Heathcote Health

01/11/2025

🌟 Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards & Support at Home🌟

Today marks an important step forward in aged care across Australia. The new Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and Support at Home program are now in place — helping older Australians live independently, safely and with greater choice.

✅ A stronger focus on dignity, respect and person-centred care
✅ Clearer safety and quality expectations for providers
✅ More flexibility and support for people to stay living at home longer
✅ Better access to services and more say in how care is delivered

At Heathcote Health, we welcome these changes and remain committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for our older community members. 💚

If you or your loved one receives aged care services and would like more information, please contact us — we’re here to help.

The new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program have now started.

The new rights-based aged care system will put you first and give you:
✅ improved choice and control
✅ better support to make your own decisions
✅ help to stay living at home longer
✅ easier ways to speak up and be heard.

It’s all about respect, safety, dignity, and high-quality care.

For more information, see the comments below. 👇

31/10/2025

🌿 Mental Health Month – Thank You, Heathcote & District Community! 🌿

💙As Mental Health Month comes to a close, we’d like to thank our community for joining us in shining a light on wellbeing, connection and compassion.

Remember — mental health isn’t just something we think about in October.
It’s an every day commitment. 💚

🧠 Take time for rest
🤝 Reach out and connect
❤️ Be kind to yourself and others
🚶‍♀️ Move your body
🌞 Spend time in nature

Looking after your mental health doesn’t end here — it’s a journey we take all year round.

Let’s keep checking in, supporting one another, and making wellbeing a priority every day.

Bendigo Community Health Services
Heathcote Community House
Healthy Loddon Campaspe
Mental Health Australia
headspace Bendigo
Carers Australia
GreenConnect Dementia Respite

31/10/2025

✉️You’re Invited✉️
Heathcote Health’s 31st Annual General Meeting

Join us as we reflect on the past year, celebrate our dedicated staff and volunteers, and look ahead to the future of health and wellbeing in our community.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

🕝 Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm (refreshments from 2:00pm)

📍 Venue: Heathcote RSL Hall, 127 High Street, Heathcote

🎖️ Awards for Years of Service, Employee of the Year, and Life Governor presentations will be made during the meeting.

Everyone is welcome — please RSVP by 19 November 2025 for catering purposes:
📧 admin@heathcotehealth.org | ☎️ (03) 5431 0900

🗳️ Questions on notice can be sent to the CEO by 14 November 2025 at hhceo@heathcotehealth.org

For more information, visit www.heathcotehealth.org

29/10/2025

💙🌿Mental Health Month🌿💙
Mental Health and the Blue Tree Project

Heathcote is showing its support of Mental Health Month with two striking Blue Trees as part of the national Blue Tree Project.

The project aims to spark conversations about mental health and reduce stigma in the community. By painting or lighting trees blue, communities create a visible symbol of hope, support, and the message that it’s okay to speak up.

This year, two Blue Trees are on display in Heathcote:

Outside Heathcote Health:
A living tree wrapped in bright blue lights, shining as a reminder of mental health awareness, kindness, and support .. as seen in the video

Heathcote Primary Health Clinic Reception:
A painted Blue Tree, covered in leaves written and decorated by the community.
Community members are encouraged to visit the GP Clinic to collect a paper leaf. On the leaf, people can:
🖌️Write or draw a message of encouragement about looking after mental health
🤲Share a thought about kindness, hope, or support
💙Or simply write something that helps them feel good – such as a favourite activity, a calming word, or a reminder to check in with friends.

Leaves are also available at Heathcote Community House.

Once completed, the leaf can be coloured in and added to the painted tree. Together, these leaves will form a powerful display of collective support, with the message:
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲”

By participating in the Blue Tree Project, Heathcote is joining thousands of Australians who are working to break down stigma, start conversations, and support mental health in their communities.

For more information about the Blue Tree Project, visit bluetreeproject.com.au.

We thank Sandra Kirby at Heathcote Artists Inc. for her amazing work in painting our blue tree now located in Heathcote Primary Health Clinic Reception.

Thank you to Dulux for their special support of the Blue Tree Project, donating this lovely shade of blue.

Bendigo Community Health Services

28/10/2025

🤩 Our very own Heathcote Health Chef, Jenny, presenting with Michael Nam from Maggie Beer Foundation

Michael Nam, Senior Chef Trainer, is presenting at the 42nd National IHHC Conference!
Michael will be co-presenting with catering manager Jenny Casey from Heathcote Healthcare sharing the highlights from 12 months in the trainer Mentor Program. Michael will also discuss areas around key topics such as kitchen workflow, food forums, and recipe development.

