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This newsletter has been sent to you so that you can remain up to date with the work that is happening in and around the Latrobe Health Assembly. We hope you enjoy the update and welcome the efforts that are being undertaken within the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone to allow our community to be all that it can.
You may be receiving this newsletter because you directly asked to be kept informed or you may be receiving it because you signed up for our ‘Extra Time’ COVID-19 newsletter… If you no longer want to receive monthly updates, please click here.
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Ramblings from the Latrobe Health Assembly Chair
Ms Tanya Rong
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 Recently I was tidying up some paperwork in my study and I came across my papers from the VERY FIRST ASSEMBLY meeting. For those of you who have been following the Latrobe Health Assembly's work, you may remember it was held at Century Inn on 19 December 2016, and we didn’t really know as community Assembly members what we were getting into.
As I read the notes from that meeting, I reflected on how much work we have done since then, we have had changes in the way we work, many projects, new people joining us and others leaving, but the key themes that we spoke about on that very first meeting still hold true today. Our VALUES and motivation for being involved in this organisation have stayed consistent, and that made me smile and feel proud of the work we have done and how we have stayed committed to our values, despite the challenges, frustrations and hard work, and of course, now a pandemic.
Some of the words listed from that first meeting that I want to share with you that remain just as important today are:
- INNOVATION – the need to do things differently, challenge the traditional ways of working
- ENGAGEMENT – we need to ensure that the wider LV community is continually engaged with our work
- PRIDE – promoting pride in our community and showcasing the strengths of LV
- CONNECTION – working with other organisations and linking in with community groups and other health providers, and during the pandemic – social connection has become so important as well.
- DATA – the need to thoroughly understand the health status and issues in the LV community using statistics and data, and learning what has been successful and what hasn’t worked in order to achieve success of Assembly initiatives (scan phase of the triple diamond model really brings this point to life).
I love that those key themes not only remain relevant today, that in fact, what we have done with our new operating model in the past 12 months has actually brought us back into alignment with these very first key values, and that our commitment stays strong to what our community told us in that very first meeting. It gives me confidence that we are doing great things and heading in the right direction.
At that first meeting, participants were asked to provide a headline of what success would look like for the Assembly by 2026.
Some of the examples were:
- “Latrobe – Most Liveable Regional City”
- “Assembly turns around the health of the Valley”
- “Latrobe Kids Dream Big”
I think these headlines are achievable – and I hope that this motivates you, as it has me, to keep working hard, to keep telling our story out into the wider community and build the momentum of the Assembly to make those headlines come true.
Thank you for your continued support and passion for the health and wellbeing of our community.
Tanya
Chair
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Annual General Meeting and Triple Diamond Workshop #4
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Background info: The Latrobe Health Assembly recently adopted a Triple Diamond operating model which has been designed to ensure that we are accurately identifying the actual opportunities of any perceived problems within our community. You can read more about this on our 'How we operate' page.
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On Tuesday 9th November, the Latrobe Health Assembly held it’s 2021 Annual General Meeting and a Triple Diamond Workshop dedicated to the Early Childhood Development theme.
During the AGM, we heard from Assembly Chair Tanya Rong and Executive Officer EJ Browne who provided a brief wrap-up of the 2020/21 financial year. The annual report was tabled and endorsed and the results of a recent Board election were announced.
The evening then moved into the Triple Diamond Workshop where representatives from Calm Consultanting Group led the group through a series of engaging activities to seek out and explore key focus areas for the Early Childhood Development group to focus on as they enter the ideation stage of the operating model.
The evening was a lively exchange of ideas, insights and feelings on this very important topic and provided the consultants with a wealth of knowledge to progress their development and reporting.
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Latrobe Health Assembly project updates
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Background info: More information about the below projects and other Latrobe Health Assembly projects can be found on the 'Our Projects' page of our website.
