strengthened Quality Standards:
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
Care finders is a free service to assist older adults connect to aged care services and supports. Care finders support older people who experience significant barriers to accessing services, and walk alongside their clients at their own pace, to understand their individual situation and support them to work through the steps to address their needs. Care finders assist people with access to other supports in the community. They can provide connections both with accessing services for the first time, and with changing or finding new services and supports if their needs change.
Care finders can:
The care finder program has been extended to June 2029 and is provided by the following organisations. Each (Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca and Bellingen) and Footprints (Kyogle, Tweed, Byron and Ballina).
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 & Eligibility
| *Team Size (Total staff and contractors) | Funding Available |
| Small (1-5) | $500-$1500 |
| Medium (6-20) | $1500-$4000 |
| Large (>20) | $4000-$5000 |
