21
Sep
2021
Contrary to some media portrayals, residents from the Byron Shire are keen to get a COVID vaccine.
Local medical clinics report long waiting lists for the jab, and as soon as any doses arrive, they have no trouble filling appointments.
Healthy North Coast CEO Julie Sturgess says current vaccination rates are lower for some parts of the shire because of the limited Pfizer supply in previous months, but this is set to change in coming weeks.
‘Until recently, the Byron Shire LGA allocation from the national stockpile was quite low, and we have been advocating for increased doses for our communities. This is being addressed, and we have a significant increase in the supply of Pfizer vaccine starting this month,’ said Ms Sturgess.
‘We will see a 500% increase in Pfizer doses being delivered to the Byron Shire LGA within days. This will further increase next month to 800% more than what we received in earlier months.’
Over September, Healthy North Coast supported the onboarding of 10 additional general practices in Byron Shire.
A well-known tourist hub with 2.7 million visitor nights annually*, Byron Shire LGA’s current rate for people having received their first dose is 60.9%. This compares to an average of 70% for first doses in the Richmond-Tweed region.
Some people are concerned about unvaccinated residents being vulnerable when visitors start to return, and some suggest that anti-vaccination populations are to blame.
However, Ms Sturgess says that while the region has a minority population that may choose not to get vaccinated, this is not the general community opinion.
‘We believe most people will choose to be protected as supply starts to meet demand,’ she said.
‘We need to give Byron Bay a chance before jumping to conclusions of widespread vaccine hesitancy.
‘Also, earlier this year, Healthy North Coast held a local community consultation to find out how people felt about COVID-19, and how it had impacted their lives and their thoughts about vaccination. At that time, 77% of surveyed people living in Byron LGA either already had (22%), definitely would (39%) or probably would (16%) get vaccinated against COVID-19. This is in line with national sentiment trends.
‘The results from our community consultation tell us that our residents understand the threat of COVID and that most people want to get vaccinated when they can. These results are in line with national sentiment trends.
‘We have been working closely with general practices that have been fielding high volumes of patient enquiries for vaccination appointments. The current Pfizer supply increase will assist them in starting to meet this demand.
‘We’re confident we will see a strong uplift in numbers of residents being able to get protected over the next few weeks as these additional doses start to get administered.
‘We will be watching the data and appointment availability closely over the coming weeks and will work collaboratively with local health providers if issues are identified with Byron’s vaccine uptake.’
Healthy North Coast encourages all residents to make a vaccination appointment by visiting the online Vaccine Clinic Finder today.
‘If you have been waiting to make an appointment, now’s the time to plan to get vaccinated. Please don’t be complacent as the threat of the virus, even for young people, is very real,’ Ms Sturgess said.
‘Pharmacies are also joining the rollout program to start offering Moderna vaccines, which also helps overcome previous supply limitations. Let’s make the North Coast a COVID-safe region so that we can safely make a return to a more normal life.’
New stay-at-home orders for Byron, Tweed and Kempsey
Stay-at-home orders will come into effect from 5pm today for 7 days for people in the Byron, Tweed and Kempsey local government areas due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.
These stay-at-home orders also apply to anyone who has been in an affected LGA since the following dates:
Everyone in the affected LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home.
The latest orders can be found here:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx
Healthy opportunity to ‘Speak Up’
Access and choice for COVID-19 vaccinations widens
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 |
