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Health & Wellbeing
HEALTH
Supporting healthy habits
Because we hang out with our own bodies and minds all the time, we tend to take them for granted and forget how amazing they are. And while humans are pretty complex and capable of all sorts of incredible things, looking after ourselves boils down to some simple principles.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet; getting enough sleep; being physically active; being social taking care of these basics helps us be as physically and, in turn, as mentally healthy as we can be.
You can help your children and young people establish healthy habits that they’ll – hopefully carry throughout their lives. The best thing you can do is to set an example and make living healthily a positive, enjoyable choice – rather than something to be endured.
Here are some tips:
Physical Activities and Hobbies
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Encourage kids to keep active. They might join a sports team or the local gym, ride their bike, walk the dog, go for a run or help coach a local sports team. The main thing is getting out and having fun.
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How much activity children or young people are willing to do will depend on their interest in being active. Starting small and building up might be what they need.
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Fit physical activity into everyday activities – like walking to school or the shops instead of driving.
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Suggest they exercise with a friend to help keep them motivated.
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Encourage them to try as many different things as they can – art, music, IT, rock climbing, writing poetry – so they can figure out what they’re into.
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Suggest they set some goals for the next day, week or month – something that they enjoy or find rewarding and is achievable.
Healthy Eating
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Ensure there’s a range of food available at home. Include a variety of healthy foods such as plenty of vegetables, fruit and cereals (like bread, rice and pasta), some lean protein (meat, chicken, fish or tofu) dairy products (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and lots of water. It’s a good idea to avoid fatty foods and foods with lots of sugar in them.
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Get children and young people involved in cooking family meals and making their own lunches. There are countless kid-friendly recipes online – give them a go!
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By choosing and eating healthy food as a family from the time kids are very young, you help them learn about making healthy food choices. This lays the groundwork for when they’re older and eating out, or eating away from home – without you there telling them to lay off the chips and chocolate.
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Cook when you have time and energy and freeze bulk portions.
Social Activity and Healthy Relationships
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Help your children and young people create and maintain a sense of belonging to the family, their friends, culture and their community.
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Encourage them to hang out with friends or suggest social activities that might be of interest, such as sports, after-school clubs, playing in a band, listening to music or going to the movies.
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Strong connections with their cultural heritage, family and community has big mental health benefits for children and young people, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. Suggest they attend cultural and community events – offer to go along with them or give them a lift.
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Help with transport to community events or activities such as youth centres, LGBTI pride groups, young people’s cultural groups or other activities.
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Encourage them to talk about any relationship difficulties they are experiencing. Offer an objective view of the situation without judgment or pushing your own advice.
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Normalise the feelings associated with relationships changes – the good and the bad.
(https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/supporting-healthy-habits)
WELLBEING
In Bendigo we have many services you contact if you or anyone in your family are experiencing mental health difficulties or financial burden. The impact of the Corona19 Virus in March 2020 has affected many of our families mental wellbeing as well put financial strains on families. Below are a number of services offered in our area to help those families in need. Feel free to press on any relevant links:
FOOD
Care Packages containing food from the Victorian Government – Call corona virus hotline on
1800 675 398 Can register for two weeks worth of food.
Food Relief Centres in Bendigo (List from the City of Greater Bendigo) https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/City_of_Greater_Bendigo_Food%20relief%20info_April_2020_pdf_1.pdf
Life Essentials/Madcow is open each week day -214 Hargreaves St. They have food and get FoodShare. Fresh produce each Tuesday and Thursday.
MENTAL HEALTH - ADULTS
Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/
Beyond Blue 24 hours 7 days a week – 224 636
Centre for non-violence – 96-98 Pall Mall Bendigo – 5430 3000
Lifeline on -13 11 14
MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978
MENTAL HEALTH - KIDS
Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800
Headspace Bendigo - 78-80 Pall Mall, Bendigo VIC 3550 - 5406 1400
eHeadspace provides online (chat services) and telephone support and counselling to young people aged 12 to 25. Ph: 1800 650 890, https://www.eheadspace.org.au/
Lifeline: 13 11 14 (available 24/7)
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 (available 24/7)
Suicide Line Victoria (24/7 counselling for those struggling with their mental health, those concerned about others in their life or may otherwise be affected by suicide) –
ph:1300 651 251
Qlife: Counselling and referral service for LGBTI people - Ph: 1800 184 527 (3pm – 12am)
beyondblue: Ph: 1300 22 4636, 24 hours / 7 days a week.
Crisis Care - If you, or a loved one, requires urgent mental health assistance please call the Bendigo Regional Triage Service on 1300 363 788. This service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week and acts as the single point of entry into clinical mental health services.
KAREN COMMUNITY
If anyone in the Karen community has concerns or questions about changes to Coronavirus restrictions, testing or what close contact means, please visit our Coronavirus Refugee Resource Hub anytime by using this link https://bit.ly/CoronavirusRefugees or call our Coronavirus Telephone Hotline on
5406 1254 between 1.30pm and 4pm Monday to Thursday to talk with one of our Karen speaking staff.
