headspace Cowra staff at the site of the new headspace Cowra centre

Marathon Health and the Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) are excited to announce the imminent expansion of headspace services in Cowra with construction to commence soon on the new purpose-built headspace Cowra satellite centre at 118 Kendal St, underneath the library.

Over the next few months, through engagement with young people and community stakeholders, Marathon Health, headspace Cowra’s lead agency, will be designing a fit-for-purpose, youth-friendly space.

Access to safe, stable and adequate housing is essential for young people’s health and wellbeing, yet each night, many young people across Lithgow and the Nepean Blue Mountains region are experiencing homelessness.

Data released through the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates family and domestic violence and financial stress are the most commons reasons for people seeking support through homeless support services.

Image: Winya Marang participants

New technology, such as flash glucose monitoring, is being used by participants in the Winya Marang program – a program for Aboriginal people in Wellington, to break down barriers to managing diabetes.

The use of flash glucose monitoring, which replaces the traditional finger prick and blood test (lancets) for monitoring blood sugar levels, is a first for the program’s participants, as flash glucose monitoring is not subsidised under NDSS, for people with type 2 diabetes.

Image: Marathon Health OTs on outreach

COVID restrictions and lockdowns have made it hard for people requiring occupational therapy to continue to receive equipment, however Marathon Health has continued to ensure occupational therapy participants receive necessary equipment, regardless of setbacks.

Mandy Colless, Marathon Health Occupational Therapist, worked with a client based in a remote community more than 300km from Dubbo to assist him to get a power wheelchair. The client, who had had limited engagement in activities and the local community for several years due to mobility limitations, was still able to receive their prescribed power wheelchair during lockdown.

Image: HEBHBL client having their ears checked

Marathon Health’s audiology and hearing management program Healthy Ears, Better Hearing, Better Listening reported lower numbers of vulnerable children with hearing impairments caused by illness, during the first wave of the COVID pandemic, due to increased hygiene and handwashing procedures.

The program, which provides hearing screening services to vulnerable children in preschools and schools in Western NSW, undertook hearing screenings for more than 1,700 children across 21 preschools and schools in 10 rural communities throughout 2020.

Image: Alicia, Marathon Health Administration Officer

The rates of psychological distress increase the further people live from metro cities. To support under-serviced and high-risk communities, Marathon Health has implemented combined service delivery options, making mental healthcare more accessible for all.

In line with World Mental Health Day–held on October 11—Marathon Health’s evidence based, short term counselling service Strong Minds Western provides access to free and effective psychological services for people aged 12+ living in regional, rural and remote NSW.

Image: Small steps start big things – headspace campaign

On headspace Day 2021, headspace Queanbeyan is urging young people in the region to start taking small, everyday steps that support their mental health and wellbeing.

The call to action follows the release of new headspace research that shows more than half of young Australians still deal with personal problems on their own, rather than speaking to someone (53%).

Image: Laura, Graduate Occupational Therapist

With demand for disability services continuing to grow in regional areas, Marathon Health is working hard to help fill the current allied health skills gap, that is causing increasingly lengthy waiting lists for people with disabilities in rural and regional NSW.

Over the past three years, Marathon Health has supported 48 speech pathology, occupational therapy and social work students to complete clinical placements as part of a push to grow a regional workforce.