NEWS DESK
Dedication to health the ‘best in the nation’ THE Atticus Health Medical Clinic in Carrum has received a welcome shot in the arm as the winners of the 2017 award for Best General Practice in Australia by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Owner Dr Floyd Gomes started the clinic four and a half years ago and is proud of what his practice has achieved in that time. “It’s a big deal -- I think it validates our willingness to be a bit different and try to extend beyond the clinic, and that takes a lot of effort from a lot of people along the way, including our doctors, our nurses, and our receptionist.” The award was handed out by the RACGP, Australia’s largest organisation representing general practitioners. They represent more than 22,000 GPs working in Australia. Atticus Health won the award for best General Practice in Victoria, before being named the best in the country. “We get out in the community, and we really try and support our patients 24/7. We have our own internal after hours service that takes calls at all hours in the night, and we try our best to support our patients once they’ve left the consulting room,” Dr Gomes said. “We’re not keen to just go through the motions, we reflect on if what we’re doing has had an actual impact, and if it hasn’t, we’ll change what we’re doing.” The Atticus Health practice offers a number of services to make sure they are keeping their patients healthy, including general practitioner services, a gym, healthcare at high schools and nursing homes, as well as talks about health at local football clubs. “We try our best to treat each patient in the community as an individual and look at their needs and stories, and that’s made a big difference. ‘We’ve been welcomed and integrated into that community, and we try our best to help out by keeping our patients well from a preventative health perspective. We’re keen to give our patients wings as opposed to just Band-Aids.” Atticus Health also has clinics in Hastings, Bittern, and Somerville.
Healthy work habits: Dr Floyd Gomes, left, Dr Angus Wong, Helen Procter, Leanne Adams, Samantha Allen, Anne Ky and Turei Ovu are part of the team at Atticus Health. Picture: Gary Sissons
Drive to paint brighter futures A CALL has gone out asking for contributions to a good cause in the name of art helping people struggling with mental health or disabilities. Not-for-profit mental health and disability support organisation Wellways and artist Annabelle Carver are on the look out for unwanted art supplies donations to ensure the paint never runs dry at community art groups. “Art and creativity is a fantastic way for any person to express their dreams, hopes, fears, happiness or any other emotion,” Wellways south eastern Melbourne regional manager Marinette Dames said. “People can show their feelings and experiences in a way that cannot be done using words.” Ms Carver struggled to live a productive life after suffering from anxiety and depression from the age of 14 until 22, before seeking help and finding producing art can be a way to keep the fog of depression at bay. “Art therapy classes need art supplies and
I’ve been wanting to do a charity paint drive for a while,” she said. Ms Carver said a weekly Artwell program at Frankston Art Centre’s Cube 37 facilitated by Peter Fanton is just one such art group that can benefit from donated arts supplies. The Artwell program enables people to practice mental wellness through painting, drawing and sculpture. Unwanted art and craft supplies can be dropped off at Wellways, 45 Davey St, Frankston or by calling Wellways on 9784 6800 to arrange collection. See wellways.org for more information on the organisation’s work helping people needing community care. Brushing up on wellness: Artist Annabelle Carver is helping collect donated art and craft supplies for community art groups. Picture: Yanni
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 15 November 2017