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AMITY HEALTH LTD
Annual Report
2015-2016
Our Mission Providing country people with the best possible access to health services
Our Purpose To work in partnership with others to provide services, support, advocacy, leadership and
coordination in the development and promotion of primary health care
in regional, rural and remote WA
Our Values Fairness
Integrity
Responsibility
Enjoyment
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Table of Contents
Chairman’s report 3
Membership and Board 4
Overview 5
Activities 6-17
Program Delivery 18-23
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Chairman's Report
Dear Members
This year has seen a number of changes in the health landscape.
The new Primary Health Network organisations have commenced
operation and Amity Health is working closely with the WA Primary
Health Alliance to provide existing and new services in our region.
The WA Country Health Service has been restructured to provide
for more autonomy for local health service provision and changes
have been made to the specialist and allied services provided by the
Albany Hospital which has resulted in an increased need for the
services of Amity Health’s specialist and allied health consulting
rooms. Visiting specialist service numbers at Amity Health have
increased from 17 to 23 – a 22% growth.
We have increased our services in the wider regional area with a much needed school aged
screening service providing teachers with indispensable information on which to base classroom
activities for children with speech, language and sensori-motor needs.
After the upheaval of moving to new premises last year and some teething problems with the
building we are now well settled and the service is running smoothly and efficiently.
Structural changes within the organisation continue to occur as we respond to the changing
health landscape and it is a credit to the management team and staff that these changes are
handled so effectively including integration of a host of new staff members. We have had a
20% growth in staff since the last financial year.
The organisation continues to be a respected rural and regional health care and allied services
provider, working in a competitive health care system. We have continued to enjoy preferred
provider status for a number of our funded services, which is a welcome endorsement of the
organisation’s capabilities and good standing in the community.
Financially, we continue to manage on a sound footing, giving us confidence as we commit to
plans for the years ahead. The organisation is now a strong progressive community health and
social services provider which has considerable impact within the communities in which we
work.
My thanks go to our team of managers, clinicians and support staff that makes this organisation
such a favoured place to work; also to my fellow directors for their support and guidance.
Trish Ryans-Taylor
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Membership and Board
Membership
Amity Health has two categories of membership
1. Primary members
2. Special members
A Primary Member is a Registered Primary Health Provider and a Special Member is a
Community Member.
Board
Directors
Ms Trish Ryans-Taylor
Mr Richard Keeler
Dr Ligia Galvez
Dr Mark Victor
Ex-Officio
Ms Robyn Marchesi – Company Secretary
Ms Robin Surridge – Chief Executive Officer
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Overview
Amity Health Inc. is a not for profit organisation providing a range of programs and services to
help adults, children and families. Through these we work to achieve our mission of providing
country people with the best possible access to health services
In 2015 Amity Health celebrated 21 years of service in country WA. Members of staff are
located and work across the Great Southern, as well as in the Wheatbelt (Narrogin and
Merredin) and the Goldfields (Esperance and Kalgoorlie).
We work hand-in-hand with doctors, nurses and other health professionals to ensure a holistic
approach to meet complete health care needs. Our allied health team offers a wide variety of
scheduled services in the community.
Amity Health works collaboratively and in partnership with other organizations to secure service
provision for improved health outcomes in our communities across the Great Southern and
beyond. Partnership relationships extend from federal, state and local government agencies to
GP practices, other not-for-profit organizations, other allied health service providers, schools
and community groups.
Amity Health employs a team of allied health professionals to provide health and wellbeing
solutions using a partnership approach and provides early intervention and prevention
strategies for mental health and physical health, and chronic disease management.
The allied health team includes dietitians, diabetes educators, occupational therapists, allied
health child mental health provider, social workers, speech pathologists, child health nurses and
nurses. Members of staff are located and work across the Great Southern as well as in
Narrogin, Merredin, Esperance and Kalgoorlie.
Amity Health also provides a range of programs to help:
adults
families and children
their communities
These programs are managed and delivered by a team which helps to achieve our vision of
providing country people with the best possible access to health services.
