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We are thrilled to be a finalist in the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards (VPHA)! Our free Chronic Pain Service (CPS) has been recognised in the ‘Care Closer to Home’ award category.

Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Australians over 45, often leading to mental health challenges, social isolation, and a decline in self-esteem.

CPS is improving long-term health and wellbeing outcomes for clients, helping them manage pain, regain independence, reduce care wait times, and ease the pressure on hospital waitlists.

Data from 2023 confirms CPS’s outstanding results:

• 100% of patients reported overall improvement (up 17% from the previous year)
• 100% reported improvement in their physical abilities (up 22.2%)
• 91.7% reported clinically significant improvement in pain catastrophising (up 41.7%)
• 80% reported improvement in depression
• 60% reported improvement in anxiety
• 67% reported improvement in how pain interferes with their daily life

“My attitude and mindset towards pain have changed significantly. I am calmer, and I understand how chronic pain works and how I can manage it. I don’t feel as anxious or scared about my pain. I’ve now started going to the gym, taking long walks, and swimming.” – CPS client.

Merri Health is proud of this achievement, which highlights the dedication of our team and the ongoing support of our funding partner, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN).

The VPHA celebrate excellence in public healthcare and acknowledge the achievements of Victoria’s healthcare workers, volunteers, and public health services. Winners will be announced at the VPHA Gala Night on 19 November 2024.

Find out more about CPS.

Earlier this month, Carer Gateway hosted a training day for Carer Advisory Group (CAG) Members in the Macedon Ranges. Tere Dawson, Merri Health’s Consumer Participation Support Officer, facilitated the training session with the support of Carer Gateway Engagement team members, Terri O’Reilly and Sue Poscic.

Tere worked with the consumers before the training to understand their interests and developed a personalised training tailored to their needs. They nominated which topics they would like to cover in the training and they were as follows:

1. How to be an effective consumer representative
2. How to be an effective member of an advisory committee
3. Influencing decision makers
4. Corporate and clinical governance

It was an incredible opportunity for the 16 members who come from across Victoria to get together in person and develop their professional skills as consumer representatives.

We received positive feedback from the attendees and are looking forward to seeing how they apply their learnings to the continued improvement of the Carer Gateway program.

If anyone has any questions about the training or the work the CAG is involved in, please feel free to contact [email protected].

Merri Health welcomed Australian Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler MP and Local Member for Wills Peter Khalil MP today to discuss our community-focused dental and medical services in Brunswick.

Person-centred, integrated care improves the health of our local community and provides support where it is needed most.

Merri Health CEO Tassia Michaleas and Board Chair Anne Jungwirth showcased the increased health opportunities at the Brunswick Community Medical Centre (BCMC), where clients and staff shared their first-hand experiences. The centre supports:

• improved patient outcomes through collaboration among GPs, allied health, and nursing services
• enhanced continuity of care and holistic, person-centred health services
• streamlined system navigation and service coordination

Mark Butler MP said, “The community health model is just outstanding“. 

Tassia Michaleas, CEO Merri Health said, “Clients can go to one location and get all the services they need.”

Merri Health provides GP services at the Brunswick Community Medical Centre (BCMC), a trusted practice co-located with our Glenlyon Road Brunswick site.

More than 100,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in Victoria.

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is a proven method for helping people with mild to moderate dementia boost their thinking skills. Research shows it helps to improve cognition, language, and quality of life. Despite these benefits, it is not widely available across Australia.

Merri Health’s 7-week CST and Carer Support program features engaging sessions that help people living with dementia to build their confidence and maximise their potential. At the same time, it provides vital support for their carers through a peer support and education group.

Recently, we were invited to present at the 5th International Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Conference in Hong Kong.

Our very own Isobel Sanger, Australia’s CST master trainer, showcased CST work that is happening in Australia including our partnership with leading researchers from the University of Canberra. Key points raised include:

• CST is not routinely available in Australia but more common elsewhere in the world
• Initial findings from Merri Health’s CST program show CST improves quality of life, cognition, and social connections for participants
• Carers participating in our support group reported reduced anxiety and increased confidence in supporting loved ones with dementia

We run our Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and Carer Support program throughout the year. Visit our website page or contact Isobel on (03) 9304 9216 or [email protected] to see how we can support you.

More than 300 people in Australia develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every 5 minutes!

It’s National Diabetes Week. This year’s focus is on making it easier for people to access technology and services that help them better manage their condition.

Diabetes occurs where there is too much glucose in the blood. Over time high glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, resulting in long term health complications. While there is currently no cure, there are ways to effectively manage it and enjoy life.  

Merri Health helps people prevent diabetes or better manage their condition right where people work, through a range of different services. These include:

• All-in-one diabetes clinic 
  • The one-of-a-kind Diabetes Clinic provides people with the opportunity to see a Dietician, Diabetes Nurse Educator and Exercise Physiologist all in the one appointment. It runs on the last Monday of each month at our Bell Street site between 9am-11am. Find out more here. 
• FREE Diabetes Prevention Information sessions
  • These sessions are designed for people with pre-diabetes, or who are at risk due to family history, high blood pressure, cholesterol or other factors. The next session is Monday 22 July. Email [email protected] to register.
• Diabetes Nurse Education 
  • Our Credentialed Diabetes Nurse Educators can help people to manage diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2. Services are delivered in a variety of methods. See more here.  

Adjusting to pregnancy or a new baby can be very challenging as well as joyful for new parents.
 
More support is now available for expecting and new parents of children aged up to 5 years, with the Victorian Government increasing funding for our Family Foundations program.

This innovative, evidence-based program improves parent mental health, reduces conflict and strengthens parent/ caregiver partnerships during pregnancy and critical early childhood years.

More than 820 families have been supported through our Family Foundations (FF) program, including 353 in the past two years.

The Victorian Government’s support acknowledges the program’s outstanding results. 

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) evaluation shows significant reductions in parent psychological distress and stress symptoms, parental conflict and aggression, children’s exposure to conflict; and increased cooperation, problem solving, and closeness in parent-child relationships in Family Foundation participants.

Comprising 10 FREE sessions, delivered by coaching specialists, FF supports new parents to strengthen their relationship and baby bond. 

It’s available online or at home. 

Call 9355 9901, email [email protected] or visit our website page to find out more.

Over 7,600 young people aged 12-24 years are estimated to be living homeless in Victoria¹.

Seeing a dentist is often a big challenge for this group and puts them at higher risk for poor short and long-term dental health.

In response, we’re bringing free dental care directly to homeless youth in partnership with Melbourne City Mission’s Frontyard Youth Services.

Our innovative outreach program delivers essential check-ups and oral care at Frontyard’s drop-in centre in Melbourne’s CBD. So far, 47 youth have received free dental care in our first two visits with more to come!  

“By providing place-based dental services right where people are, we’re improving integrated care with Frontyard and supporting better health outcomes.” says Jonathan Teoh, Dental Manager, Merri Health.  

“The program will also provide valuable data which will help us better understand the oral health status and broader social health impacts of people experiencing vulnerability.”

We’re proud to be partnering with Frontyard which provides safe emergency accommodation, health, education and more for homeless youth, many of whom experience mental health issues and struggle to ask for help.

Find out more about our dental care programs here. 

[1] ABS. Estimating Homelessness: Census, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics [Internet]. 2021 [cited May 27]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/estimating-homelessness-census/latest-release