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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

2

Table of Contents

Chairman’s report 3

Membership and Board 4

Overview 5

Activities 6-17

Program Delivery 18-23


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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


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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


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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.


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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.


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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.


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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


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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


10


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


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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


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Kids Health Link – Merredin



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


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Social Work– Narrogin



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.


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


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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


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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.


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


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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.


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’


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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


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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.


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.


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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


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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.


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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.


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)

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