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We launched our ambitious new Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan in April this year to help close the health gap with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It builds on our reconciliation achievements so far and recognises the work we still need to do to see meaningful change.

Overall, we have met 87% of our RAP targets.

Completed actions include:

• delivered Be Upstanding! Racism training to seven teachers and 200+ students at Brunswick Secondary College to help students learn how to call out racism
• launched Acknowledgement of Country initiative to include Aboriginal Country names across all Merri Health mail and collateral
• cultural awareness training delivered by Girrawayi Ganyi Consultants to 48 staff to ensure culturally safe service delivery
• developed dedicated Merri Health cultural awareness online training for all staff
• implemented RAP communications plan reaching 23,000+ people on our social media, website, newsletters and intranet

Read our Reconciliation Action Plan now. 

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Image: Merri Health’s Tassia Michaleas and Maryanne Tadic, Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr, Victorian MP Sheena Watt and Simone Thomson artist launched RAP.

Merri Health joined people across the globe to support the 16 Days of Activism initiative that encourages individuals, communities and organisations to address gender inequalities, gender-based violence and take action to prevent violence before it starts. 

Our staff united with hundreds of people to raise awareness and walk in solidarity with victim-survivors of gender-based violence at the 14^th Annual Walk Against Family Violence.

Carolyn Wallace, General Manager Family & Community said: “We all need to be leaders and stand up for change to eliminate gender based violence.”

One woman is killed nearly every week in Australia due to family violence*.

Merri Health recognises that gender inequality is a key contributor to violence against women. We have a strong role to play in advocating for gender equality and family violence through our Victims Assistance Program and Keeping Our Pets Safe Project which supports victims of family violence.

What you can do to get involved:

• Join an event near you. There are over 60 events happening across Victoria. Find out more.
• Follow Respect Victoria on Facebook and Twitter and share their posts throughout the 16 Days of Activism. You can also jump on the Merri Facebook page and share ours!
• Pick up a pair or two of these ‘Respect Women’ earrings – created by Haus of Dizzy in collaboration with Respect Victoria.
• Subscribe to the Safe and Equal 16 Days of Activism newsletter and access resources

*Australian Institute of Criminology ‘Homicide in Australia 2018–19’ 

Our Ready, Set, Prep! (RSP) program was proud to receive the award for Continuity of Early Learning at the Department of Education and Training Victorian Early Years Awards 2022. 

The awards celebrate the “outstanding work of our early childhood professionals to improve the health, learning, development and wellbeing of Victorian children and their families.”

Merri Health’s Jackie Evers said: “It is not just the hard work and dedication of our Merri Health staff, but the combined efforts of all the 40 local services and agencies, as well as community members, that has combined to see improvements in health, wellbeing and school readiness for little people in Merri-bek.”

RSP was also a Finalists in two other categories:

• Creating Collaborative Community Partnerships
• Promoting Children’s Health and Wellbeing. 

RSP prepares children and their families for a great start to primary school.

The RSP initiative was developed in response to the 2015 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) results, demonstrating that 37% of children in Fawkner start school developmentally vulnerable in one or more areas – significantly higher than state averages.

Visit the Department of Education and Training website to read more. 

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Image: Merri Health joined Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt MP to receive the award. 

Over 20 community members joined Merri Health CEO Tassia Michaleas and speakers Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians and Dot Campbell, Seniors Rights Victoria to celebrate Seniors Week

The highly respected speakers shared information on rights for seniors, what healthy ageing means, and elder abuse.

Participants enjoyed delicious Indigenous fusion food, hot drinks and a chance to socialise with other community members.

Stef Pellegrino, Merri Health Living Well Ageing Well Project Officer said:

“A big thanks to our presenters Dot and Gerard for coming along and having an important chat to our community members about seniors rights, what healthy ageing means, and how we can all put this into practice”

Merri runs several programs that support healthy ageing, including leading The Elder Abuse Prevention Network in Melbourne’s north and west metro regions. Read more.