Amity Health is able to respond flexibly and adaptably to the needs of its rural and remote
communities, and as such the scope and number of programs change and develop as needs
arise.
At its purpose built Albany location at 136 Lockyer Avenue, a site providing improved
accessibility and parking as well as consult and clinic rooms and a child therapy wing, Amity
Health continues to attract an increasing range and number of specialists who provide a visiting
consulting service for our communities in the Great Southern.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Activities
Partnerships
Once again Amity Health’s partnership approach has resulted in the establishment of positive
working relationships with a range of community agencies, including state and federal
government, other not for profits and service provision agencies. This approach is a key factor
to ensure available resources are well-utilised, and outcomes maximised where possible.
Our partnerships this year have included:
Our Diabetes Education service has grown significantly in the past year due to the
collaboration between Amity Health and many of Albany’s GP practices. Amity Health’s
Diabetes Educators work within the practices alongside GPs to more efficiently and
effectively assist patients with their diabetes management. They also continue to see
patients at Amity Health’s clinic rooms at 136 Lockyer Avenue.
Amity Health has entered into a collaborative project with Relationships Australia and
Carer’s WA to provide a 3 day program for children with family members experiencing
mental health problems. This program will be piloted in the school holidays in January
2017.
A Memorandum of Understanding between Amity Health and Foodbank now exists to
provide training for community members requiring assistance with healthy eating.
As the coordinator of the DESMOND program (Diabetes Education and Self-
Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) in the Great Southern, Amity Health
has closely collaborated with Diabetes WA to bring a best practice approach to
educating clients with type II diabetes.
Details of integrated partnerships with the WA Country Health Service commences from
page 11.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Allied Health Services
Amity Health’s allied health team has had a busy year
with both funded programs and fee for service activity.
Key Activities and Achievements
Services for Children and Parents
Amity Health’s paediatric team have been involved in a
range of activities during the year, offering established
and new services to children and parents of the
community.
The school screening program has developed considerably with 219 children being
screened in 7 schools in Albany, Denmark and Jerramungup.
Amity Health has become a registered provider of speech pathology and occupational
therapy services for children with autism spectrum disorder and complex disability.
Families eligible for funding
under the federal programs
Helping Children with Autism
and Better Start for Children
with Disability can be
assessed and managed by our
clinicians.
A pilot Mindful Kids group
conducted by the mental
health occupational therapist
and therapy assistant was very well received. The 6 week group with 8 child/parent
attendees provided education in managing anxiety and self-regulation. More groups are
planned for the coming year.
Plans for a collaborative project with Relationships Australia and Carer’s WA to provide
a supportive program for children with family members experiencing mental health
problems commenced this year. Regular consultation over with both these
organisations has resulted in a 3 day pilot program to be launched in the school
holidays in January 2017. The program is based on the COPMI (Children of Parents
with Mental Health Issues) Smiles program and will be conducted by Amity Health’s
mental health occupational therapist and counsellor, Danita Walsh and Relationship
Australia’s Tessa Drysdale.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Adult and Aged Care Services
Amity Health continues to provide speech pathology and dietetics services to 6 aged
care facilities in Albany and the region, as well as servicing home-based recipients of
the federally funded Transition Care Package, managed by Silver Chain. Included in
this service was a complete menu review and plan for one aged care facility.
Services for adult clients delivered from our clinic rooms in Albany, continue to build.
Amity Health is a key provider of services for people with chronic conditions. Our team
comprising dietitians, diabetes educators, a speech pathologist and an occupational
therapist provided individual assessments and reviews throughout 2015-16, managing a
diverse range of conditions including overweight and obesity, diabetes, stroke and
degenerative disorders.
A weekly Stroke Communication Group was launched this year offering support and skill
development to people living with long-term communication impairment resulting from
stroke and degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s. This has proved to be a great
success with consistent attendance of 6-8 participants. Clearly filling a service gap in
the community, new referrals continue to be received.
