Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network

06/12/2025

For 50 years, Ross Edwards has been associated with the Henty Machinery Field Days, one of the largest events on the agricultural calendar. No stranger to the ups and downs of farming life, Ross has seen his Yerong Creek community go through many years of drought and has some practical tips for building resilience.
Read Ross’s story at: https://mphn.org.au/story/ross

05/12/2025

The empty chair at the table: Living with loss during the holidays webinar – The holiday season can be an especially tough time for families living with loss – and in rural and remote communities, accessing grief support can be even harder.

CarerHelp is offering a thoughtful and compassionate online session to support families, carers and community members who may be struggling this Christmas.

Tuesday 9 December 2025
2:00pm AEDT
With Chris Hall AM, CEO of Grief Australia

This online presentation will explore the unique challenges of grief during the festive season and offer gentle, practical strategies for coping with the “empty chair” - the space left by someone dearly missed.

For rural families who may not have local bereavement services, this webinar provides a valuable opportunity to receive guidance from one of Australia’s leading grief experts, no matter where they live.

Register here: https://www.carerhelp.com.au/News/Register-for-online-sessions

05/12/2025

ASTHMAXCHANGE, Asthma Australia’s dedicated hub for healthcare professional education, clinical resources and patient education tools is now live.

👉 Explore the Paediatric Asthma Care collection - begin with a recap the principles of diagnosing and treating childhood asthma, then dive into Masterclass recordings and directly access resources related to practical engagement strategies, and addressing the complex cycle of reliever over-reliance
👉 Download an interactive educational tool to enhance your consultation with families of children (under 12) living with asthma.
👉 A growing library of collections - curated bundles of resources, each focused on a specific clinical topic and designed for seamless integration into practice.

ASTHMAXCHANGE equips healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge, evidence-based tools and practical resources to advance best-practice, person-centred asthma care.

Login or register asthma.org.au/asthmaxchange

05/12/2025

The current weather events in Sri Lanka are devastating. At MPHN we recognise that many of our GPs, health workers and their families have strong ties to Sri Lanka, and we know this news will be affecting members of our local workforce.

We want you to know that our thoughts are with you, your loved ones and your communities. Times like this remind us how connected we are, no matter the distance.

If you are feeling the impact of this event, please reach out to a colleague, a friend or your practice team. And for all of us across the Murrumbidgee, it is a timely reminder to look out for each other and check in with the people around us.

If you need support, your GP is a good first step. You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

05/12/2025

🌞🔥 It’s heating up in the Murrumbidgee! With these scorching temperatures, it’s important to stay safe and cool. 🥵💦

To help you beat the heat, MPHN has compiled a directory of cool places across all local government areas where you can escape the heat. Whether it's an air-conditioned library, a community pool, or a shady park, there are plenty of options to keep you and your family comfortable.

Find the Cool Spaces directory here: https://mphn.org.au/cool-spaces

Plus here are some top tips to stay safe in the heat:
💧 Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
🕶️ Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.
🧓 Check in on elderly family members, friends, and neighbours.
🐶🐱 Don’t forget to protect your furry friends too!

Let’s stay safe and look after each other during these hot summer days.

03/12/2025

🚨💉 Registrations now open! 💉🚨 Don’t miss your chance to join us for the 2026 Nurse Immunisation Education Day & Update in Wagga.⁠
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If you’re a nurse immuniser working in general practice or aged care, this is the must-attend event to get you ready for the year ahead – covering cold chain management, catch-up schedules, winter respiratory illness, immunisation updates and more.⁠
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🗓 Wednesday 18 March 2026⁠
📍 Wagga Wagga RSL – Mirage Room⁠
⏰ 9.30am–3.30pm⁠
☕ Morning tea + light lunch provided⁠
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This event books out every year. Register now and don’t miss out in 2026.⁠
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👉 https://www.stickytickets.com.au/YG5RJF

03/12/2025

MPHN is partnering with TAFE NSW to deliver EarTrain – a fully funded training program designed to build practical skills in identifying and managing otitis media and other hearing conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

This program includes a free two-day, hands-on practical skills workshop in our region:

Workshop locations and dates:
📍 Wagga Wagga – Monday 20 April to Tuesday 21 April 2026
📍 Griffith – Thursday 23 April to Friday 24 April 2026
(You only need to attend one session.)

The EarTrain program is delivered nationally by TAFE NSW and funded by the Australian Government as part of Closing the Gap.

Register and learn more: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=InJTGddVgUWE-8LaboNcdKnTZ3YrhctKqf3uK8U-HLpURVNLODZLVTFGSldDV1JFTkRCV0FIM1o0ViQlQCN0PWcu

01/12/2025

💙 Need care but not sure where to start? In Wagga, we now have the Urgent Care Service, offering around 100 bulk-billed GP appointments each week across seven local practices.
To access, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (free, 24/7). A registered nurse will assess your needs and guide you to the right care, which may include:
👉 Booking you into an Urgent Care GP appointment
👉 Connecting you to VirtualADULTS or VirtualKIDS via video link with an ED physician
👉 Directing you to ED, a pharmacy, or other supports
Healthdirect is there for you anytime, day or night, helping you get the care you need when you need it.
📞 1800 022 222 — save it in your phone today.

27/11/2025

Looking for something excellent to do THIS SATURDAY morning in Henty? Head down to the bakery at 7:30am for a ramble. A short walk and talk will earn you a drink and snack upon your return!

27/11/2025

🚨 Scholarship applications close on Sunday!

Are you passionate about rural health?
We are offering scholarships to Charles Sturt University health students!

🏡 Rural Postgraduate Scholarship – up to $5,000 for registered health professionals working in rural areas within our footprint to enhance local health outcomes.

📘 Postgraduate Scholarship – up to $5,400 for health professionals from eligible rural postcodes pursuing aged care-focused graduate certificates.

🌿 First Nations Scholarship – up to $10,000 for First Nations students from eligible rural postcodes studying health courses with a focus on aged care.

👉 Head to threerivers.csu.edu.au/scholarships for more information.

Applications close 11.59pm on 30 November 2025 – don’t miss out!


Charles Sturt University TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F

26/11/2025

Check out the new Rural Mental Health Education Enhancement Hub, the ultimate online mental health education resource for rural health students and health professionals.

Three Rivers in partnership with Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network developed the Hub to support students across various health disciplines during their rural mental health placement, as well as health professionals working in mental health within our footprint.

Head to the Hub now at https://ruralmentalhealth.org.au/

26/11/2025

All young people in Australia aged 15-25 can now access free, personalised mental health support thanks to the nationwide expansion of our groundbreaking digital platform MOST.

MOST is not just another mental health app. It offers one-on-one professional support, as well as access to peer workers, self-directed therapy and a safe, moderated online community.

MOST is backed by over 15 years of research, including studies that show it’s both engaging and effective in supporting young people’s mental health.

Learn more about nationwide access and how to use MOST 👉 https://bit.ly/4p7fn8R

BIG news from us, and *great* news for young people!

All young people in Australia aged 15-25 can now access free, personalised mental health support thanks to the nationwide expansion of our groundbreaking digital platform MOST.

MOST is not just another mental health app. It offers one-on-one professional support, as well as access to peer workers, self-directed therapy and a safe, moderated online community.

MOST is backed by over 15 years of research, including studies that show it’s both engaging and effective in supporting young people’s mental health. And MOST is made by us, Orygen – Australia's Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health.

While referrals from mental health professionals remain a vital pathway for young people to connect with MOST’s services, this new nationwide easy-access will support young people who may not be engaged with other services.

Learn more about nationwide access and how to use MOST 👉 https://bit.ly/4p7fn8R