Next Practice Deakin

30/03/2026

As we move into the Easter weekend, our team will be taking a short break.

We’ll be closed from Good Friday through to Easter Monday, and back on Tuesday.

Urgent Care Options over the Easter Weekend included:

1. Healthdirect on 1800 022 222
2. CALMS: (02) 6260 3300
3. National Home Doctors Service: 13SICK (that's 13 7425)
4. Walk-in Clinics
5. Urgent Care Centre

Wishing you a safe and restful Easter.

Book anytime online: https://deakin.nextpracticehealth.com/ or by calling our usual number and speaking to our AI virtual Patient Advocate.

30/03/2026

💚 You may be eligible for a government-funded flu vaccine.

If you’re over 65, pregnant, living with a chronic condition, or have a child under 5 (over 6 months), you may be entitled under the National Immunisation Program.

We can help you check and guide you.

Book your appointment now.

https://automedsystems.com.au/ams/clinics/10748/next-practice-deakin-deakin-2600/doctors/h/1/s/immunisation-clinic

29/03/2026

Autumn is here. It’s time to protect yourself and those around you.

Influenza can be more than just a cold. A simple vaccination can help reduce your risk this season.

We’re here to make it easy, calm and supportive.

Book your flu vaccine today:

https://automedsystems.com.au/ams/clinics/10748/next-practice-deakin-deakin-2600/doctors/h/1/s/immunisation-clinic

29/03/2026

On Friday, our team stepped away from the clinic — and picked up a paintbrush.

We spent the evening together at Paint and Pinot. Not as clinicians, but as people.

Because looking after our team matters. When we take time to connect, reflect, and recharge, it strengthens how we work together.

And when our team is supported, our patients feel it too. Team wellbeing isn’t an extra.
It’s part of how we deliver better care.

Moments like this remind us that great healthcare is built on strong relationships with each other, and with our community.

29/03/2026

Last Thursday was Social Prescribing Day and it’s stayed with us.

It reminded us that health is shaped by more than what happens in a consultation. Loneliness, purpose, connection and what matters most in someone’s life all play a role in their health and wellbeing.

We don’t just talk about this; we measure it.

We routinely ask about loneliness, because feeling disconnected can impact both physical and mental health. We also use patient-reported measures to understand what matters to you - your wellbeing, your goals, and how you’re really going.

This helps us move beyond symptoms and diagnoses, and towards care that is more personal, more connected and more meaningful.

Social prescribing is one way we bring this to life by linking people with community, support and opportunities that improve wellbeing in ways medicine alone cannot.

Because sometimes, the most important part of care is not what we prescribe -
it’s what we understand.

If something in your life is affecting your health, we’re here to listen.

28/03/2026

They may not hand you a script — but they help shape every safe one.
Last Thursday was Thank Your Pharmacist Day — and while we’re a little late, our gratitude certainly isn’t.
At Next Practice Deakin, we’re incredibly fortunate to work alongside Rachel Hill and Kirolos Wasef, our non-dispensing pharmacists who play a vital role behind the scenes (and often alongside you in the room).

💬 What do they actually do?

They:
• Support patients to better understand their medications
• Help prescribers make safe, informed, evidence-based decisions
• Conduct comprehensive medication reviews
• Provide timely advice when things change or don’t feel right
• Deliver immunisations and preventive care
• Reduce medication-related harm and simplify complex regimens

In a world of increasing complexity, they bring clarity, safety and confidence — for both patients and clinicians. This is what modern, team-based care looks like. This is what makes a difference.

👏 A big thank you (a few days late, but no less heartfelt) to Rachel and Kirolos — and to pharmacists everywhere.

25/03/2026

☀️ March is Melanoma Awareness Month

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Early detection plays an important role in identifying skin changes that may need further assessment.

At Next Practice Deakin, we encourage you to take a moment this month to check in on your skin.

🔍 What to look for
• New or changing moles
• Spots that look different from others
• Lesions that don’t heal or continue to grow

If you notice any changes — or if it’s been a while since your last check — a skin assessment with your GP can help provide clarity and reassurance.