Diabetes education services, as
previously mentioned have increased
considerably this year due to Amity
Health’s partnership with several
Albany general practices. Amity Health
continues to be the regional
coordinator for the DESMOND
(Diabetes Education and Self-
Management for Ongoing and Newly
Diagnosed) program. In collaboration
with Diabetes WA, we are now able to
offer monthly groups in Albany and
other regional towns. These groups
are conducted by our diabetes
educators and dietitians, all of whom are qualified DESMOND educators.
Community Training and Promotion
Amity Health’s allied health team has provided training to a range of community
organisations including aged facilities, care agencies, schools and the disability sector.
In the past year our clinicians have provided presentations at primary schools including
Manypeaks, Walpole, Great Southern Grammar, Yakamia, Frankland River, Denmark
and Jerramungup. Community Organisations such as Activ Foundation and the
Community Living Association have also received training.
Accredited Practicing Dietitians Louise Campbell and Kelly Flett
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Amity Health Visiting Specialists
Approximately 4000 patients accessed a range of specialist clinics hosted by Amity Health.
These included:
Audiology
Audiology (cochlear implant checks)
Cardiology
Continence Management
Dermatology
Neurology
Occupational Physician
Optometry
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Paediatrician
Paediatric endocrinology
Pain Management
Podiatric Surgeon
Podiatry
Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetic
Clinic
Rehabilitation Physician
Respiratory Physician & Lung function
testing
Rheumatology
Spinal Surgeon
Urology
Vascular Surgeon
WA GP Education and Training
WA GP Education and Training (WAGPET) is an independent contract authority and the sole
provider of the Australian General Practice Training Program for GP Registrars in Western
Australia. Amity Health continues to work closely with WAGPET by providing administrative and
organisational support for the development, implementation and evaluation of their regional
education program.
Amity Health Clinic Room
Amity Health Waiting Room
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Key Activities and Achievements
The Great Southern in partnership with WAGPET, successfully held 16 education sessions for 11 GP Registrars who are currently completing their GP training levels 1 & 2. Only registrars in their General Practitioner Training (GPT) levels 1 & 2 must attend education
sessions. GPT 3 & extended skills registrars only need to attend if they missed sessions when
they were in their GPT levels 1 & 2 or if the topic is of interest to them.
2015 Semester Two – 8 education sessions called half day releases (HDR) were held for 11
registrars who are currently in General Practitioner Training (GPT) levels 1 & 2 in the Great
Southern.
Education sessions are presented by local General Practitioners (GP’s) who are generally
already in the role as a Registrar’s Supervisor or they may be a Subsequent Registrar
presenting as their project to complete their GPT 3 training. We also use local visiting specialists
to present. The topics covered this semester included: Women’s Health Part I & II, Paediatric
food allergy & anaphylaxis and Palliative Care.
A popular session the Great Southern always tries to hold close to the actual exam is the OSCE
exam preparation. This enables the registrars to participate in a mock set up before sitting for
the exam in late October. Regardless of the stage in their training, the registrars find this
preparation useful in assisting them for the RACGP clinical exam. The mock exams as close as
possible replicate the structure the registrars can expect on the day of sitting their exam.
Whilst the registrars are in GPT levels 1 & 2 they must attend a Cultural Awareness Training
(CAT) day. Each region is tasked with holding the CAT day in the second semester. The Great
Southern held their CAT day in December hoping for fine weather.
Registrars visiting the local heritage listed fish traps with local
Aboriginal Elder Vernice Gilles
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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2016 Semester One – 11 registrars in GPT levels 1 & 2 -
For the first time ten years in the Great Southern the
registrar education sessions were held as four full day
releases (FDR), to accommodate four Katanning based
registrars who would need to travel to attend their
education. This meant that two, three hour sessions had
to be held in the one day.
The Great Southern also had three GPT 3 registrars and
11 extended skills registrars in the region at this time.
