Page 8 The Moorabool News – 8 March, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Support for post-COVID wellbeing Caught, allegedly impersonating police
By Lachlan Ellis
To say the last few years have been tough for small businesses would be a huge understatement, but a State Government initiative is offering a helping hand, with free counselling and support. The Partners in Wellbeing program is offering access to Wellbeing Coaches to help deal with mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, and professional mentoring to keep businesses running. Nicki Paull is one of the program’s Consultant Clinicians, and explained how the Partners in Wellbeing program works. “I and my Consultant Clinician colleagues are each ‘embedded’ within a number of Victorian Peak Bodies and Chambers of Commerce who, in turn, serve and support small business operators across numerous sectors: for example, hospitality, nurseries, tourism, sport, hotels, music industry and local
municipalities,” she told the Moorabool News. “People can either book directly through the link, or come to us via their own representative organisation. We offer free and confidential counselling, financial counselling or business advisory to Victorian small business management, staff and their families.” She said getting the word out that support was available had proven a challenge. “This fantastic Victorian Government initiative is quietly addressing the difficulty of accessing mental health support for rural and regional small business, as well as city venues. Telehealth can reach into areas where well-being support is scarce,” Ms Paull said. President of the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce, Michael Ryan, said the initiative was particularly promising, given the stress of running a business through the pandemic. “All those sorts of things are very important in the business environment,
particularly at the moment and especially for small and micro businesses who don’t have access to HR departments like bigger businesses do…so I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for people who are struggling to get help,” he told the Moorabool News. “The stress has been exacerbated hugely by COVID, you just can’t be sure when the next customer is going to walk through the door. Small businesses in Ballan, during lockdown, there wasn’t much traffic on the highway... clearly the levels of stress are high. “And there’s still a lot of catch-up to be done, there’s a lot of costs that have been incurred that may never be recovered, to be honest. It’ll take a while for stress levels to get back to normal, and normal’s bad enough.” For more information about the Partners in Wellbeing program, you can visit www.partnersinwellbeing.org. au, or call the team on 1300 375 330 between the hours of 9 am and 10 pm on weekdays, or 9 am – 5 pm on weekends.
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BUNINYONG 2022 SMART BUILDING & LIVING E-XPO SUNDAY 20TH MARCH 10.00AM – 3.30PM ROYAL PARK, BUNINYONG (CNR HEDRICK & WARRENHEIP STREETS)
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GREAT DISPLAY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, E-BIKES & MORE!
‘CAN DO’ COMMUNITY AND ENVIRO GROUPS
THINK GLOBAL ACT LOCAL
A Moorabool man alleged to have impersonated police last week has been apprehended and is expected to face court. Police allege a grey four-wheel drive ute, driving south on Ballan Road at around 7.20 am on Monday, 28 February, displayed red and blue flashing lights while driving erratically. A 19-year-old Mount Egerton man was interviewed by police, and a spokesperson for Victoria Police told the Moorabool News the man is “expected to be summonsed to appear before a court”, charged with impersonating a police officer. However, further court details are not yet available. If you witnessed the ute or have dash cam footage of it, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Community Information Sessions Grampians disAbility Advocacy invites you to a community information session about the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The Disability Royal Commission is taking submissions up until December 31, 2022. Speakers from advocacy, legal services, counselling and the Royal Commission will be there.
Sessions will be held at Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre 13 Camp Street, Daylesford
on May 24th 2 - 4pm and
Bacchus Marsh Public Hall
207 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh
on May 26th 2 - 4pm
Both sessions are free with afternoon tea provided and door prizes. Please register by phoning 1800 552 272 or via
FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES CONTACT ANDREA MASON ON 0427 338 482
WWW.SMARTBUILDINGANDLIVINGEXPO.COM.AU
email admin@grampiansadvocacy.org.au - Please advise of any dietary or access requirements -