Attendees - 38
Mark Haynes: Ballarat Community Health
[Youth Alcohol & Other Drugs Worker]
Chair: Welcome & Acknowledgement of Counrty
Asha Buckmaster: Highlands LLEN
[Education Engagement Coordinator]
Note Taker
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Deb Greenslade: Ballarat Community Health [BCH]
[on behalf of Melissa Farrington, who is on leave]
FOOD INSECURITY
BCH has been responding to food insecurity for several years now. They coordinate the Food Access Network, lead research projects into local food security issues and the Second Bite program.
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Ballarat Foundation Food Insecurity In Ballarat
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The Food Access Network was formed by BCH in 2015. It consists of 17 organisations from a range of sectors and focuses on advocacy and research. One key goal, in collaboration with the Ballarat Foundation, is the establishment of a Food Hub. Research released last year by the State Government provided limited local data and BCH wanted to raise community awareness of food security issues.
It was discovered that the state-wide survey was conducted by landline phones and this may explain the anomalies in the data - so BCH undertook its own research locally.
12% OF THE BALLARAT POPULATION ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD SECURITY ISSUES!
BCH then undertook another piece of research to speak with those experiencing food insecurity, utilising Dietetics Students directly liaising with clients accessing food services. 100 people were surveyed and provided with a grocery voucher for their time. Only 12 out of the 100 people surveyed were food secure. 52% were severely insecure. Over three quarters reported still experiencing hunger when accessing food relief.
20% did not have access to a working fridge and/or stove/oven. Most people reported a desire to be able to purchase fresh, healthy food.
The Second Bite program is staffed by volunteers and supported by seven supermarkets.
Second Bite is fundamental in supporting breakfast programs and meals for families. BCH have gathered a range of case studies from the Second Bite program.
COMMENT: Having worked in Employment Services for a long time, we were distributing significant numbers of Coles vouchers to our Clients.
To access Deb’s Slide Presentation, please click HERE
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Carly Taylor: Ballarat Community Health [BCH]
DIETETICS
Carly is one of five Dieticians at BCH and she provided some insight into a Dietetics Consultation, as its not always clear what Dieticians can help with – particularly when it comes to working with young people.
Dieticians are not the “Food Police”! They work with people from where they are at and what is “healthy” depends on the individual. Dieticians listen. Food, eating and the body are really complex in nature.
A focus on nutrition basics could include learning how to shop and cook, as these behaviours may not have been modelled. Skill building can be a significant focus. An initial consult is an assessment including medical, social and food history. This can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and includes assessing people’s ability to prepare food. Provision of Nutrition Education and Nutrition Counselling utilises Motivational Interviewing techniques. Responses could be anything from “I want to be able to make a roast” to “I don’t want to feel so anxious around food”.
Dieting is the number one risk factor for Eating Disorders and young people have high rates of body image concerns. To access Dietetic Services through BCH, no GP referral is required. Anyone can make an appointment. There is no charge for young people under 18 [at BCH Lucas]. Services are also available at headspace Ballarat.
QUESTION: Can you take young people out to teach shopping skills?
We try to run group supermarket tours but with the complexity, shame and judgement that can be present, it can be better to do this one to one. I am happy to meet clients at a supermarket. We can also do cooking sessions at BCH Sebastopol.
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Jen Morrison: Ballarat Community Health [BCH]
SEXUAL HEALTH
There are four staff in the Sexual Health Team at BCH Lucas, including two doctors. The team are trying to raise the profile of the Sexual Health Clinic. When they were centrally located they had a lot of young people using the service. Lucas is fantastic but access to the site has become a barrier for young people. Most promotion is by word of mouth from young people. Bookings can be taken online, referrals from GPs or via drop in. Young people want to feel respected when discussing sexual health. The Sexual Health Team focus on providing a non-judgemental service that fosters an environment of comfort. For a lot of young people Jen works with, sexual assault has been a part of their experience…. So, they feel it is important that they have posters up stating “WE BELIEVE YOU”. The Sexual Health Team can provide links to other services such as CASA. They are not a huge team, but they do have access to the full range of BCH services. Jen also provides outreach to headspace Ballarat once per week. There are great fact sheets from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre website (Sexual Health Fact Sheets) on STIs and it should be noted that there are high rates of chlamydia among young people. Unplanned pregnancy support is one of many services provided by the Sexual Health Team. Due to changes to the PBS, medical termination can be accessed up to nine weeks and counselling support is available. A public Hospital waiting list is not an option for many women, nor is seeking services in Melbourne. The Sexual Health Clinic does not discriminate against anyone based on gender identity or choice of sexual partner.