Topics held were: Difficult consults, Dermatology,
Respiratory Medicine, Emergency presentations,
Paediatrics, Cardiology and Sports Medicine.
As many registrars choose to stay in the great Southern
for their GPT 3 and extended skills terms this impacts on
the practices on how many GPT 1&2 registrars they place
each semester. WAGPET are currently attempting to
recruit new GP practices as the number of registrars is on
the increase yearly.
Diabetes Capacity Building Project – Central Great Southern
Integrated partnership, WA Country Health Service (WA State Government’s Royalties for
Regions Program, through the Southern Inland Health Initiative).
A need was identified surrounding the shortage of Credentialed Diabetes Educators in the
Central Great Southern. This project supports an eligible clinician with a Graduate Diploma in
Diabetes Education to undertake supervised Diabetes Education practice to attain Credentialing
status to fill this gap.
Key Achievements:
Two Diabetes educators have achieved credentialing status
Provided services for high risk groups and Aboriginal people
Provided DESMOND group education in the region
Amity Health single point of referrals for the DESMOND group education program
Developed a care pathway for women with gestational diabetes via videoconferencing to
the King Edward Hospital, avoiding long distance travel.
A registrar enjoying a fresh oyster
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Kids Health Link – Merredin
Integrated partnership, WA Country Health Service (WA State Government’s Royalties for
Regions Program, through the Southern Inland Health Initiative).
This Southern Inland Health Initiative (SIHI) project aims to deliver a family support program for
children aged 0-12 years and their families who are at risk and disconnected from family or
children services in Merredin.
A social worker is based at the Merredin Community
College and provides a range of individual, group and
community based social work services. Families are
able to connect with the Social Worker in a safe,
private, neutral environment on the school grounds.
The Social Worker also supports, coordinates and
advocates for families to access services.
Two Family Support Workers are also based at the
Merredin Community College and operate a
successful 0-4 year playgroup twice a week. This
playgroup provides an environment for children to participate in a variety of activities to further
develop their social and emotional skills in the years prior to entering school. Parents and carers
have the ability to positively influence their children’s health and increase their knowledge of the
importance of supportive parenting relationships.
Key Achievements:
Playgroup numbers have increased 50%
Family Support Workers have increased
participation in community events resulting in
increased playgroup engagement
The Social Worker was able to provide one on
one counselling for children who may have
been experiencing trauma, bullying, abuse,
had behavioural and/or school attendance
issues; and children and families in a group
counselling setting
The Social Worker’s work in the classroom
has supported children’s improved emotional maturity and resilience to handle social
issues; and assisted with implementing strategies for teachers to assist them to support
individual students in the class room setting
As a trained facilitator, the Social Worker has introduced the DRUMBEAT program, a
structured learning program using music, focusing on different relationship themes, and
providing a way to engage with children
Playgroup—Merredin College
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Social Work– Narrogin
Integrated partnership, WA Country Health Service (WA State Government’s Royalties for
Regions Program, through the Southern Inland Health Initiative).
The hospital-based Social Worker provides intervention services at a primary care level and at
hospital crisis level to reduce avoidable and unplanned presentations to emergency and
secondary health services which can burden hospital staff with social and emotional issues not
relating directly to medical care. The Social Worker addresses clients’ needs, enhancing access
to health and associated support for patients at risk of poorer health outcomes in Narrogin and
surrounding areas.
