Caring for COVID-19 Positive Patients
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Western Sydney, more of our general practices are faced with the challenge of caring for COVID-19 positive patients. As of 22nd August 8pm, Cumberland is our most affected LGA, with 1,810 COVID-19 cases, followed by Blacktown with 1,297, Parramatta with 382 and 88 in the Hills district. 145 patients are being cared for in hospital, and over 1,000 cases […]
Tackling Mental Health and Suicide in Western Sydney
What is the current state of mental health in Australia? The 2018 National Health Survey estimated that one in five Australians suffered from a mental or behavioural condition. This does not account for the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of the population. headspace studies are already highlighting the impact of the pandemic on our youth, with 74% […]
COVID-19 Resources for Practices
With COVID-19 numbers rising in Western Sydney, we recognise the essential work of primary care professionals in successfully delivering the vaccine rollout, stopping the spread of COVID-19, and protecting our community. The following resources are designed to help your practice deliver safe, quality care to your patients and staff during these challenging times. Access […]
Live Life Get Active in Lockdown
Lockdowns, loneliness, job loss and lowered life satisfaction have taken a massive toll on the physical and mental health of Western Sydney residents. Comparing mental health data from April 2019 to April 2021, Beyond Blue noted a 31% increase in calls during the same four-week period1 and headspace research shows that 74% of young […]
Building Inclusive Practices
Over the past decade, Australia has seen positive improvements to inclusivity in the workplace, and health, social and community services have grown to be more welcoming of people of diverse sexuality and genders. Despite these improvements, the health sector has further steps to take in understanding the health disparities faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and […]
Increasing Hepatitis Testing by Reducing Stigma
By 2032, the World Health Organisation aims to have eradicated hepatitis C worldwide. In Australia, we are striving for eradication by 2030. This World Hepatitis Day 2026, the theme “Take the Next Step” highlights the ongoing role of general practice in progressing Australia’s hepatitis B and hepatitis C elimination goals. In Australia, an estimated 300,000 […]
Communicating COVID-19 to CALD Communities
Half of Western Sydney’s population was born outside of Australia, and 54% of households speak a language other than English at home. The diversity of our community is something we celebrate as a region, and we can be proud of the steps that we have taken in the primary care sector to build accessible, culturally appropriate health services. Now, as we face the […]
Changing the statistics on Aboriginal Health
Why Aboriginal health is a priority in our region Western Sydney has one of the largest urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in the nation, and improving Aboriginal health is a health priority for our region. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are nearly twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to commit suicide, […]
Caring for staff through COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed the way that health professionals deliver patient-centred care. Public restrictions protecting against the pandemic have challenged normal practice, and the primary care sector has never been under so much pressure. Studies from Phoenix Australia, the Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, show that health care workers across the system are feeling the […]
Improving Refugee Health in Our Community
People from refugee backgrounds and Asylum Seekers are one of the community groups that present with the poorest health outcomes. They have higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health problems than migrants due to past experiences of exposure to violations of their human rights, persecutions, exposure to civil war or traumatic scenes, deprivation as well as post-migration stressors. Environmental change and unfamiliarity with Australian healthcare services systems and procedures add more challenges to accessing […]