THE POST/SUN, Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Page 1
monaropost.com.au
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
monaropost.com.au
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SPORT
Youth Cooma doctors invest refuge in future needed: Mission
By MELINDA CAIRNS HACK
HEALTH: Cooma GPS Dr Jae Lee, Dr Domonic Manassa, and Dr Colin Zhu are encouraging more GPs to head regional and help support smaller communities, such as Cooma. PHOTO: Karen Forman
DIRE STRAITS IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE: DR MANASSA By KAREN FORMAN RURAL and regional medicine could be in ‘dire straits’ in a decade if something is not done urgently to encourage qualified general practitioners to leave the city and new doctors to choose general practice as a specialty, according to three Cooma GPs. Doctors Domonic Manassa, Colin Zhu and Jae Lee fear Snowy
and taking on two doctors, Colin and just last week, Jae,” Dr Manassa said. “We are now looking at setting up a sleep clinic, because there is a big need for one here, and will be taking on a female doctor soon to cover women’s health more adequately. We aim to grow and serve the community for the long term.”
tices and our service to our communities.” The trio, self dubbed the ‘three muskateers’, say they are committed to doing what they can to promote and support rural and regional practice and recommend it to all general practitioners and medical students. “I began our commitment to rural and regional practice with setting up Monaro Medical Practice
Mountains towns could end up like other regional towns where doctor shortages are so severe that patients have to travel for hours to see GPs for regular appointments. “At the moment we are doing OK, but it might not always be that way,” Dr Manassa, who recently opened the brand new Monaro Medical Practice, said. “We need to do all we can to ensure the future of our medical prac-
■ Read more on page 3
THROUGHOUT the Snowy Monaro region young people are facing challenges when it comes to finding affordable private rentals. Mission Australia’s The Unfair Divide youth homelessness report has revealed nearly one in 10 NSW young people aged 15 to 19, who responded to Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2023, experienced homelessness in the previous 12 months. “We know that rising rents may cause young people to couch surf or stay in overcrowded dwellings,” coordinator Cooma Region Homelessness Support Service, Caitlin O’Bryan, said. “This is a form of hidden homelessness. There’s no youth-specific refuge in the Cooma region, meaning young people who need temporary accommodation must travel to Queanbeyan or even Wagga Wagga. “Having a local youth crisis accommodation option would allow young people to have a roof over their heads while staying connected to their friends, family and support services.” ■ Read more on page 5
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