The event was a collaboration between Merri Health, Carer Gateway and Darebin Council.

About our speakers

Gerard Mansour is a highly respected and passionate advocate for the needs of older people. In addition to being the Commissioner for Senior Victorians, Gerard is an Ambassador for Elder Abuse Prevention to give older victims of family violence a voice and raising community awareness of elder abuse.

Seniors Rights Victoria advances the rights of older people and works to prevent elder abuse. They provide free information and referrals, legal advice and legal casework on matters specifically related to elder abuse, to any Victorian aged 60 and above, or to any Indigenous Victorian aged 45 and above. Find out more: Seniors Rights Victoria – Seniors Rights Victoria

Volunteer-2-Lawyer Success Story at West Heidelberg Community Legal – Congratulations Ankita!

Please join us in congratulating Ankita Krishna who was admitted to practice as a lawyer yesterday! A huge moment that comes after years of hard work.

Ankita commenced volunteering at Banyule Community Health West Heidelberg Community Legal service in December 2019 as a law clerk undertaking triage and intake for legal enquiries while still at university.

In late 2020 Ankita’s aptitude for and interest in family law saw her move into a new volunteer role as legal assistant working with our WHCL family law/family violence team whilst completing her final year studies. Ankita graduated from law at La Trobe University in December 2021 and in early 2022 Ankita was successful in obtaining a role as a paralegal within our WHCL generalist team whilst completing her practical legal training (PLT).

After receiving her certificate to practice yesterday, we are proud to announce that Ankita will soon join the WHCL team as a graduate lawyer.

Congratulations Ankita. We loved having you assist the community as a student volunteer and PLT, and are thrilled to have you on our team now as a graduate lawyer.

Merri Health has been announced as a Finalist for the Premier’s Primary Health Service of the Year in the 2022 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.

The annual awards recognise Victoria’s leading healthcare providers and celebrate high quality care, innovation and the contribution of the workforce in supporting the health of all Victorians.

Merri Health CEO Tassia Michaleas said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be named a finalist in the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.

This is a real testament to the incredible work undertaken across our organisation to support many diverse communities, support community empowerment and seek innovative healthcare solutions.”

The award entries assess six criteria for excellence in healthcare delivery:

• providing sustainable, well managed and efficient health services
• providing timely and responsive health services
• providing least intrusive and earliest effective care
• improving health services safety and quality
• strengthening the capacity of individuals, families and communities through effective prevention and health promotion
• improving health and wellbeing for disadvantaged people and communities.

Merri Health is one of three finalists in the Premier’s Primary Health Service category.

Award winners will be announced Thursday 13 October at the 16^th Victorian Public Healthcare Awards ceremony in Melbourne. Stay tuned!

Merri Health has been awarded SILVER in the 2022 Australasian Reporting Awards (ARAs) once again.

The award acknowledges transparent, balanced reporting and communications in our Annual Report, benchmarked against world best practice criteria.

This is the second year Merri Health has achieved silver status for its Annual Report in the ARAs, after receiving bronze in 2019 and 2018.

“We are delighted to be recognised for sharing our stories, achievements and challenges authentically and transparently,” Lisa Knott Merri Health Marketing and Communications Manager said.

“We are proud of the positive health and wellbeing outcomes achieved in our community through the dedicated work of our teams, clients and partnerships with community and like-minded organisations.”

The national awards were announced in a presentation ceremony in Sydney last night. This is the 72nd year of consecutive annual ARA Awards.

Take a look at our 2021 annual report, as well as reports from previous years.

Keep an eye out for the 2022 report coming out later this year! 

A fabulous #community evening together for our annual Reclaim the Night walk and community BBQ.  Thanks to all for participating and walking with us to show that ‘The North Says No’.

Our appreciation and thanks to Victoria Police (Heidelberg), Banyule City Council, Banyule Community Health staff and the numerous individuals who assisted to make this event possible.

We look forward to reclaiming the night again in 2020, as we’ve done as a local community since 2014.

