Central Coast Region

What is happening in the Ulverstone Health and Wellbeing Network (HWN) so far?

29 kitchen table conversations were undertaken, 25 hosts trained and a total of 213 community members engaged.

Central Coast Voice for Health – CCVH is community group consisting of 5 local members established to coordinate placed based initiatives and investment in local health priorities.

The key areas where the Central Coast community will focus on include mental health, preventative health and the establishment of the Right Place Program.

Co-design

Five Working groups have been established by CCVH to address the six actions outlined in the Action Plan Priorities (Action 1 and 2 combined). A CCVH Steering Group member is assigned to each group. Each WG consists of approximately 10 participants comprised of service providers and community members.

Hub + Connector

Scoping a community health Hub model has resulted in the Hub + Connector Working Group choosing the ‘Right Place’ program. The Right Place provides greater flexibility and opportunity to build capacity across the community. It does not require bricks and mortar and increases the opportunity for people to find the service information they need from members of the Right Place.

HVVH are currently scoping the employment of a Connector for a two-year period to implement the Right Place program, build the necessary resources to support the Right Place, and train a network of Right Place members across the Central Coast region. It is intended to have this position in place by the end of 2023.

Community Workshop

A co-design workshop held in Ulverstone on 14 March saw 109 participants attend, of which, 74% of participants were community members and the remaining 26% were service providers or they were attending in their paid roles. Outside of the older cohort, the standout representation for this workshop was people with disability, and young women and parents.

Strengthening relationships with volunteers

The Penguin Op Shop Kitchen table discussion participants agreed to continue meeting with volunteers, due to their experience of sharing in a safe, supportive environment proved to be powerful.

Lennice and Jenny from the Op Shop saw this as an opportunity for more isolated community members to have their voices heard.

Elle, a 50-something single mother, grandmother, and mum to a much loved “fur baby”, that is “integral to my mental health”, joined because she was simply asked to, and “happy to help anything that helps the community.” Elle lives with a degenerative chronic condition and knows first-hand what hardship is, describing herself as a “poor middle-aged woman with no fall back”, after a relationship breakdown resulted in her losing her business, superannuation, and the roof over her head. She experienced homelessness for nearly five months and is currently in transient accommodation.

According to Elle, benefits from joining the group was feeling ‘heard’ for the first time; getting courage to seek advice about a long-standing legal matter, and a feeling of overall acceptance.

Maree, a 30-something single mother of one with no social support, has been living with debilitating chronic health conditions for most of her life. Like Elle, Maree found a safe, supportive environment to share and it proved to be a powerful one by Lennice, who, according to Maree, was “the first person that cared” about her. Maree also felt included by joining the group and said she was suddenly getting the help she needed.

Darren, a 50+ father and grandfather joined the group and was quick to say yes to give back because “there’ve been times I wouldn’t have eaten if it wasn’t for them.” He was a former chef and now on a disability pension as he’s no longer able to work following a stroke. Despite being separated from family over 10 years ago, one daughter and a much-loved grandson live in the caravan beside him. He’s grateful to have had a voice and to be heard as part of the process and be able to provide valuable input from his own lived experience.

Community Garden

The CCVH Garden and Healthy Eating Working Group will establish a community garden satellite model (Garden Network) that will connect and build on the many existing group-based gardens that already exist in the community, with potential for additional garden/s to be considered as the network establishes and grows.

This satellite model will include gardening related workshops, resource sharing, and coordination of activities, etc., to support food security, and healthy eating.

Healthy eating

CCVH has supported the purchase of six Vegepods for Playgroup Tasmania groups in the central Coast area with the aim to engage young children in growing food.

A large vegepod was also provided to No 34 Aboriginal Health Service for community members to grow fresh produce.

Women’s Healthcare needs

The Healthcare needs for women are to be considered.

Central Coast Community Wellbeing Information Portal and Directory

CCVH are currently considering a collaboration with Central Connect and the Central Coast Council to fund the upgrade of the Central Coast Community Directory. There is a commitment by the Central Coast Council to continue the management of the database and its information.

Mental Health Services

A collaboration of 16 mental health organisations and community stakeholders continue to meet monthly to address mental health capacity-building in the Central Coast.

The work includes building capacity and resilience, particularly for those that can better support individuals exiting secured mental health treatment, and their support network.

Bumps and Bubs Group

Some Parenting Working Group members have formed a Bumps and Bubs group in Penguin to provide support and education for expectant parents and those with children up to one year of age. The group is planning to commence the group with a Kitchen Table Conversation to ensure needs of the community are appropriately represented.

Supporting Parents

The Parenting Working Group continues to work with the Central Coast Council on improving the existing ‘baby change room’ in Ulverstone and enhancing existing spaces.

WG have been asset mapping child and family friendly spaces in Central Coast. Information to be incorporated in a poster for quick reference.

Get Active

9 – 10 community members have come together to start scoping options for better, healthy living through keeping active.

CCVH have:

• supported the establishment of Pickleball, as an all ability/ages social and physical activity in Ulverstone, by funding six months court hire.
• will partner with Central Connect ‘Try Skills’ pilot program over the 28-19 October, by providing $15,000 to run the program with 10-14 year olds. The support will also allow the engagement of a coordinator for the weekend program.

Children and Teens

CCVH will purchase 50 tickets to support the participation of parents and other carers/supports of children and adolescents to the ‘Strengthening Children and Teens Against Anxiety’ forum delivered by Psychologist, Karen Young

The session will provide information and strategies to participants to assist children and young people to uncover their strengths, build courage and resilience, and to reduce anxiety.

Dementia “Conversation” 18 October

HCT will partner with Dementia Aust, local service providers and health consumers to strengthen networks between organisations and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Mental Health Roundtable

CEW attended Council’s recent Mental Health Roundtable. The Mayor Cheryl Fuller has committed to attending the next Mental Health Working Group meeting to discuss how CCVH and Council can collaborate.

Capacity Building

CCVH are supporting the Coordinator of the NW Tassie Mums Empowerment Group to attend six sessions of coaching to develop a clear mission for the group, identify next steps and explore options to help with growth and development of the group.

Health and Wellbeing Expo

CCVH/HCT held a display and promoted the Central Coast Action Plan at the Ulverstone Health and Wellbeing.