Key Activities and Achievements
More than 250 individual clients assisted
Support groups established to assist those with Parkinson’s, and those suffering loss
and grief
A successful partnership established with Hollyoake providing group education to
vulnerable males in the community
Led the establishment of weekly discharge and planning meetings
Established network with local health organisation and Shire addressing local issues
Family Support Workers Emma Fitzsimmons (second from left) and Sonya Smith (second
from right) Margaret Soumelidis Left
Louise Cato Right
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Community Child Health Services – Esperance & Kalgoorlie
Integrated partnership, West Australian Country Health Service
Amity Health through this partnership established an Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist and a Senior Child Health Nurse in the Esperance WACHS Population Health Service team and a Speech Pathologist in Kalgoorlie based at the Child Development Team. These two teams provide paediatric services for clients presenting with developmental concerns. This project has created a collaborative model of child development services provided through the engagement of a not for profit organisation such as Amity Health. Early identification of development issues, vulnerable at risk children and provision of appropriate Allied Health interventions are the primary goals. Key Activities and Achievements
590 clients participated in the program, 80 group sessions provided
Reduced waitlist for child development referrals
A New Parent Group established
The OT led Peggy Lego Pre-writing program has been implemented in local schools
Reported increase in the oral language and fine motor skills of children seen by the OT
An increase in the implementation of multidisciplinary Allied Health related patient care
Amity Health’s Narrogin Social Worker Richard Lewandowski (right)
Kellie Strack Occupational Therapist, Esperance
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Social worker –Lower Great Southern
Integrated partnership, West Australian Country Health Service
Over the last five years, the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has noticed an increase in
the number of children and families presenting to the Child Development Service with complex
psycho social issues. Recognising that these issues needed to be addressed, a partnership has
been developed between Amity Health and WACHS to provide a 0.6 FTE Social Work service
integrated on site with the Child Development Team. The Social worker provides client services
on-site at the Albany Regional Health Campus, working collaboratively with the team to achieve
best outcomes for clients from the Lower Great Southern.
Key Achievements
Approximately 35 clients active on caseload
Average of 29 Occasions of Service each month
Social worker provides triage for the Child Development Team for families with complex
needs
Social worker coordinates multi-disciplinary assessments
Child Health Nurses – Albany
Amity Health has a growing expertise in the delivery of children’s services. This reputation has
been enhanced with the development of Child Health Nurse Program. The program is an
integrated partnership with the WA Country Health Service to provide additional child health
services targeting (BTSE) checks for 18 month and 3-3.5 year old children in the Great
Southern Health Region. The Child Health Nurses are employed by Amity Health and work in
community health with WACHS colleagues. They commenced screening children in September
2014 and the number of children seen at each check shows significant increases as the
program develops.
Key Activities and Achievements
41 Birth to School Entry screenings at 18 months
134 Birth to School Entry screenings at 3 yrs
42 referrals to allied health and specialist services
22 day care centres participating actively in the program
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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General Practice and Primary Health Care Support
Amity Health continues to provide clinical updates for health professionals electronically
and to promote regional professional development.
Amity Health remains a central contact point for four Great Southern (GS) networks and
convenes regular meetings for several groups: the GS Practice Nurse Network, the GS Practice
Managers’ Network, the GS Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) and the GS Nurse
Practitioner Networking Group.
These meetings provide a forum for exchange of information, collaborative interagency program
updates and clinical education and updates.
Amity Health also convenes the Albany ‘Chat and Chomp’ a bi-monthly interagency lunch time
forum open to all staff, volunteers and students of human service agencies. This forum is hosted
by a range of local agencies providing an opportunity for circulating information about local
services.
Key Activities and Achievements
Regular health information disseminated through Amity Health Bulletin
Monthly Amity Health newsletter with information on Amity Health supports and services,
community events and information
Bi-monthly practice managers meetings
Monthly Practice Nurse Meetings with professional development sessions and updates
including CPR, wound management and population health updates
MHPN Meetings and professional development events
GS Nurse Practitioner network meetings
Amity Health Convened Education Events 2015 – 2016
The Practice Nurse meetings (PN) held monthly and provide an opportunity for both clinical updates and ongoing education. Where relevant other agencies are invited to the education sessions. The following clinical updates were provided to Practice Nurses this year:
CPR and Anaphylaxis update with Leanne Laurie
Cardiologist Dr Nigel Sinclair provided education sessions on o Atrial Fibrillation and Hypertension o Heart Failure
Visiting PMH Paediatrician Dr Rebecca Cresp spoke on ‘Plagiocephaly’. The WACHS Child Health Nurses were invited to this session and several attended
Respiratory Physician A/Prof Peter Kendall presented on ‘Oxygen: Parameters and Protocols’
The Great Southern Nurse Practitioner Networking Group meeting in May included a certificated pharmacy update with Meaghan Clay (Chief Pharmacist for Albany Regional Hospital and the WACHS Clinical Pharmacist for the Great Southern) on ‘Medication and Management of Heart Failure’
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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The Mental Health Professionals Network hosted 4 events across the year.