Morgan Pankhurst from Flinders will also be on stage sharing Food Satisfaction of Residents, Families and Staff of Aged Care Homes: Baseline Findings from a National Survey

Stay tuned for updates!

27/10/2025

🌿Mental Health Month🌿

‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’.
This beautifully simple checklist introduces ways to improve your psychological and emotional health, based on extensive international research.

A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body for your overall wellbeing. Like physical fitness, you can strengthen your psychological health in lots of small day-to-day ways.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing can lead to improved mental health. They are:

👀 TAKE NOTICE
Take notice of your thoughts and feelings, use your five senses to become mindful of what’s around you.

🫀🧠 BE ACTIVE
Start simple, find physical activities that you enjoy. Being active keeps your body and your mind working well.

🤲 GIVE
Helping others can boost happiness and life satisfaction. Anything from giving a smile to volunteering.

👥 CONNECT
Connect with those around you. Socialising with people and developing strong relationships contributes to good health and wellbeing

📖 KEEP LEARNING
Set yourself a new challenge. Learn something new or rediscover an old interest.

Bendigo Community Health Services has some great ideas for Mental Health Month, check out their Website here - https://www.bchs.com.au/mental-health-month-your-way-to-wellbeing-and-coffee/

Heathcote Community House
Healthy Loddon Campaspe

25/10/2025

🌿Mental Health Month🌿

Regular exercise is one of the most effective and natural ways to support good mental health. Here’s how it helps:

🧠 Improves Mood
Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins and other “feel-good” chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. These help reduce feelings of sadness, anxiety, and stress while promoting relaxation and happiness.

😌 Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Physical activity lowers stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Rhythmic, repetitive movements (like walking, swimming, or cycling) are especially effective for calming the nervous system and easing anxiety.

😴 Enhances Sleep Quality
Regular exercise helps you fall asleep faster and improves deep sleep quality. Better sleep supports emotional regulation and resilience against stress.

💪 Boosts Self-Esteem and Confidence
Achieving exercise goals—no matter how small—can boost your sense of accomplishment and self-worth. It also helps improve body image and confidence.

🧩 Improves Focus and Cognitive Function
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, improving memory, concentration, and problem-solving. It’s also linked to lower risks of cognitive decline and depression.

🤝 Encourages Social Connection
Group exercise, team sports, or walking with a friend can reduce loneliness and increase feelings of belonging and connection—important for emotional well-being.

⸻

🌤️ Provides a Natural Energy and Motivation Boost

Regular movement helps fight fatigue and increases overall energy levels, leading to greater motivation and a more positive outlook on daily life.

More sunshine + more daylight = more reasons to move ☀️
Whether it’s a slow stroll or a quick sprint, a kilometre is still a kilometre.
All movement counts. What matters most is that you enjoy it! 🏃‍♀️

15/10/2025

🌿 Mental Health Month 🌿
This October, let’s connect with what makes us feel good!

Did you know that being involved in local community activities can boost your mental health and overall wellbeing? 💚

Whether it’s joining a walking group (there is one local in Heathcote or Bendigo Community Health Services have two in Bendigo), volunteering, attending local events, participating in Healthy Loddon Campaspe projects or simply catching up with friends at activities hosted by Heathcote Community House — staying connected helps:
✅ Reduce stress and feelings of loneliness
✅ Build a sense of belonging and purpose
✅ Increase confidence and positivity

Small steps make a big difference — so get involved, say hello, and be part of what makes Heathcote such a great community to belong to. 💬💪

13/10/2025

🎉 Happy Allied Health Professions Day!

Today is a day to celebrate the contributions and value of allied health to maintaining the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Allied Health Professions Day is a day for allied health professionals to shine – to celebrate and be celebrated.

Allied health is the second largest health workforce in Australia and is a major provider of services across the health, disability, and aged care sectors.




Allied Health Professions Australia

Thank you to all our Allied Health Professionals who are employed by us, the visiting Allied Health Professionals who work with our residents, patients & clients, the Allied Health Professionals who come to Heathcote so our Community doesn’t have to travel to receive services, students who undertake placements and projects with us, and education partners for the amazing work you do.

13/10/2025

🌿 Mental Health Month 🌿

This is National Carers Week — a chance to recognise the role carers play in families and communities across Australia.

🫂Looking after yourself (as a Carer).
As a carer, you’ll often put the needs of the person you care for before your own needs. It’s very important that you look after your own mental, emotional, and physical health so you can provide better care for longer.

