Opportunity to design local health solutions
The West Wyalong community is being invited to help design local health solutions at the West Wyalong Sports Club on Tuesday, 25 February between 12:30 - 2:30pm or 6:30 - 8:30pm.
"It’s part of a joint community-led project between the West Wyalong community, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) and Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and comes after several community meetings and workshops to collaborate on the prioritisation of local health needs.
MPHN Chief Executive Officer Melissa Neal said the committee supporting the community-led approach has been working with MPHN and MLHD and have worked towards prioritising the community’s health needs.
“Over the course of the second half of last year, the committee, together with other community members, worked tirelessly to collate the communities health needs – what worked well, what needed improvement,” Ms Neal said.
“This information was analysed and seven issues were identified for the community including mental health; travel; access to doctors; hospital and community health and ageing; youth, children and maternal health; access and awareness; and prevention and telehealth.
“In late October, during a community workshop to prioritise which of these issues would be best addressed first, it was decided access and awareness would be addressed initially.
“Specifically, the workshop will look at some ideas to address access to specialist services and travelling to Wagga Wagga, and awareness of services available and where they are located,” she said.
MLHD Chief Executive Jill Ludford said it was now time for the community to come together again to help design local health solutions to address this priority issue.
“Both MLHD and MPHN are committed to working with the West Wyalong community to design, develop and implement initiatives and strategies to deliver sustainable and effective local health services which address access and awareness,” Ms Ludford said.
“We are inviting people in West Wyalong to come along to one of the workshops on Tuesday to participate in this co-design process, and we certainly hope to see many community members attending.
“At all our previous community meetings we have seen very enthusiastic and passionate locals who have been so willing to give their time, opinions and ideas to make real progress in health for everyone. Your foundation work will set the community in good stead for these co-design workshops and we are excited to see what you come up with,” she said.