A key event was the presentation by Psychiatrist Dr Matt Coleman who has sub-specialty
training in child and adolescent psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. The topic was
‘Methamphetamine: The facts, the fiction and the future. Methamphetamine addiction is a topic
of concern in our communities. Amity Health received an overwhelming response with over 180
registrations, a second event was held due to this demand, both events had 210 – 220
attendees.
Attendees drew from Great Southern and beyond and included GPs, hospital medical staff,
medical students, Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Workers, mental health professionals, Aboriginal
Health Workers, elders from the Aboriginal community, staff from numerous government and
non-government agencies and teachers from both the public and private sector.
The program was delivered as a Collaborative partnership with Amity Health & below:-
The Mental Health Professionals Network, Palmerston Great Southern Community
Alcohol and Drug Service and WACHS Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service
Palmerston Great Southern Community Alcohol and Drug Service, the Mental Health
Professionals Network, and the Great Southern Development Commission
From Left Leanne Hitchcock, Dee Maguire (Chairperson – Practice Nurse Network)
and Penny Growns
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Program Delivery
Footprints to Better Health
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are among the most disadvantaged in
Australian society, significantly more vulnerable to a range of poor outcomes, including lower life
expectancy and increased risk of chronic disease. The aim of this program is to improve the
health of Aboriginal people by ensuring increased access to chronic disease screening services
through collaboration between health professionals. This is facilitated through bulk billed drop in
style health clinics, provided in a culturally appropriate manner and in partnership with general
practices around the Great Southern. Clinics are held in Albany, Mt Barker, Gnowangerup,
Tambellup and Katanning.
Key Activities and Achievements
133 clients received care plans
277 clients with or at risk of developing chronic disease engaging with the program
169 clients received health checks
Community events held in Albany and Katanning
Care Coordination and Supplementary Services
While accounting for only 3.3 percent of WA’s population, the Great Southern, including the
towns of Albany, Mt Barker, Katanning, Gnowangerup and Tambellup, have significant Noongar
populations. In Tambellup, 11.2 percent of the population is Aboriginal, in Gnowangerup, 9.2
percent, in Katanning, 9.1 percent and in Albany 3.2 percent.
The Care Coordination program aims to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people with
chronic health conditions through:
better access to coordinated and multidisciplinary care
increased support through their General Practitioner
provision of more proactive management
The Care Coordinator works closely with the Closing the Gap Outreach team, visiting GP
practices and clients as needed.
The Care Coordinator can also provide clients accepted onto the program with Supplementary
Services and aids, for example, footwear for diabetes clients, or access to a specialist service.
Strong relationships with Great Southern Aboriginal Health, general practices (including regular
coordination meetings with larger GP practices), community groups, not for profit organizations,
allied health providers and specialists, ensure the program is widely promoted and well utilised.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Key Activities and Achievements:
The program is running at capacity, with a total of 2857 instances of care coordination
99 GPs have referred in to the program
Regular case conferencing for GP practices with significant aboriginal case loads
2428 Care Coordination services
Instances of service coordination include:
o 6 with GPs
o 50 with specialists
o 192 with pharmacy
o 63 with transport liaison
Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Health Care
In the Great Southern, this program aims to close the gap in life expectancy for Indigenous
people by improving access to culturally sensitive health care services. Amity Health’s
Indigenous Outreach Worker and an Indigenous Health Project Officer have a proud record of
engagement with this program and are achieving good engagement with the community,
despite poor national trends. In the 2016 Closing the Gap report handed down by the Australian
Government, there was reported to be no national improvement in the life expectancy of
Aboriginal people, with the gap still at approximately ten years. Mortality rates have declined 16
percent since 1988 but progress has slowed.
