Central Gippsland Health Service
Community Services
It’s Spring!
Spring 2006
Victorian Seniors
Festival
Welcome to the Spring edition of the Client
Newsletter. We have come to the end of
another cold but dry winter, so here’s hoping
for a rainy springtime! I hope that you find the
information in this newsletter interesting.
Thank you to those staff who have
contributed to this edition.
There are a number of exciting things
happening at the moment. This Division is
now finalising our new structure and you will
see in this edition, some news about the
changed location of our Reception at the Sale
Community Services building. The building
has been painted internally, plus new carpet
has been laid thanks to a grant from the
Department of Human Services. This has
given the old building a fresh and bright look!
The old Evelyn Wilson Wing building is also
undergoing a major facelift. It is being
transformed into the new Community
Rehabilitation Centre and Allied Health
building – the cost totalling $2.3 million. This
is a significant development for the
organisation and will bring with it
approximately three more allied health staff.
The finishing date for this is early 2007 (or
sooner we hope!).
Many of you will have attended the official
opening of the new Rosedale Community
Centre, of which Central Gippsland Health
Service is a tenant. The staff and clients are
very happy with the new facility, and love
being near the other services in the
community.
If you have any thoughts to offer on the next
newsletter, we welcome your input.
Mandy Pusmucans
Director Community Services
The Victorian Seniors Festival this year runs
officially from October 3rd to 8th, but as is
normal for Wellington, activities and fun will
occur throughout the month. The Calendar
will be distributed in the near future, but as a
“teaser” here are some highlights!
October 3rd at 11.00 sharp at the Memorial
Hall in Sale – the Seniors Festival Concert
featuring Frankie J Holden and Michelle
Pettigrew. This event always draws a packed
house!
October 12th – U3A Concert at St Paul’s
Cathedral in Sale
October 16th – Bowls Tournament run by
the Paradise and Golden Beach
Senior Citizens
October 18th – Free movies at
the Sale Cinema for those with
Seniors Cards.
Have a great Festival!
Community
Services Changes
Access to Central Gippsland Health Service’s
Community Services building will change
slightly from Monday 4 September.
The reception area is relocating from the
ground floor to the first floor as part of a
reorganisation of the building, which is
entered from Palmerston Street in Sale.
Clients will need to take the stairs or lift to the
first floor when attending appointments or
meetings.
The change is part of a broader
reorganisation of the Community Services
Division, which means work teams will be
located together to allow more efficient use of
time and space and also to enhance the
security of the reception staff.
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Page 1 of 4
Sale Community Mental Health Services will
stay on the ground floor, with the current
access arrangements remaining in place.
Talk to staff from:
 Consumer Affairs Victoria
 Gippsland Citizens Advocacy
 Gippsland Community Legal Service
 Gippsland Disability Resource Council
Powers of
Attorney
 Quantum Support
Service
A FREE information session will be held in
Bairnsdale, presented by The Rights Centre.
 Latrobe City
 Latrobe Valley Rights
Centre
When: 10.30 am, Tuesday 26Th September
2006
Where: BASE (Corner
Dalmahoy Street Bairnsdale)
Service
and
Come along and learn about:
 Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial
and Medical Treatment)
Presentation will be held at 10.30am and
2.00pm. Free information, brochures and
information packs, and tea and coffee
available all day. For more information please
phone 5135 6845
 Enduring Power of Guardianship
Home Support
Services
 General Power of Attorney
 Who is the “person responsible”?
This session is open to all members of the
Community. For registrations and further
information please contract:
The Rights Centre: 5135 9555 or e-mail:
rightscentre@anglicarevic.org.au
Know Your
Rights Expo
A FREE expo will be held in Morwell
When: 9.30 am til 4.30pm, Tuesday 12Th
September 2006
Where: Morwell Club
136 Helen Street, Morwell
Talk to staff about:
This
will
mean
that
an
Occupational Health and Safety
staff member may visit whilst your home care
staff member is at your place doing his/her
work. This is NOT a test for the worker but a
visit to make sure they are working safely as
stipulated by the Victorian Home Care
Industry Occupational Health and Safely
Guidelines. Tasks being assessed include
vacuuming,
sweeping/mopping
floors,
cleaning showers/toilets, changing beds, etc.
You may or may not be involved in these
visits but if you are there will be little, if any
impact. If it does include additional time there
is definitely no extra charges
involved. If you have any
queries
or
would
like
additional information please
contact the Home Care
Coordinator on 5143 8417.