HOUSING
Haven; Home, Safe
Low income housing program
10/16 Forest St · Near D-Club 24/7 Fitness Centre & Gym
(03) 5444 9000
Bendigo National Hotel Motel
182 High St
(03) 5443 0591
Housing Justice
Non-profit organization
171 Hargreaves St
(03) 5445 0990
Anglicare Bendigo - Children & Family Services
Non-profit organization
175-187 Hargreaves St
9AM Mon · (03) 5440 1100
Helping with emergency food and aid for families. Supporting homeless and disadvantaged people with daily food distribution through
Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre
Volunteer organization
259 Hargreaves St · Near Bendigo Justice Service Centre
Mon · (03) 5441 1404
Their website mentions assist, accommodation and homelessness
Centre For Non-Violence Inc
Non-profit organization
96 - 98 Pall Mall · Near Bendigo Justice Service Centre
9AM Mon · (03) 5430 3000
The Salvation Army Bendigo
Church
65-71 Mundy St
(03) 5440 8410
Their website mentions accommodation and
homelessness
St Luke's Anglicare Victoria - Bendigo
Non-profit organization
10 Mundy St · Near Bendigo Justice Service Centre
Mon · (03) 5434 3922
Their website mentions help homeless and
accommodation
St Vincent De Paul Assistance Centre Bendigo
Non-profit organization
16 Hopetoun St
Mon · (03) 5443 5688
Golden Hills Motel
Motel
145 Marong Rd
(03) 5443 1333
Aruma (formerly The Tipping Foundation) Bendigo
Non-profit organization
168 High St
1300 538 746
Community Housing Ltd
Housing authority
134A Mollison St
9AM Mon · 1300 245 468
Tobacco, Other Drugs and Alcohol Consumption
What are the some of the effects of smoking on your body?
Within 10 seconds of your first puff, the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your brain, heart and other organs. Smoking harms almost every part of your body and increases your risk of many diseases. Smoking also affects how you look and feel, your finances and the people close to you.
What are some of the effects of smoking on your body?
Alcohol is a drug that affects your body – how you think, feel and behave. Drinking too much can affect your health and disrupt your life. Learn about guidelines to reduce your risk. Find help to reduce your own drinking or support someone close to you.
What are some of the effects of drug taking on your body?
Drugs are substances, other than food or water, that alter the way the body functions, physically or mentally. Most are used to treat medical conditions and are prescribed by a doctor, but some are illegal. Drugs can be dangerous. Find help to reduce your drug use or support someone close to you.
Some of the Services available to you if you wish to Quit Smoking are:
Quitline
Calling the Quitline increases your chance of quitting successfully.
Quit Specialists are trained to listen carefully to you to help meet your needs.
Call Quitline 13 7848
You can also request a time for Quit to call you using Text 'call back' to 13 7848
Aboriginal Quit line
Call 13 7848 and ask to speak with an Aboriginal Quitline counsellor
Call any time between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. Or, you can fill out the callback form using the button below and an Aboriginal Quitline counsellor will call you back as soon as possible (usually within 2 business days).
Languages other than English (LOE)
We promote the use of the Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services (Multicultural Services) in our area. This is the peak body for the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, run by and for multicultural communities.
CONNECT WITH MULTICULTURAL SERVICES
120 McCrae Street
Bendigo, VIC 3550
Phone: 03 5441 6644
Email: info@lcms.org.au
Multicultural Services is a welcoming not-for-profit organisation that empowers people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to participate fully in Australian society.
Multicultural Services staff are highly experienced and speak a number of community languages, including Karen, Dinka, Dari, Farsi, Hazaraghi, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Spanish, Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia, Hakka, Hokkien, Bahasa Indonesian, French, Italian and Arabic.
Some of the Services available to you if you need support with Alcohol Consumption are:
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline contact
Call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline for free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs.
Call 1800 250 015
There are many support services provided on this link from the Australian Government Department of Health https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/alcohol/alcohol-contacts
Some of the Services available to you if you have drug abuse problem are:
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline contact
Call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline for free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs.
Call 1800 250 015
There are many support services provided on this link from the Australian Government Department of Health.https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/drugs/about-drugs/how-to-reduce-or-quit-drugs#support-services
Events at Golden Square Kindergarten
-Our events are no smoking and no drugs permitted on our site. Alcohol cannot be consumed if children are on site. If an event is held where children are not present then responsible alcohol consumption is advised.
-When families are attending events at our centre there is clearly displayed signs that indicate this is a ‘no smoking site’.
Education for children regarding Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption
-We educate the children about what the ‘no smoking and no alcohol’ on premises signs are at kinder.
-We take spontaneous opportunities to intentionally teach our children about good healthy lifestyles if children bring up about their parents smoking or drinking, or taking other drugs. If we deem it necessary we will approach parents if any concerns arise with discussions with children.
-We read stories in allergy week about the importance of taking prescription medication if we have allergies or medical conditions, and express the importance of only taking medications under supervision of children parents.
Education for staff/parents/caregivers regarding Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption
Staff regular do professional development online. We have links to several PD’s from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation – Early Childhood for them to watch to gain know on how to have discussions with parents if circumstances arise to keep children safe. There are also links here for parents to watch.
These links can be found below:
https://adf.org.au/talking-about-drugs/parenting/early-childhood/