QUESTION: Is there an age limit on medical terminations?
We base decisions on informed consent. Ballarat also has a Choices Clinic who can provide support.
Also, with regards to cervical screening – from December a new test will be implemented, screening for the top four HPV variations. Pap tests will now commence at 25 years old. Research tells us that cervical cancer often takes 10 years to develop, so there will now be five-year screening rounds but utilising much more effective testing techniques.
Quote of the Meeting goes to Jen - “I’ve pap smeared half of Ballarat!”
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Tameaka Lakey: Ballarat Community Health [BCH]
SSMART ASSK
Tameaka is part of the Health Promotion Team and predominantly works with schools. SSMART ASSK is a program delivered to Year 9 students that focuses on alcohol, other drugs, sexual health and risk-taking behaviour. The program was originally developed in 2006 and has been running ever since, with collaborative support from many organisations. In 2018, 14 local Secondary Schools have been involved. In 2014, alcohol related data from VicHealth reported that young people were drinking less often but in higher amounts.
So, BCH undertook its own research to ascertain if SSMART ASSK was ‘hitting the mark’. They surveyed Year 9 students on four occasions, including prior to the students engaging in SSMART ASSK as well as 12 months on from engaging in the program. This research identified that the students had a strong knowledge base but that this was not translating to behaviour change. They also identified gaps in sexual health knowledge and significant misconceptions about other drugs. To address these gaps the program was revised in conjunction with young people, and with a greater focus on scenario-based learning. SSMART ASSK was also aligned with the Respectful Relationships curriculum. The aims and key messages stayed the same, but the delivery changed. SMART ASSKs key messages are: Look after your friends, have a party plan and know how to seek help.
 
The SSMART ASSK program is very effective and remains relevant. In 2018, BCH have managed to target more students whilst halving costs, to ensure sustainability.
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Jodie Downey & Katja Fiedler: City of Ballarat
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROJECTS
Nominations for the annual Ballarat Youth Awards are closing SOON!! The process is simple and we want to recognise the achievements of as many young people as possible.
 The Youth Development Team have a number of programs and projects available to improve young people’s connectedness and skills.
Girl Space runs once per fortnight on a Friday afternoon. The focus is on sharing skills, learning skills, guest speakers, socialising, connecting, social causes and even intergenerational exchanges.
UMM – Unique Message Makers. This project includes the upcoming Young Entrepreneur Workshop [see flyer below] There is also a Life Skills program that covers topics that young people have identified, including budgeting, tax returns, healthy eating, organisation skills, communication, interview skills and first aid. The Leadership Collective meets three times each year and is a youth led event that pulls together young people from a broad range Youth Voice and Participation groups, with a focus on leadership and networking.
 There is an exciting new Youth Facilitator Program. This program has seen passionate and talented young people be upskilled in facilitation skills, so they can run workshops with other young people… and they are paid to do this! There will hopefully be a website functioning soon, so that bookings can be made online.
Sonnika aims to improve young people’s skills in event management, live music and the arts industry. They are currently organising POPCON – a popular culture convention on the back of last year’s successful event. Sonnika is also running a workshop on hip hop and electronic music in the next school holidays. In Term 4 Sonnika Sistahood will commence, as young women in the music industry reported that they wanted their own space in the youth music industry in Ballarat.
