Omeo District Health Annual Report 2005/06

Community Services
Community Services comprises of allied
health services funded through the Regional
Heath Service program and the Multi Purpose
Centre program; and District Nursing and
Home Care Services both funded by the
Home and Community Care program.
Additional community services include the
administration of Transitional Housing
(Emergency House) and the volunteer
program.
Omeo District Health has embraced the ‘social
model of health’ as its approach to health
services across the board. This approach
recognises that ‘health’ is a complex
interaction of the following determinants:-
• Income and social status.
• Social support networks.
• Education.
• Employment.
• Social environment.
• Physical environment.
• Personal health practices and coping
skills.
• Healthy child development.
• Biological and genetic endowment.
• Health services.
• Gender.
• Culture.
• Rurality.
ODH Community Health Services have
strong links with East Gippsland Primary
Care Partnership at a regional level, and at a
local level works in collaboration with such
services as Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre,
Ensay Community Health Centre, Swifts
Creek Community Centre, Benambra
Neighbourhood House, Rural Ambulance
Victoria, TAFE Outreach, and local primary
and secondary schools.
The move into the new facility in December
2005 has greatly improved and streamlined
community service operations with the
centralised location resulting in easier client
access, and improved communication and
referrals between services. The new meeting
space has allowed for improved opportunities
to interact with external agencies and the easy
access to the video-conferencing facilities had
resulted in increased participation in wider
regional community health forums.
District Nursing
The Omeo District Nursing Service aims to
deliver a high quality home based nursing
service to the local community. Services
include direct clinical care, clinical assessment
and the provision of information and
education.
The position has been shared on a permanent
part time basis between three nurses over the
reporting period. Both client numbers and
staffing have been steady.
Counselling
A significant demand for counselling services
has been maintained during the 2005-06
period. Depression and anxiety related
disorders remain the most common reason for
clients seeking service. Referral relationships
have bee strengthened, in particular referrals
to the Counsellor from GP’s has seen a
notable increase.
A service gap was identified by the local
schools and an agreement was formed for the
Counsellor to provide specific counselling to
school aged children. This extension of
service saw the position grow from 3.5 days
to 4 days per week.
A chronic pain self-management group was
commenced, and has been well supported by
participants.
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