🌿 Skin checks
A skin check is a simple consultation where your doctor examines your skin and discusses any areas of concern.
📍 To learn more or book a skin check:
https://deakin.nextpracticehealth.com/services/skin-checks
Our team at Next Practice Deakin is here to support you.
—
This information is general in nature and does not replace medical advice. Please speak with your GP for personalised guidance.

16/03/2026

🌏 World Social Work Day 2026

This year’s theme — “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society” — reminds us that communities are strongest when we pull together.

At Next Practice Deakin, our social workers Barbara Shone and Tiffany Homeshaw help bring this spirit to life every day.

Together they support patients and families by:

• Helping with advance care planning and life decisions
• Providing mental health and emotional support
• Supporting older and housebound patients
• Connecting people with community services

Their work reminds us that health care is not just about medicine — it’s also about connection, support and community.

Thank you Barbara and Tiffany for helping us make a positive difference to our patients and our community. 💚

16/03/2026

🌏 World Social Work Day 2026 – Co-Building Hope and Harmony

This year’s theme for World Social Work Day is “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”

Harambee means “pulling together.” It reminds us that communities are strongest when people support one another and work together toward wellbeing.

At Next Practice Deakin, this spirit of collaboration is reflected in the work of Tiffany Homeshaw, our Accredited Mental Health Social Worker.

Tiffany brings more than 15 years of experience supporting children, young people and adults from diverse backgrounds. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed care and focuses on the important relationship between mental health, the body, and our life experiences.

She supports patients experiencing:
• Anxiety, stress and depression
• Complex trauma and childhood trauma
• Grief and loss
• Low self-esteem and life transitions
• Intergenerational trauma and relationship challenges

Tiffany is trained in approaches such as EMDR and trauma-informed therapy, helping people process difficult experiences and build resilience for the future.

Working alongside our GPs and care team, Tiffany helps ensure mental health care is compassionate, collaborative and centred on the whole person.

This reflects the spirit of Harambee — when we pull together, we create stronger pathways to healing and wellbeing.

Thank you Tiffany — and all social workers — for helping build hope, connection and resilience in our community. 💚

16/03/2026

Capital Health Network

🌏 World Social Work Day 2026

This year’s theme for World Social Work Day is “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”

Harambee is an African philosophy that means “pulling together” — a reminder that communities are strongest when people support one another and share responsibility for the wellbeing of all.

At Next Practice Deakin, this spirit of working together is reflected in the work of our social worker Barbara Shone.

Barbara works alongside our GPs, nurses and care team to support patients and families during times when social, emotional or practical challenges affect health and wellbeing. Her work includes:
• Supporting older and housebound patients
• Helping individuals and families with advance care planning
• Connecting people with community and support services
• Supporting patients and carers through life transitions and complex circumstances

In many ways, Barbara’s role embodies the idea of Harambee — bringing people together, strengthening connections, and ensuring no one faces difficult decisions or challenges alone.

We are proud to be one of a small number of Australian general practices with an embedded social worker as part of our team, helping us provide more holistic and compassionate care.

We also acknowledge the support of Capital Health Network (CHN) in helping make this role possible.

Together, we can continue co-building hope and harmony in our community.
Thank you Barbara — and all social workers — for the important difference you make every day. 💚

16/03/2026

🌏 World Social Work Day 2026

This year’s theme for World Social Work Day is “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.”

Harambee is an African philosophy that means “pulling together” — a reminder that communities are strongest when people support one another and share responsibility for the wellbeing of all.

At Next Practice Deakin, this spirit of working together is reflected in the work of our social worker Barbara Shone.

Barbara works alongside our GPs, nurses and care team to support patients and families during times when social, emotional or practical challenges affect health and wellbeing. Her work includes:
• Supporting older and housebound patients
• Helping individuals and families with advance care planning
• Connecting people with community and support services
• Supporting patients and carers through life transitions and complex circumstances

In many ways, Barbara’s role embodies the idea of Harambee — bringing people together, strengthening connections, and ensuring no one faces difficult decisions or challenges alone.

We are proud to be one of a small number of Australian general practices with an embedded social worker as part of our team, helping us provide more holistic and compassionate care.

We also acknowledge the support of Capital Health Network (CHN) in helping make this role possible.

Together, we can continue co-building hope and harmony in our community.
Thank you Barbara — and all social workers — for the important difference you make every day. 💚