Dorset Region

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

22 kitchen table conversations with 17 hosts trained and a total of 136 community members engaged.

Better Health 4 Dorset – community group consisting of 22 local members established to coordinate placed based initiatives and investment in local health priorities.

Building community connections and coordinated health care or health clinics were the two key priorities including the establishment of a health hub for this community.

Health and Wellbeing Expo

In May BH4D held a in Scottsdale. 44 services attended and approximately 400-500 people attended the event including 88 High School students. This was the first time anything like this had happened in Scottsdale and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and will now be held annually. One community member stated that “This is the first time we have ever had something like this and it was brilliant”. The only suggestion to improve upon this is to secure a bigger venue!

Community Garden

BH4D have negotiated a site at Northbourne Park retirement village for a community garden. This location supports the community’s desire to be an inclusive community for all ages.

BH4D received additional grant funding of $10,000 through the Stronger Communities Grant program through Bridget Archer’s office towards the community garden.

On January 31st the first community garden meeting was facilitated with 25 community members participating. Attending this initial consultation were also members from the local Aboriginal Community, who were eager to be involved and are now also looking into developing a Cultural Garden in the Dorset region.

At this meeting, it was identified that a dual model would be adopted with the garden addressing both food security and social isolation.

Youth Health and Employment Expo

BH4D have been approached by Dorset Employment Connect to collaborate and support a Youth Expo which will be held on the 25th of October 2023.

This Expo will provide opportunities for the youth (up to 25 years of age) of Dorset to explore education and employment opportunities as well as health and wellbeing services and support. BH4D will be responsible for all elements relating to health and wellbeing.

Community Workshop

A codesign workshop held in Scottsdale on 15 March, attended by 44 participants. Two thirds of the workshop participants, 66% being community members. This workshop had a stronger representation of farmers, and young people aged 15-16 years whose attendance was supported by a high school in the small outlying town of Winnaleah.

Primary Health Care

In partnership with Dorset Ochre Medical Centre, a workshop is being planned with primary health service providers to explore solutions for improving access to health services in Dorset.

Red Dirt Cafe

BH4D and Health Consumers Tasmania are supporting a community initiative providing a free hearty meal and hot drink to people struggling financially or experiencing loneliness in the Dorset community. The Red Dirt Café started on the 14th of June and has received overwhelming support from the local community and other regions in Tasmania (as far as Roseberry IGA).

The Red Dirt Café is held every Wednesday from 4:30-6pm, people can choose to come in and enjoy a meal in a warm inviting and non-judgemental space or they can simply pick up prepared meals at the door no questions asked. Red Dirt Café is providing approximately 50-60 free meals per week, and this continues to grow as the café becomes more recognised.

There are currently plans to extend the service to provide monthly “Youth Nights”.

RU OK

BH4D is supported the Dorset Suicide Prevention Network to hold an RU OK day event on the 15th of September at The Men’s Shed.

Mental Health Network Establishment

Participants from the Dorset region who engaged in the kitchen table discussion identified that Mental Health Services in the area were inadequate. It was identified that people did not know where to seek help and if they were able to find an appropriate service there were lengthy wait times and most often required travel into Launceston. It was also identified that there is no emergency mental health support in the region.

From these discussions the community requested that the HWN investigate what services were available to members of the Dorset community. A meeting was arranged inviting all services who are funded to provide this type of support in the area enabling service providers to introduce themselves and look at how they can better coordinate their services. This information is currently being circulated throughout the community. As a result of this meeting more individuals have been able to access mental health support and there is an increase in knowledge of what services are available.

The HWN staff also met with the National Mental Health Commissioner to advocate the voice of the community nationally.

Health Services

Work with existing service providers, key stakeholders and community to explore a hub and spoke model of service delivery that will support a Community Health and Wellbeing Hub

In partnership with PHT and THS, explore options for the provision of locally delivered ‘visiting’ specialist services and community clinics in outlying towns (to be further scoped).

Children and their Families

Supporting the establishment of the Thriving Kids Network into the Dorset region. TKN aims to improve support to children and families, lobby for a ‘Child and Family Learning Centre’ to be built in Scottsdale, share information about what is currently available, and seek service support and training opportunities to fill any recognised gaps.

Child and Youth Learning Centre

BH4D, Dorset Community House and community members have established a working group to lobby to have a Child and Youth Learning Centre built in the region. It is recognised that the community are unable to access services and supports for children and youth in Dorset and would greatly benefit having a purpose-built facility. Currently there are 18 CYFLC in Tasmania, the Dorset community feel that the region has been overlooked. We have had one consultation in March 2023 with the Principal Leader of the Early Years Project to discuss the roll out of Early Learning for 3-year-olds. It is Government policy that all eligible 3-year-old Tasmanian children will have access to 400 hours per year free of charge. In Dorset there are only 2 facilities, and both have waitlists of up to 12 months, leaving many 3-year-olds in Dorset without access to early learning opportunities.

Community Information

BH4D are currently working towards establishing Community Notice boards in each town to improve community connection and awareness of any upcoming activities, projects, events etc. Sponsorship from Knight Frank real estate will assist in covering the cost associated with having the noticeboards built and erected.

Transport

BH4D is working in collaboration with Area Connect to understand the community transport gaps for the Dorset region. Service providers and community members from townships across Dorset participated in a survey with over 200 responses received. This survey will be used by Area Connect to design a community transport service for the region and to understand its viability.

BH4D will also use this survey data to advocate to Government the public transport issues in the Dorset region and the impact on local communities.

Youth Mental Health

Supporting Dorset Suicide Prevention network (DSPN) and Relationships Australia with a youth mental health initiative, by providing five grants of $1000 for young people to come up with an idea on how they can support their peers to have good mental health.

Community Information

BH4D are currently working towards establishing Community Notice boards in each town to improve community connection and awareness of any upcoming activities, projects, events etc. Sponsorship from Knight Frank real estate will assist in covering the cost associated with having the noticeboards built and erected.

Service Information

BH4D are currently scoping the concept of an ‘Online HUB’, as a central point for community members and service providers to access and post information about health and wellbeing services, community events and activities, etc., that support health and wellbeing.

Sexual Assault Support

Collaboration with Laurel House (sexual assault support service) to provide increased services to Dorset.

Supporting Young People

Facilitated the establishment of a Youth Support Network to bring service providers together to progress solution to issues impacting young people.

Mental Health Week 2023

BH4D will be supporting Dorset Suicide Prevention Network with the annual trivia night to raise awareness and funds to support the community.

BH4D supporting Dorset Community House, ‘Kick-Flip the Script’, engaging young community members in an action-packed event focussing on maintaining good mental health and what services are available to support this. Partnered with Christian Leaders Network to deliver a free family fun day aiming to raise awareness of mental health and how to access support. This annual event also aims to increase community connection and reduce isolation.

Trauma Counselling

CEWs coordinated a collaboration with Catholic Care to provide trauma counselling to the Scottsdale community in response to an incident that caused distress for the community.

The Voice

BH4D arranged with Reconciliation Tasmania to conduct four workshops in the region on the upcoming ‘Voice’ referendum.