ComBank Steps Up Scam Protection

an elderly resident shared with me their difficulties with access to medication in Newport," shared James Galligan, Pharmacist Manager at Watsons Chemists Newport.

An online petition stating that 'affordable and accessible medication is critical to the health and well-being of the citizens of Newport' has attracted over 500 signatures.

Without PBS approval, Watsons Chemist Group must open as a non-PBS pharmacy resulting in pensioners and concessional healthcare cardholders paying the total non-Medicare subsidised price for their prescriptions. General patients would pay over the maximum Medicare co-payment of $30.00.

"Prolia, a common osteoporosis medication, will cost approximately $252, Paxlovid and Lagevrio (COVID-19 treatments) will cost $1,150, and insulin will cost $300-400 for diabetics instead of $6.30 for

According to the 2021 ABS Census, Newport's population is nearing 6,000 residents. Yet, there isn't a PBS-approved pharmacy to provide critical healthcare infrastructure, forcing citizens of Newport to travel nearly 2km to the nearest PBS-approved pharmacy. Sometimes, this requires walking or catching public transport, which can take about 30 minutes each way.

"Recently, I visited the Levande retirement village opposite Newport Marketplace, where 200 retirees reside, and

"Unfortunately, over a weekend, with no local delivery services available, they had to pay $28 in return cab fares to travel to the nearest pharmacy to have their prescriptions dispensed. I was shocked to hear this, and it demonstrates that the residents of Newport, particularly those who are elderly or with mobility impairments, do not have reasonable access to affordable PBS medications."

This is impractical, especially for residents of surrounding aged care and retirement villages located next door to Newport Marketplace, making quality public healthcare inaccessible for seniors, retirees, and those with mobility impairments and disabilities.

Watsons Chemists are encouraging community members to sign their petition by visiting www.change.org/p/ approve-a-community-pharmacy-at-newport-marketplace.

THE Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is the first Australian bank to launch NameCheck technology. The technology will be available in late March 2023, giving customers an indication of whether the name and account details they have entered match the intended recipient before sending money.

The technology will also help to reduce false billing scams and mistaken payments. It will be available on the CommBank app, NetBank, and CommBiz.

The bank has also introduced in-app caller verification technology through its CallerCheck feature. This feature allows CBA staff to trigger a notification to the customer’s CommBank app, verifying that the call is from the bank. The customer can then login and verify their identity inapp, eliminating the need to provide personal information over the phone.

With these two new initiatives, CBA is working hard to ensure that its customers are protected from scams and that their hard-earned money is safe.

Collaboration Benefits

Disadvantaged Youths

AN initiative to support vulnerable youth in Moreton Bay has been funded by the Collaborative Community Projects program with grants to eight Baptist churches, including Rivers Baptist Church in Lawnton, which will partner with Education Queensland and the Queensland Police Service to support the Rivers Youth Versatile Education and Training School.

Nearly $500,000 will support eight new and ten existing projects to engage and empower vulnerable youth aged 12 to 14.

Brett Maunder, from Queensland Baptists outreach Carinity said the Collaborative Community Projects are expected to have a positive impact on the youth and families in the Moreton Bay area by providing a range of outreach services to grass-roots activities like ensuring people doing it tough can continue to access affordable food.