Born in Spain, Rita and her husband, Jim, moved to Australia when their first child was a baby.

Their second child was born in Australia. When the children were young they spent a further 10 years living in Spain before settling permanently in Australia. Rita and Jim wanted their children to feel part of the Spanish culture, so they celebrated traditional holidays, and spoke their first language at home.

Rita is 78 yeas old now and living with cancer.  Jim cares for her at home with help from their daughter. During a recent hospital admission, Jim told the nurses that it was getting harder to manage at home.

To support Rita to remain living at home and Jim to continue caring for her, the hospital referred them to our Health independence Program (HiP). Following an assessment, the HiP complex care coordinator identified relevant home support services, talked to the couple about their options, and coordinated referrals and assessments. Being
unfamiliar with aged care services, the family said having a care coordinator helped to reduce their stress and they could be confident that Rita was getting what she needed.

The care coordinator arranged for an assessment through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP, My Aged Care).

The CHSP arranged for Rita to receive home care services through the council including personal care, home help and for Jim to have weekly respite. The couple received these services and the Care Coordinator talked them through what they needed to do and how to set up a routine for care in their home.

Rita’s cancer advanced and her specialist introduced Palliative Care Services to manage her symptoms. One day the Palliative Care Nurse noticed that Rita was developing a pressure sore. She referred Rita to occupational therapy for pressure care.

We prioritised Rita to access the service because she was receiving palliative care and had a pressure sore which carries a risk for serious infection and can be very painful.

The occupational therapist conducted a pressure care assessment because treatment must be tailored to the individual or the area can get worse. From the assessment, the occupational therapist identified that Rita was experiencing high levels of fatigue between her cancer treatments. As a result, she spent a great deal of time sitting, which would contribute to the development of her pressure sore. She was also in some discomfort and in pain. Rita and the family agreed that reducing her pain and pressure risk was an important care goal.

Medications can affect fatigue and mobility so the occupational therapist, with Rita’s consent, spoke with the palliative care doctor about her medications. The occupational therapist measured Rita’s weight, height and chair size to decide what pressure care cushions might suit her best.

They trialled a few pressure cushions with Rita until she found one that could be tailored to the way that she sat, provide the best pressure relief and reduce her pain. She also showed Rita, Jim and their daughter how to position the cushion so that it provided the best support to prevent further pressure. The palliative care nurse met with the occupational therapist as she was finishing her home visit. They talked to the family about using cream to prevent the skin from breaking.

The occupational therapist let the family know that they should call her if the pressure sore seemed to be getting worse or was not healing. The care coordinator was also able to liaise with a second daughter living overseas in Spain. She reassured her about how her mother’s health care was being provided in the changed aged care system in
Australia and who, on the team, could best answer her more specific questions.

Moreland played host to one of its largest rainbow events as part of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The live art exhibition saw more than 500 Moreland students and locals take part in the large-scale filming which we’ve released today, in support of IDAHOBIT. Messages of support are projected via a choreographed exhibition using rainbow umbrellas and captured via a drone.

Merri Health’s YGLAM project officer Russ Pirie said that the rainbow procession showed Moreland’s commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive community.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and show that they care about the wellbeing of queer people living in Moreland, creating safe spaces for all,” said Mr Pirie.

Moreland Mayor Cr Helen Davidson said that the video release of the event will ensure Moreland continues to acknowledge and accept our queer community beyond IDAHOBIT.

“It is so important that we come together not just when IDAHOBIT comes around, but every day.

“Moreland’s diversity is one of the municipality’s greatest strengths and that is something to celebrate,” said Cr Davidson.

IDAHOBIT is an annual celebration of sexual and gender diversities, raising awareness of the violence and discrimination experienced by this group.

The event is led by Merri Health’s queer youth ensemble YGLAM and supported by Moreland City Council. It marks the anniversary of YGLAM’s social media campaign This Campaign Is Queer that supports young queer people via social media connections.