The Youth Council Team are currently working very hard on the Ballarat Youth Awards. This group has a leadership focus. They have also identified a specific focus on Youth Homelessness and recently facilitated a film festival on the topic. The Youth Council will seek to make this event an incursion in 2019 so that it can travel to schools. The Youth Council have been creating Instagram Stories and Videos on key life skills for young people.
The Youth Development Team have also led a collaboration of organisations to deliver You The Man in 2018. You The Man is a 35 minute play in which one male actor portrays six male characters. The performance covers topics such as unhealthy relationships, bystander intervention, sexual assault and dating violence. The performance is followed by a Q&A panel session with workers and experts. In 2018 there were nine You The Man sessions in schools and education programs, reaching an audience of 1,243 young people, who were predominantly Year 10 students. Consortium partners include: CASA, Central Highlands Community Legal Centre, Highlands LLEN, School Focussed Youth Service, headspace Ballarat, Victoria Police, Ballarat White Ribbon Committee, Ballarat Health Services and Ballarat Community Health. This is the second year this project has been running.
QUESTION: Do you have brochures for all of these programs?
We have some here and you can also follow us on Facebook. Contact the City of Ballarat Youth Development Team for further information.
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Chantelle Cutler: YMCA
YMCA PROGRAMS
The YMCA has been operating in this region for 140 years. They currently cover 18 local government areas and 54 communities. Their three key focus areas are Social Impact and Empowering Young People, Healthy Living.
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AOD Co-Design Project
This project is funded through the Primary Health Network (PHN), and is looking at Commonwealth AOD services across the prevention, early intervention, treatment and post-treatment continuum. The PHN has specifically asked for input from outside the AOD sector e.g. including emergency services, housing, family violence, legal, mental health, youth, justice, pharmacists etc. This project relates to the “Ballarat Goldfields” region, which includes Ballarat, Hepburn, Pyrenees, Ballan (i.e. only part of Moorabool) and Maryborough (part of Central Goldfields) Shires.
An online survey has been created in order to capture how different people/services are working with the AOD system, including identifying some of the challenges in supporting individual clients who are trying to access the AOD system. There is particular interest in making sure there is a good perspective from stakeholders who are working with young people.
The link is below:
https://tinyurl.com/AODserviceproviders
This link can be forwarded to others. It is open until the end of August.
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BUDDYS
BUDDYS is a group that meet regularly with the aim of determining ways to support the AOD and housing sector to work with young people who experience dual diagnosis concerns. Every year BUDDYS hold an expo in relation to dual diagnosis to provide education, service information and practical information for workers who engage with this population to improve upon their knowledge and skills to work with this population.
The next expo is on the 13th of September 2018 and places are currently still available. Please see the booking link on the attached flyer or if you have questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact our BUDDYS chairperson Carol (contact details on the flyer) or Meredith George by calling 53204565.
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Voices For Change
Earlier this year Ballarat Community Health recruited clients to be part of a public speaking training program called Voices for Change. Participants learnt how to own and share their story. Gabrielle Evans from headspace nominated Zavier Anderson and they did an amazing job representing young people and queer people in the program.
Zavier is a registered nurse currently training to specialise in mental health having worked through disordered eating, anxiety, depression and self-harm, and identifying as same sex attracted and trans. Zavier grew up in a well-educated Catholic family and often speaks to the internalised queerphobia they felt growing up, hiding their true self and hitting breaking point.
Zavier is phenomenal at modifying their story to their audience’s needs and having clear calls to action.
As Zavier’s Voices for Change mentor, Gabrielle’s role is to support Zavier in finding and delivering speaking engagements over the next few months and they have already spoken to the tv news media, a local social men’s hub and School Wellbeing Workers successfully.
Please contact Gabrielle Evans for further information:
GabrielleE@HeadspaceBallarat.org.au
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Thanks to Saxon House for hosting us!
Big thank you [and a sad good bye] to Virginia from Plank Platters.
Anyone who has attended a BYSN meeting knows the quality of Virginia’s platters.
We wish her well.
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Next Meeting:
Theme: Youth Voice
Tuesday, 20 February 2018, 4.00pm - 5.30pm
BGT - 14 Hill Street
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