Tenancy Rights

Powers of Attorney

Legal Rights

Discrimination

Consumer Rights

Neighbourhood Complains

Dispute Settlement and Mediation
Service
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We mentioned in our last newsletter the
home care staff (including personal care and
respite care services) have undertaken
“Smart Lift” training to support them in
working safely. To complete this training staff
are required to be “assessed” as they carry
out their work.
Page 2 of 4
Belinda Greening
Manager Home Support
and Service Coordination
 What is my balance like? Could you
maintain balance when driving over
bumps, up and down slopes?
Scooter Safety
Many people in Wellington Shire use
scooters as their means of transport to
access the community. You may use a
scooter yourself, or have friends or family that
do. However, due to the lack of regulations
that apply to the use of scooters, many
people are unaware of the regulations that do
exist, and what to consider when thinking
about purchasing a scooter. If you currently
use a scooter, or are thinking of purchasing a
one, there are a few important things you
need to know about.
Did you know, for example, that to legally use
a scooter, you must have significantly
reduced mobility or a disability? Also, that
using a scooter classifies you as a
pedestrian. This means that scooters are
limited to travelling 10 kilometres (6 miles)
per hour, which is equal to the pace of brisk
walking. As pedestrians, people who use
scooters must also travel on the footpath
whenever possible.
 How are my vision and hearing?
Would you notice other people on the
paths, hear cars coming when
crossing the road?
 What is my perception like? Can you
judge distances safely?
 How do I manage my emotions when
under pressure? Can you be patient,
can you stay calm in difficult
situations?
Handy hints for driving safely with your
scooter include:
 Wearing bright coloured clothing
 Having a flag on your scooter - 1.8 to
2 metres high.
 Travel on the footpath whenever
possible and cross roads at traffic
lights
 Safely attach any other walking aids
you may have (e.g. walking stick) to
your scooter so they are not a trip
hazard.
Important things to consider when thinking
about purchasing a scooter include:
 Do I have a safe path of travel to use
my scooter on? Think about the
paths near your home, and the roads
you must cross to get to the shops?
 Where will you drive your scooter, and
what kind do I need? Will this be on
rough uneven ground, or on paths?
Would a 3 or 4 wheel scooter best suit
my needs?
 How is my strength and coordination?
Could you manipulate the controls,
steer and look side to side?
 Fit reflectors or reflective tape to your
scooter
 Be aware of weather conditions – plan
your trips accordingly
 Regularly service your scooter and
check your tyres and battery weekly
There are many other things that may
influence your decision to purchase a
scooter. It is a decision that should not be
rushed into, and be fully considered. If you
are thinking about purchasing a scooter and
would like some assistance to decide
whether a scooter is the best option for your
transport, and what type of scooter may best
suit your needs, please contact the
Occupational Therapy Department on
51438627.
Emma Harris
Occupational Therapist
Adapted from “Scooter Safe” booklet by COTA, NRMAACT Road Safety Trust, NRMA, and Able Access; and
“Keeping you safe in the rider’s seat” by Australian
Government Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
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Page 3 of 4
Spring Cleaning
Medicines!
Consumer
Consultative
Committee
Stockpiling Medicines in the home is a Health
Risk! Medicines left lying around the home
can cause confusion and lead to misuse,
which can result in serious health problems.
After its expiry date a medicine’s
effectiveness might be reduced or may make
a medical condition worse, for example eye
drops are only sterile for
approximately a month
after opening.
90% of people over 60
years of age take at least
one prescribed medicine
a day.
Approximately one in four people aged over
50 rarely or never check the use by dates
before taking medicines.
How to protect the environment
To avoid misuse, return old and unwanted
medicines to your local pharmacy for safe
disposal. They will also help protect the
environment by ensuring old medicines are
not thrown down sinks, drains, toilets or in the
garbage bin.
This Committee may be one that YOU are
interested in joining! It is a group of people
from the communtiy who provide an
important link between Central Gippsland
Heatlh Service and their consumers to make
sure the type and quality of service provided
meets communtiy expectations. Members
represemt the views of consumers of our
heathl sevice.
The Committee is joined every two months by
the Interim Chief Executive Officer, the
Directors of Nursing, Midwifery and Aged
Care Services, Medical Services, Commnutiy
Services and Corproate Services.
Issuse are put forward, discussed, and
followed through as appropriate. If this is
something that you are interested in, please
contact Mandy Pusmucans, the Director of
Communtiy Services on 51438810 or by
e-mail on communitysupport@cghs.com.au.
We welcome your participation and valuable
input.
Jan Forbes
Community Health Nurse
Consumer Rights
and
Responsibilities
Reference: Facts obtained from RUM - the Return
Unwanted Medicine Program
You have the right to:
Low Floor Bus for
Wellington
The long awaited low floor bus will soon be
coming to the Wellington Shire. This will be
managed by Littles Bus Company and it is
hoped to be operational in early September.
This will greatly improve access for
individuals on to the bus. It is hoped that the
introduction of this bus will coincide with the
new V-Line Timetable which can be
accessed
on
line
at
www.vline.com.au/major/2006_Timetable/gip
psland.html. Alternatively it can be accessed
at the train station.
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Page 4 of 4
 Be treated with respect, dignity and
consideration for privacy.
Central
Gippsland Health Service will respect
your cultural and spiritual needs.
 Be responsible for your behaviour and
that of any dependents whilst you are
receiving services. Physical, verbal and
sexual abuse towards staff members and
other service users will not be tolerated.