The priorities identified for the program include:
Improved access to mainstream health care
Improving the capacity of medical doctors to provide culturally sensitive services
Increasing the use of Indigenous specific Medical Benefits Schedule items
Encouraging Indigenous people to self-identify
Promoting the measures available through the Closing the Gap strategy in relation to
mainstream health services for Indigenous people
Enhancing the relationship between mainstream health care and the Indigenous health
sectors
Key Activities and Achievements:
Ongoing delivery of service in the Great Southern included:
o 96 clients supported to attend GP appointment
o 94 scripts obtained by the pharmacy
o 82 clients assisted with specialist appointments
o Ongoing community education to empower Aboriginal people to take
responsibility for their own health and wellbeing
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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Communities for Children
The Communities for Children programme has operated in the Great Southern since 2006. The
programme is funded through the Department of Social Services and currently in its second
year of a new five year funding agreement. The programme continues to assist children 0-12
years and their families across the Great Southern through various collaborative services and
community based partnerships.
The strategies of the program are:
Healthy young families
Supporting families and parents to provide an environment for children that is stable,
positive, stimulating, safe and secure
Early learning - assist parents with ways they can stimulate and promote child
development and learning
School transition and engagement
Create strong child-friendly communities
To achieve this, four priority areas have been formed for the Communities for Children Great
Southern site: Early Years in the Great Southern, Out of School Activities, Parent Support and
Community Capacity Building. This year we have supported 18 Community Partners to deliver
various child and parent engagement activities across the Great Southern.
Communities for Children – A new way of working
A large component of the five year funding agreement
is for Facilitating Partners to work with their committee
and support Community Partners in the delivery of
Evidence Based Programs. A guidebook was released
by the Department of Social Services Expert Panel on
programmes for incorporation into program delivery.
This has been an exciting opportunity to bring national
programs to a local setting. One of the Evidence Based
Programs being implemented in our site is through
Palmerston who are delivering “Parents Under
Pressure”, based in Katanning and Albany and their surrounding communities. This program
provides intensive support for families who are experiencing substance use issues and is
delivered by a Counsellor or Psychologist in the family’s home or a community setting, focusing
on child development, milestones, family mental health and secure attachment.
The Expert Panel also provided the opportunity for Facilitating Partners to submit locally derived
programs to be assessed as matching the criteria as Evidence Based under this program. As
our Communities for Children team recognises the value of our locally derived activities, we
have currently supported two Community Partners programs to become Evidence Based
Programs as deemed by the DSS and AIFS Expert Panel, YMCA’s Play in the Park and
Wanslea’s Family Fun and Learning for migrant and vulnerable families.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Amity Health - Providing Health & Wellbeing Solutions – Annual Report June 2016
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The Program Manager of Communities for Children was nationally acknowledged by the Department of Social Services for sharing the experiences, challenges and achievements of our site with the new way of working; incorporating Evidence Based Programs and putting forward programs for inclusion into the guidebook at the Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference in July.
Tambellup Kids
This year Amity Health were awarded funding through the Department of Sport and
Recreation’s Youth Engagement Scheme grant. The aim of the program Tambellup Kids is to
coordinate sport and recreation activities providing much needed activities for children and
youth of the town throughout the year. The Tambellup Kids Coordinator who is based at the
Tambellup Community Resource Centre works with parents, volunteers, school, organisations
and clubs to bring sporting opportunities to the town providing much needed activities. This
program is delivered through a partnership approach working with the whole community. The
Tambellup Community Resource Centre, a community partner through Communities for
Children program enhances the Tambellup Kids program by providing school holiday activities
for children and youth.