Anyone can become a carer at any time. Do you provide unpaid care to a family member or friend who lives with disability, mental illness, a chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or substance issue, or who is frail or aged? You may well be a carer.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognise one of our Life Governors, Fran King, from Heathcote Carers Support Group.
Over many years Fran has brought together Carers from across our Community to join in conversation and build a network of support.
https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/carer-support-groups/heathcote-carers-support-group/

Bendigo Community Health Services
Heathcote Community House

Carers Australia
Carers Victoria

What are the odds? With over three-quarters of a million unpaid carers in Victoria, there’s every chance you are either a carer, know a carer or will be one.

This National Carers Week we want to encourage everyone to be active and engaged. Look around and recognise the carers in your community. Reach out to a carer you know and show them you care.

There are so many little things you can do today:
🔹Show your support by checking in on them regularly.
🔹Offer them a break so they can take time to recharge.
🔹Use your words to recognise and acknowledge the exceptional work of a carer you know.
🔹Initiate support – carers often prioritise the wellbeing of the person they care for, remind them to care for themselves.

For more tips and resources visit carersvictoria.org.au/carersweek.

10/10/2025

🌿 Mental Health Month 🌿

It is also 😎🤳🏻📱💻CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH 💻📱🤳🏻😎

Here are some helpful tips to help you have one less worry about your on-line safety.

As technology rapidly advances and we spend more time online, Australians remain vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The Act Now. Stay Secure. campaign is educating Australians on the simple cyber safe actions that everyone can take to protect themselves online.
Act Now. Stay Secure.
https://www.actnowstaysecure.gov.au

PASSPHRASE VS PASSWORD

One of the most effective steps you can take to stay safe online is to have a unique strong passphrase on each of your accounts.

Passphrases are considered more secure than passwords because they are longer, easier to remember and harder for attackers to crack.
A passphrase is a longer password that is made up of 4 or more random words.

A password usually contains a combination of special characters, letters, and numbers that vary in length.

Passphrases, sometimes referred to as credentials, are essential for protecting personal and work information from falling into the hands of cybercriminals. Having secure credentials reduces your risk of identity theft and fraud.

Passphrase Safety Tips
Have different unique passphrases for each of your accounts and do not use personal account passphrases on your work accounts. Using the same passphrase on multiple accounts leaves your information vulnerable to cyber-attacks. If someone steals your credentials and they are
used for all your accounts, it puts you at risk of financial and identify theft.

Just like a toothbrush, your passphrase is only for you!
Never share your passphrases with anyone. It is vital that these remain confidential to avoid any unnecessary chance of a data breach. Do not write them down or stick it to your computer (IYKYK) because this is like handing someone the keys to your house.

For a strong passphrase, choose 4 unrelated words (i.e., not a common saying or a song title etc) with 15+ characters – longer is stronger. Passphrases with random words not usually found together like "fish laptop sweet canoe" are best on ground. Swapping out letters for punctuation and numbers in common places easy to figure out. Spelling mistakes are also your friend (makes words harder to guess by the computer).
Service Victoria has a useful Password Strength Tester – see how some of your passphrases rate.

https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/personal/password-strength-tester

Our friends at Heathcote Community House are available if you need some help with Digital devices, or learning some IT bits, call them to book an appointment on (03)5433-2820. Adam is there Fridays to provide help.

Bendigo Community Health Services
Heathcote Community House
Australian Department of Home Affairs

09/10/2025

10th October 2025 Wonder Walk 'Celebrating Seniors' & World Mental Health Day

Friday 10 October, is World Mental Health Day, a day of global reflection on the importance of strong mental health across our communities.

Mental Health Australia’s theme for World Mental Health Day this year is “Connect with your community”, in recognition of the important role social connection plays in supporting our mental health and wellbeing.
Reaching out to friends or loved ones, at school, work, online or in your community, can make a significant difference to our individual and collective mental health and wellbeing.

Heathcote Community House & Heathcote Health together with the Heathcote Walking Group appreciated everyone who joined for today’s "Celebrating Seniors" Wonder Walk
👨🏼‍🦽🚶🏼🚶🏼‍♀️👩🏾‍🦼🧑🏼‍🦯
The Wonder Walk left Heathcote Community House at 9.30am and was followed by morning tea and a natter.


The Wonder Walk Information Loop is currently showcasing all things Seniors, with information packs available out the front of Heathcote Community House with further information

Bendigo Community Health Services
Healthy Loddon Campaspe
Mental Health Australia