Health in Bowraville is finally getting the attention it deserves.
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The Mid North Coast Local Health District, in conjunction with Miimi corporation, has just opened a new child and family health facility behind Miimi House which caters to a diverse range of children’s healthcare needs.
A dedicated occupational therapist and speech pathologist are currently receiving young patients and their carers at the centre every Tuesday.
Occupational therapist Sue McKinnon works with 0-18 year olds to assess and improve developmental milestones, fine motor skills like drawing, writing and using a knife and fork, and attention and concentration.
“We work on leisure activities too like ball skills, hopping, jumping, skipping, running, and assess things like the impact of sensory information,” Sue said.
While Camilla Ayling, the resident speech pathologist, will use a variety of games and play-based activities to improve stuttering, speech sounds and sentence construction.
“We use a family-centred approach. We talk to families and set goals and then we seek feedback from them,” Camilla said.
The pair are receiving patients who are referred through the health network, but says that referrals can be made by teachers, GPs, and parents/guardians.
They are also offering an hour of drop-in time from 10-11am each Tuesday for locals to visit and ask questions, discuss concerns or to just see what the new centre is all about.
An audiometrist and dietitian are also now available once per month through the centre, and the ‘Building Brighter Grins’ campaign run through Local Health will be visiting kinder to grade six children at Bowraville Central School throughout October to help with dental hygiene and treatment.
An enclosed play facility is a boon for family and guardians who now don’t have to worry about getting childcare for other little ones while they visit the centre.
“It’s really nice to be able to improve access to services for the people of Bowraville.”
- Acting manager for Allied and Community Health (Coffs Clinical Network) Pam Lane
And that’s not all that’s new in health in Bowra.
In the last six months or so, Bowra locals have been able to access seven new health initiatives including adult, youth and family mental health services, drug and alcohol counselling and child and family counselling and health nursing, based at Miimi House and next door at the Phoenix centre.
In the next two months, a newly refurbished community health centre will open across the road at no. 43 High St, extending the reach and resources available to people living in Bowraville and surrounds.
And there are rumours of even more big things to come.
“The Mid North Coast Local Health District is looking to a more permanent presence in Bowraville in the future,” communications manager Lynn Lelean said.
For information or appointments with drug and alcohol or mental health services call Phoenix on 1800 011 511.
For information or appointments with a speech pathologist, dietician, occupational therapist, audiometrist, child and family counselling or health nursing, contact Miimi house on 6564 8887.