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21
Mar
2019
North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) is pleased to announce that it is supporting the expansion of a successful counselling program run by The Buttery into the Clarence Valley.
The Buttery’s b.well program, which NCPHN funds, has been providing a community outreach service for people with both substance misuse and mental health issues in the far North of NSW. The b.well program is for people aged 12 years and over and their carers.
A similar need was identified for residents living in the Clarence Valley and NCPHN was pleased to be able to vary its contract with The Buttery to assist people in this region. A phone counselling service is now available for people with substance misuse and mental health issues living in the Clarence Valley.
NCPHN’s CEO Julie Sturgess said the higher than average incidence of serious mental health issues in the Clarence Valley had placed a great deal of stress on people in these communities.
“I am pleased that we were able to work flexibly with The Buttery to provide a much needed phone counselling service for the Clarence Valley. The Buttery has strong relationships with other health and service organisations, enabling it to refer people to specific treatment services as required.”
The Buttery intends to introduce group counselling sessions as well as phone counselling once the phone service is established. The Buttery’s CEO Leone Crayden said she was very excited about the expansion of these specialised services.
“Since the b.well team began offering phone counselling to Clarence Valley residents in January, the immense uptake is a clear reflection of the need in this region. It is satisfying to be able to work with NCPHN collaboratively to identify and fill gaps in mental health services,” she said.
Since the commencement of b.well in late 2017 nearly 1,000 people have benefited from both individual and group counselling services. Now vulnerable people in the Clarence Valley have the support of The Buttery’s staff in dealing with substance misuse and mental health difficulties.
The Buttery is a not-for-profit, charitable rehabilitation organisation located near Bangalow in Northern NSW. The Buttery specialises in the treatment of Alcohol and Other Drug misuse, problem gambling and Mental Health issues. As well as residential programs, it also operates evidence based community outreach programs throughout Northern NSW.
For more information phone:
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Contact for media enquiries
Janet Grist
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0402 244 419
Leone Crayden
Phone: (02) 6687 1111
Frances Pidcock
Phone: (02) 6687 1658
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 |
