healthAbility

Today is World Mental Health Day, which puts mental health in the spotlight to raise awareness and break down stigma. This year, Mental Health Australia is encouraging all of us to focus on the meaningful connections in our lives, and why they are so important for good mental health. At healthAbility, we understand how vital these meaningful connections are, and strive to holistically support the mental health of our clients and community. This may include supporting people to stay socially connected through Social Support Groups, helping people to stay healthy, independent and active with in-home and community supports or health and wellbeing services, or providing tailored and trusted mental health services, including: 🧠 After Hours Mental Health Nursing Service 🧠 Stepped Care Mental Health Program 🧠 Counselling and psychology 🧠 North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect To find out more visit https://bit.ly/4h0SGQA #WorldMentalHealthDay #MeaningfulConnections

We’re thrilled to be part of the Box Hill Institute Careers Expo! This is your chance to come and chat with us about what it’s like to work at healthAbility, and explore exciting roles such as becoming a Domestic Assistant or a Community Support Worker. Learn how you can stand out as a top candidate and take the next step in your career. Tuesday 8 October 4pm–7pm (We will be there at 2.30pm-3.30pm) Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill VIC #BHICareersExpo

We will be closed on Friday, 27 September 2024 and re-open on Monday 1 October. 🔸The After Hours Mental Health Nursing Service 1300 003 509 (freecall), in-home care, and CHOPER will remain open. 🔸For a medical emergency or mental health crisis, please call 000. 🔸For a dental emergency, please call The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne on 9341 1000. 🔸For 24-hour crisis support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards! 🎉 We have been recognised in the ‘Excellence in mental health and wellbeing’ category for the amazing work of our After Hours Mental Health Nursing Service, which supports people with mental health concerns during times when other services are limited. The awards are a celebration of excellence in public healthcare and acknowledge the achievements of Victoria’s healthcare workers, volunteers, and public health services. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and for recognising the work we do to support our community to thrive and be well #VPHAwards.

We were thrilled to be invited to present on the After-Hours Mental Health Nursing Service (AHMHNS) at the EMPHN RU OK? Day lunch yesterday. With around 40 attendees, the room was filled with positive energy and strong support for the continuation of this crucial program. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the importance of mental health support in our community. A huge thank you to our healthAbility team members for their outstanding contributions and to Susan Rice, Tony McKinnon, and Jo Ong from EMPHN for their unwavering support. For those who couldn’t join us, the AHMHNS provides understanding and support for individuals dealing with mild to moderate mental health challenges like anxiety, stress, depression, and grief, especially outside of normal business hours. Our service offers a compassionate ear, guidance on next steps, recommendations for ongoing support, and follow-up to ensure continued care. You can reach out to our Mental Health Nurses for free, with no appointment necessary, by calling 1300 003 509 or visiting us in person at 36 Wellington Road, Box Hill, Victoria. Our team is here to help from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm on weekdays and 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm on weekends and public holidays. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact 000 or Lifeline at 13 11 14. The After Hours Mental Health Nursing Service is funded by the Australian Government through the Eastern Melbourne PHN under the Primary Health Network program. #MentalHealthSupport #RUOKDay #AfterHoursCare

We celebrate this momentous good news. The new Aged Care Act received bipartisan support from our elected politicians, who have officially put older Australians’ rights first. This new rights-based Aged Care Act was the number one recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and delivers on many other recommendations that are significant for all Australians. As a Community Health Service that has kept older Australians safe and well in their home and community for nearly 50 years, we are excited for a future quality aged care system that is sustainable and vibrant. Our bold new vision is a world in which everyone is thriving and well, and this gives us hope that our elected leaders share this ambition.

Today is R U OK? Day, a National Day of Action to spark meaningful conversations. R U OK? is not just about today; it's about making sure we check in with those around us at any time. Life happens every day, so we're joining the call for all Australians to ask 'R U OK? Any Day'. But how do you start an R U OK? conversation? Below are some tips that might help: 1. Ask R U OK? ❔ 2. Listen 👂 3. Encourage action 💬 4. Check in 📞 To learn more about how to start a conversation visit https://bit.ly/3rbTm0o #RUOKAnyDay

We were delighted to have staff, carers and stakeholders join us to celebrate the official opening of the North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect service at Eltham! It was a great chance to celebrate this important service, and the work of staff at healthAbility, Access Health and Community, Inspiro Community Health and SHARC Self Help Addiction Resource Centre to provide this vital resource for our community. During the event, guests heard from people directly involved with the service, including a carer and a peer support worker. Nillumbik Councillor Frances Eyre GAICD also joined us to show her support. The service is available at Eltham (by appointment) every Friday. To find out more visit https://lnkd.in/gnGgTS3W #MentalHealth #CarerSupport #CommunityHealth

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Baby Makes 3 (BM3) with members of the team featuring at key events interstate and closer to home. On August 30, Respect Victoria launched "Willing, Capable and Confident," a pivotal report on involving men in preventing gender-based violence. Congratulations to Respect Victoria for a powerful event! Special thanks to Sulo Colombage from healthAbility and BM3’s Diversity Lead for sharing valuable insights on engaging men in this crucial work. It was also great to see Vicki Ward MP for Eltham and Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, at the launch. Julia and Emma represented BM3 at the National Maternal Child and Family Health Nurses Australia Conference in Brisbane. They presented our new framework on gender equality and preventing violence, aligning with the conference theme "Innovations: Driving Change for Better Outcomes." It was a fantastic chance to learn from national experts and enhance our support for new parents. 👶💜 #BM3 #GenderEquality #MaternalHealth

Last week, our healthAbility Youth team celebrated the opening of the Nillumbik Youth Hub, a new safe space for local youth. Designed by young people, it offers areas for studying, appointments, gaming, and socializing for ages 12-25. Our Reconnect and School Focused Youth Services team, along with Allied Health Clinicians, will provide support and collaborate with local organizations. Located on Elizabeth Street, Diamond Creek, the hub opens on September 9th. Join us for an open day on September 14th during the Diamond Creek Rotary Town Fair. #NillumbikYouth