The state of emergency in Victoria has been extended until 21 June 2020.
The Victorian Government introduced a range of changes relating to physical distancing that commenced from midnight on May 31. For details on these changes, you should visit:
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19
This page identifies what restrictions remain in place until that date and most questions will be answered by reading the content.
The common message with the information about what you can and can’t do is that the “one person per four square metres’ rule applies in all public spaces along with maintaining a 1.5 metre distance from other people. The exception of course is people with whom you ordinarily live.
Everyone should continue to do the right things and not look to stretch the rules to suit yourself. The virus hasn’t disappeared and is still dangerous. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should.
Apart from the distancing practices outlined above, we all need to continue to practice hand hygiene, to avoid going to work or visiting others if we are unwell and to get tested if we are experiencing symptoms.
Everyone should also get vaccinated for influenza to limit the impact of Flu this winter and to avoid the risk of getting the influenza and COVID-19 double.
If you’re not sure about something and the government website doesn’t answer your questions the call the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 or your local East Wimmera Health Service campus for direction.
If in doubt, play it safe.
East Wimmera Health Service Strategic Planning - Have your say
East Wimmera Health Service has recently engaged Claire Edwards, to facilitate the preparation of a new Strategic Plan. The Board has requested that community members be included throughout the Strategic Planning process. The consultation phase with community members is taking place up until 14 August 2020 and includes a variety of ways to participate. Community Members can:
Birchip Campus Redevelopment Update - East Wimmera Health Service
Whilst progress has continued to be made in the background, we are pleased to advise that after a long lead up, the construction firm for the Birchip Campus redevelopment project has been appointed.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our Infection Control team staff, Kerry Addlem and Jade Miles have played a very important part in ensuring our response to COVID-19 is the best it can be and that our communities remain safe.
Some of the key tasks the team have been working on include:
Fine tuning scenario planning across all EWHS campuses; we have been preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
Creating screening tools for assessing consumers when they come into our buildings. Everyone must be screened, whether it be an urgent care client, visiting family and friends or a contractor.
Organising the COVID-19 blitz testing, including testing, record keeping and communicating with pathology services.
Assisting in the preparation for the return of our services to community clients.
Infection Control staff have also been working very hard to organise and provide the 2020 flu vaccinations for staff, volunteers and contractors
Everyone over the age of 6-months is recommended to receive a flu vaccine every year. However, the following people should receive 2 doses, 4 weeks apart: children aged 6=-months to <9 years when receiving the vaccine for the first time.
Given the Covid-19 impact, Australians are urged to have the flu vaccination as soon as possible. This is to reduce the risk of a dangerous double-up of seasonal influenza and Covid-19. From the 1st of May 2020, all aged care workers and visitors must have been vaccinated against seasonal influenza to enter an aged care facility.
Kerry and Jade's key message to our communities is to:
Continue to keep your 1.5 metre distance from others and decontaminate (wash) your hands well and often.
Keep up the great work Kerry and Jade!
This week is an exciting one for East Wimmera Health Service, as we all welcome six graduates who are commencing their graduate transition year 2020. Some of the graduates have relocated to East Wimmera Health Service from interstate and instrastate and will be seeking guidance with respect to services and facilities within our rural region.
The Graduate Nurse Program for 2020 has undergone a make-over to ensure EWHS is well positioned to deliver a positive learning experience for our graduates and to support the retention of graduates on completion of the graduate transition year, February 2021.
A summary of the changes includes:
Enhanced introduction to EWHS through a dedicated and focused one week Orientation Program at St Arnaud Campus, under the guidance of the Clinical Support Nurses, Tania Scarce and Vishy Eswar.
Following which, Graduates will undertake a two week orientation program at their appointed Campus under the guidance of the Clinical Support Nurses, Campus Managers and Preceptors. Option for Graduates to study a care of Older Persons (COOP's) Post Graduate Certificare Course (two units, funded);
A number of Graduates will be completing a 13 week secondment into a Specialist Surgical Ward at Ballarat Health Services.
Left to right: Owen Rainbow, Qiwen Zhang, Jaime Machen, Christine Carlos, Jane Park and Jeny Kuriakose.
Students from St Arnaud Primary School brought along a picture book each to read to the residents in Kara Court. It was wonderful to see such positive interaction and chatter happening between the students and residents. Thank you grade 3 and 4, see you again soon!
Changes to meal service buffet breakfasts with hot options on different days has been introduced across all campuses. A selection of cereals, including porridge are now on display allowing variety for residents with crumpets and raisin toast being very popular breakfast items. Congratulations goes to all staff for embracing change and delivering choice to our residents.
Kara Court residents, Gwen and Thelma were joined last week by Tracy Edwards, Charlton Campus Manager and Mary Brown, Education and Development Manager, for a delicous roast pork lunch. Pictured also is Christine Goode, Nurse, assisting with welcoming everyone to the table.
The Donald staff and student accommodation required a makeover. New beds, linen, lamps and bedside tables were purchased to upgrade the facility. The outcome of the upgrade is that the facility is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye and improved comfort and living conditions for people staying in the accommodation and easier to clean.
The EWHS Donald Campus has recently been supplied with 4 King Single beds, a Karaoke machine and an IPad for use within the aged care and acute facility due to the generosity of the Friends of EWHS Donald campus who funded these items. The members of this group were recently invited to the Health Service to acknowledge the purchases and thank them for their ongoing support of the Donald Campus.
My Health Record
My Health Record is a secure online summary of your key health information.
Over time, My Health Record will bring together health information such as medical conditions, medicines, allergies, test results and hospital discharge summaries in one place.
You can choose who it’s shared with, who can access it and what's in it.
Find out more by clicking the My Health Record hyperlink below.
L to R: Paula Noble [Director of Primary Care], Trevor Adem [Chief Executive Officer], Kris Payne [Director of People and Culture], Leon Gowlett [Director of Finance and Administration] and Pat Croft [Director of Clinical Services].
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