From January to July, the Tambellup Kids program has had very strong engagement. Over 70%
of the attendees of the program are Aboriginal and children and youth are pleased to have their
thoughts and ideas progressed into activities being delivered, activities such as Cooking, Hip
Hop, Dance, Netball, Konga Fitness and Archery. Future sports for development are Basketball
and Football, developing these sports for both girls and boys teams.
Engagement from community volunteers and school staff has been strong, teachers and the
Chaplain from the school have assisted as volunteers at the programs.
Number
engaged in
Tambellup
Kids
Children Youth Unknown
age of
child/youth
Volunteers Total
Overall 61 4 5 10 80
% 76.25% 5% 6.25% 12.5% 100%
ATSI 45 2 4 5 56
% 56.25% 2.5% 5% 6.25% 70%
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Children and Parent Support in Narrogin
The Families and Communities Programme funded by the Department of Social Services and
provides support to families to improve the wellbeing of children and young people to enhance
family and community functioning, as well as increasing the participation of vulnerable people in
community life.
Amity Health provides prevention and early intervention activities under the Child and Parent
Support Program in Narrogin. Two weekly ‘Kids Hub’ playgroups are provided, with the aim of
supporting vulnerable ‘hard to reach’ families who would not normally engage with playgroup
services. The program has also run several community family friendly events, which have been
very popular with the community.
Earlier on this year, Amity Health partnered with WA Country Health Services in the delivery of
the Protective Behaviours Program.
Key Activities and Achievements
Two playgroups providing early intervention and referral support for disadvantaged
families in Narrogin.
Partnership with Kindilink program
Collaboration with East Narrogin and Narrogin
Primary School
Membership of Narrogin Early Years’ Network.
Special family friendly events for the Narrogin
community
Partnership with KEEDAC to improve transport
options
Allied Health Services in the Great Southern
Amity Health now holds a contract with The WA Primary Health Alliance to provide this program
(formerly the Rural Primary Health Service). The program has successfully supported those with
chronic disease living in rural and remote towns in the Great Southern region, to improve self-
management of their illness. A major focus is on preventative health strategies and to support
these clients to remain independent in the community.
Clinicians work with clients to establish individualised health plans, to help them achieve self-
management. Services provided include dietetics, diabetes education, and podiatry. Our allied
health clinicians worked collaboratively with other health professionals in the region towards
achieving better health outcomes for patients with chronic disease. Through partnership
arrangements with regional GPs, clients are able to be seen in their local area, maximising
attendance and participation in the program. This well-coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach
to chronic care creates fluid referral systems and effective planning for ongoing management of
clients with complex needs. In accordance with the aims and objectives of the program, Amity
Health’s clinical input supports people in rural and remote areas to adopt or modify behaviour to
better manage their health and wellbeing.
Murrel Bolton (right) Kids Hub Coordinator
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Many of the clients assessed through individual appointment, are referred to group programs
such as the DESMOND (diabetes type 2) self-management program.
This program takes the service to regional clients with chronic conditions, ensuring access to
professional support in a timely manner. For clients with complex conditions and co-morbidities,
an appropriate level of care can be provided ensuring self-management is an achievable goal.
Overwhelmingly, clients reported satisfaction with the service, as did the partnership GP practices. Rural Health Outreach Fund
Originally piloted in 2014-2015 and funded by Rural Health West, Amity Health has provided a
range of allied health services to Walpole, a remote town in the South-West. Due to a positive
community response, monthly visits by our dietitian, diabetes educator, speech pathologist and
occupational therapist were again supported during 2015-16. Amity Health has worked closely
with the GPs from Denmark Medical Centre, the Silver Chain remote area nurse and WACHS
South West to support clients across the age spectrum. These clients received individual and
group sessions. Clinicians also provided training to selected community organisations, including
the local primary school, and also participated in community forums such as a men’s health day.
Funding for quarterly visits by the same allied health team will continue until June 2017.
Communication Group Michelle Robson - Speech Pathologist (centre) Danneka Andreotti – Therapy Assistant (Right)