Snapshot- November 13th 2020

Snapshot Zooming in on the latest news from St John of God SEM Hospitals (Berwick, Frankston, Pinelodge, Langmore)

Friday 13th November 2020

Top: Uncle Pat, Peter Dawson from Bujilwarra with Lisa Norman CEO SEM Hospitals and Linda Allen, Deputy CEO SEM Hospitals and CEO Pinelodge/Langmore

A commitment to collaboration during NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week celebrations are held around the country to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A perfect time to formalise a collaboration between our South East Melbourne Hospitals and Bunjilwarra, Koori Youth Alcohol and Drug Healing Centre.

St John of God South East Melbourne Hospitals have forged a new relationship in support of community based healthcare for Indigenous Youth. This follows in the spirit of the Sisters of St John of God who established healthcare services for Indigenous communities in the Kimberley and Beagle Bay dating back to 1907. Together, St John of God Berwick, Frankston and Pinelodge Hospitals have entered into a

Collaboration Agreement to support the Bunjilwarra Koori Youth Alcohol and Drug Healing Centre. The $30,000 partnership is a solid commitment to the St John of God Health Care (SJGHC) Reconciliation Action Plan which will enable Bunjilwarra to evaluate the impact of their unique model of care with a view to secure sustainable government funding opportunities.

Established in 2011 and located at Hastings Victoria, Bunjilwarra is a voluntary residential drug and alcohol support service for Indigenous youth aged 16 – 25. It operates as a joint agency partnership with Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and Youth Support & Advocacy Service (YSAS). (continued on page 2...)

The holistic cultural service focuses on vulnerable young people who are at risk or are already involved in the justice system. Often the clients’ experience at Bunjilwarra is the first time they have engaged with a treatment rehabilitation program or connected with their Aboriginal culture and heritage.

Peter Dawson, Bunjilwarra Clinical Lead works alongside Uncle Pat Farrant, Bunjilwarra Cultural Lead. Peter explains, “Despite being funded for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the work at Bunjilwarra focuses on the driving factors of impact of colonisation, transgenerational trauma, complicated grief, family violence and disconnection from community.”

“Yet what makes our service different is the blending of Aboriginal culture and clinical frameworks. We take an approach that enables our clients to experience the philosophy of Aboriginal healing, to be counselled by community Elders, to learn about country, land and culture. This is coupled with access to clinical support services and together these blended healing philosophies provide optimum outcomes for our youth to set them on a positive path into adulthood.”

Bunjilwarra assists up to 55 young people per year from across the state of Victoria. It is the only Indigenous service of its kind that is available to this age group and free at the point of use. Peter says, “The current justice system is not working for Indigenous youth and in order to break the cycle of addiction, mental health and incarceration we need to find a new approach. Our approach helps our young people find their identity and their sense of worth in this world.”

Bunjilwarra’s model of care is values based, which aligns perfectly with SJGHC’s approach to mission, culture and values and is what attracted the two organisations to form this partnership.

Denis Byrne, Group Manager Mission Integration who developed the partnership said, “Our relationship with Bunjilwarra helps enable SJGHC to realise our vision and role for reconciliation, and that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people deserve the respect and dignity as other people in our community. As a ministry of the Catholic Church, we declare this is a focus we must continue to enhance and commit to in order to enliven our mission and values.”

The South East Melbourne hospitals will engage in a meaningful way with Bunjilwarra as an Indigenous healthcare service provider, exchange mutual learning between clinicians and explore clinical pathways for Aboriginal youth to access Pinelodge services.

Linda Allen, CEO of Pinelodge Clinic said, “I look forward to our Bunjilwarra partners sharing their advice and support to help us provide culturally safe and responsive health care practices at our three South East Melbourne hospitals.”

The young people who have experienced Bunjilwarra’s unique rehabilitation program perhaps best explain its secret sauce! - one young client remarked, ‘I’ve stepped outside of chaos into a safe haven to heal me.’

FRANKSTON: Spring Racing Fashions on the Field Frankston dressed up in their finest ‘fashion on the fields’ celebrating Cup Day. Congratulations to Lisa from Patient Admin and Alberto from Medical Records for their stylishoutfits. Special mention to the Wexford team for most colourful Hawaiian Shirts!

Funky Sock Friday 6th November 2020 Our OT Team celebrated Funky Sock Friday with a quiz and competition for Funky Socks. Here are some photos of our caregivers and their

BERWICK and PINELODGE- Are you up to the Funky Sock Friday challenge?

Fridays are fun at Frankston with Funky Sock Day! The OT Team celebrated Funky Sock Friday last week with a quiz and competition for Funky Socks.

Maybe Berwick and Pinelodge need to step up to this challenge and funk up their Fridays to see who does it best! Challenge set!

Marketing back onsite!

After working from home for a long 7.5 months, the marketing team is back in the house!

Still located at Berwick, the team has a new home on Level 4, room 456.

Here, you will find Lisa Carman and Nathan Culpitt (Marketing), Gillian Coyle (Community Relations) and Kate Ryan (GP Liasison) We look forward to catching up with everyone and visiting both Pinelodge and Frankston very soon!

Lest We Forget

This week, on 11.11.2020, we marked Remembrance Day by observing a minute’s silence as a sign of our gratitude and respect for those who have fought and scrficed for our country.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

Lest we Forget