Illawarra cellist turns to TAFE NSW to start new career after traumatic brain injury
A well-known Wollongong musician who acquired a traumatic brain injury after a freak accident is embarking on a new career thanks to TAFE NSW ... “I still have a deep love of music, so now I am gaining new practical skills and knowledge to start a career as a composer. I’ve just released my debut compositions onto Apple Music and Spotify, which is really satisfying": Joel Moir.
Spiritual cleansing for  Wallaroo Hospital
Sarah Herrmann. An Aboriginal traditional healer has performed a spiritual cleansing at Wallaroo Hospital after Indigenous patients reported feeling uncomfortable while receiving health services there. The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network invited traditional healer, or Ngangkari, Debbie Watson, from the APY Lands in northern South Australia, to help cleanse Wallaroo Hospital and the Wallaroo Community Health Building last week.
SA medical imaging Mobile Bone Density clinic visit to Coober Pedy
The Royal Adelaide Hospital Mobile Bone Density clinic is visiting Coober Pedy soon in August 2024. Speak to your GP to get a referral beforehand, then phone (08) 7074 5400 to book an appointment while the mobile unit is in your local area.
Heart-felt gift to Denmark community
Six new public defibrillators will be installed along Denmark’s coast in memory of beloved Fremantle father of two, Andy Rutherford, who died of cardiac arrest last year ... Andy’s family were reunited with some of the SJWA volunteers who were by his side in his final moments on June 24, for the installation of the first defibrillators and to unveil a tribute plaque in his memory at Lights Beach.
Respect announce $15 million redevelopment of Avonlea
Respect, a leading not-for-profit aged care provider in regional Australia, has announced a $15 million redevelopment project for its residential aged care home, Avonlea, located in Nhill.
The project, set to commence in the second half of 2024, will secure ongoing services and support for older people and their families across Nhill and the surrounding region for generations to come.
Local program inspires next generation of healthcare professionals
Across the Darling Downs and West Moreton regions, secondary school students are taking advantage of the opportunity for a glimpse into the day in a life of a health care worker through the PHN (Public Health Network) funded Aspire2Health program.
Australian-made test designed to detect serious disease in livestock shows promising preliminary results
To help protect Australia's livestock industry from the threat of infectious diseases, a revolutionary diagnostic test designed to swiftly detect infections in livestock has been tested by the CSIRO. The test is being developed by ZiP Diagnostics, a pioneering biotech company, and it is designed to provide early detection for diseases such as foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease.
Dedicated to the Flying Doctors
Hugh Schuitemaker. A well-known Riverlander who has overseen the expansion of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in the region is set to retire from his senior role. Current RFDS Riverland Support Group president Alan Eckermann will retire from the position at the end of this month.
Steve Sun can see after doctors diagnose loss of sight in brain tumour op
When Steve Sun set off from Casino in his Sunseeker 4WD in  October 2021, his mission was to see as much of Australia before he lost his sight. Steve had a brain tumour and needed an operation. Doctors told him the op would save his life but it would leave him blind.
Confirmed – GBH redevelopment to go ahead
Almost $15 million will be allocated towards the $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) redevelopment over the next 12 months after NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey handed down the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 last week. Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said the Budget papers "lock in the redevelopment with $14.7 million in the coming financial year, and $222.2 million over the next four years."
Dr Rosenthal’s Riverland journey
Hugh Schuitemaker. Progressing the quality of medical care in the Riverland has been a career-long goal for a local doctor who is set to retire. Renmark-based GP David Rosenthal will today retire after 50 years of practising medicine in the community.
On critical list
Michelle Daw. The worst of winter ills is yet to come, along with further pain in our hospitals as staff struggle to cope. That’s the warning from groups representing doctors and nurses, as the Code Yellow crisis in public hospitals drags on.
Mandating Covid-19 therapeutics, questions continue
“At the pivotal point of Pfizer's vaccine approval in December 2020, there was a gross misrepresentation in what was presented publicly. Instead of the six deaths publicly disclosed, four placebo, two vaccinated, suggesting a benefit of vaccination, there were in fact 11 deaths, with more deaths in the vaccinated arm, six. We found undisclosed deaths, especially in the vaccinated arm of this clinical trial, in contravention to legal and ethical obligations of trial sponsors": Dr Jeyanthi Kunadhasan.
Coen local named 2024 RFDS Queensland hero
A dedicated healthcare advocate working to help people die with dignity has been named the 2024 Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) Queensland Hero ... Jodi Hamilton, the Cairns region Local Hero, is the overall Queensland Hero for 2024 for her exceptional work in enhancing palliative care services.
Horses, history power our top senior
Serena Kirby. This year’s senior citizen of the year, Louise Swan, has put her love of horses to good use since retiring and moving to Denmark nearly a decade ago. Louise said horses had been her passion since she was five years old and when she discovered there was a local HorsePower centre, she wasted no time in volunteering to help.
Childcare access worst in the country
Joanna Tucker. A study by Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute has found childcare accessibility in the federal electorate of Grey to be the worst in Australia ... Kadina Child Care Centre director Caren Hammerstein said the centre has 105 children on its waiting list.
Budget blues – YP on the outer
Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula again missed out on major spending in the 2024-25 State Budget, which was handed down last Thursday, June 6. There was little in the way of new funding specifically for the region ... "Despite throwing an extra $7.1b at the health system, critical areas in our regions remain neglected — such as the need for workforce incentives to attract and retain doctors and nurses in regional areas, investment in mental health and psychosocial services and regionally based radiotherapy services": Opposition regional health spokesperson Penny Pratt.
60 new GPs
The government has announced a new plan that will see the addition of 60 new general practitioners in regional South Australia, including the Limestone Coast. The new Single Employer Model (SEM) will support up to 60 additional GP and rural generalist registrars training in the community at any one time – potentially quadrupling the state’s existing cohort as the program scales up over time.
Elective surgery chopped
Stakeholders: What’s going on with health services? Booked for an elective surgery at a public hospital, you might have to look for other options. Elective surgery has been cancelled at all hospitals across the state, including the Naracoorte Hospital. Reason, the health system is heaving under an illness load, with a large number of Covid and flu cases in the community resulting in staff shortages...
Heated pool gets the nod
It was D-Day for Hay’s proposed hydrotherapy pool last Tuesday, the culmination of a 30-year effort by the Hay community. The pendulum was swinging between the need for a heated pool and Council’s deliberation on replacing the ageing John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool.
Spreading illness down generations
Ted Sterle and Don Fuller. The explosion of type two diabetes, obesity, kidney disease  and renal failure among remote and closed NT Aboriginal communities – at least 10 times the incidence among non-Aboriginal people – can be tracked to poor lifestyle choices not only within individuals: Such acquired changes can be passed on to the offspring down generations.
‘Forest of the Fallen’ visits Kerang
600 bamboo stakes stood amongst the crowd at the Kerang Community Market on Saturday. Each stake held the story of an Australian who had an adverse reaction to the mandated Covid-19 therapeutic.