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Looking Forward Latrobe
 In May-June, the Latrobe Health Assembly partnered with Urban Scale Interventions (USI) to draw on their expertise in creative engagement and innovative cultural and health interventions. The learnings from this consultation were documented in the Looking Forward Latrobe (LFL) report. In recent months, following the Board’s review and endorsement of the report, a range of activities have been underway to progress this exciting project. A steering committee comprised of LHA members and staff has been formed to guide the overall direction of the work. While work has been remote so far, the group look forward to workshopping in person later this month. For the remainder of 2021, the steering committee will explore the opportunities in the report and develop an action plan for supporting LFL activities.
Our partnership with Urban Scale Interventions will also continue. Excitingly, this means that between January and March of 2022, the steering committee and other stakeholders will work with USI to bring the Connected Up and Creative Latrobe projects to life.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please visit the project page on our website or email info@healthassembly.org.au
Co-design of the Mental Health Café a success
 After a mammoth consultation and co-design process, a model for a Latrobe Valley mental health café has now been developed. Over the past few months, the project team have contended with COVID restrictions, snap lockdowns, flooding and power outages. Yet despite these interruptions, there has been a huge and impactful response from the community. Phone calls and virtual meetings enabled input during lockdowns, and once it was safe to do so, there was also extensive engagement on the ground, out in the community. In mid-October a series of co-design sessions were held to reflect on all of the consultation insights and to make collaborative decisions about the model.
One of the highlights of the process has been the two community co-design sessions held at Lifeline with people with lived experience of psychological distress and their families and carers. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was phenomenal. Co-design sessions were also held with stakeholders and the project advisory group. Members of the advisory group have been working on this concept with great passion for some time – so it is fantastic to have reached this milestone. The Latrobe Valley community, through the Latrobe Health Assembly, has demonstrated great innovation and leadership in exploring the feasibility of a ‘mental health café’ model for its community. Now that a model has been developed, we look forward to the next steps in this work.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please visit the project page on our website or email info@healthassembly.org.au
Early Childhood Development
 The Latrobe Health Assembly has hit the mid-way point in the Early Childhood Development workshop series that are being run by Calm Consulting Group. The first three workshops have been completed with another two remaining. The first workshop was held on the 6th of October and focused on defining the boundaries and perimeters of early childhood development in Latrobe. The second workshop was held on 19th of October and focused on defining the problems that Latrobe Valley faced that impacted on early childhood development. The third workshop was held on the 9th of November in conjunction with Latrobe Health Assembly’s Triple Diamond Workshop. This workshop saw the prioritising of the list of problems generated at the second workshop and brainstorming potential solutions to the problems.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please email info@healthassembly.org.au
Social Prescribing
 The Latrobe Health Assembly's Social Prescribing pilot project based in Churchill is well and truly up and running with the projects two Community Connectors, Claire and Tanya, now beginning to receive referrals from the GP’s and chronic care nurses at the Hazelwood Health Clinic, Churchill.
To date, four patients have had their initial consultation with Claire or Tanya and one patient has returned for a second consultation. The Community Connectors are continuing to strengthen relationships with the staff at the clinic as well as connections with referring agencies and partners.
The Latrobe Health Assembly’s Communications and Engagement team are working closely with the project working group to plan for an official project launch later in the year, watch this space.
If you would like to find out more about this project, please visit the project page on our website or email info@healthassembly.org.au
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It's time to put your runners on and join Team Health Assembly in this years LRH Fun Run/Walk
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This year, the Latrobe Health Assembly are sponsoring the 2021 LRH Virtual Fun Run & Walk and we are seeking runners/walkers to join Team Latrobe Health Assembly.
The image above showing us using coathanger batons maybe cryptic however this year’s LRH Virtual Fun Run & Walk is raising funds to support the hospitals Wear House. The Wear House, located at LRH, is a free support offered to vulnerable patients allowing them select supplies such as clothing, toiletries and other required items when staying in hospital longer than they may have been prepared for.
The event is straight forward, simply register for the 10km run, 5km run or 5km walks and then complete your race at any time over the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 November 2021. You can compete from any location you choose. Run, jog or walk on the road, on a beach, on a trail or track.
As an added bonus, all entrants receive a personalised medal after the event to add that realistic touch to the virtual event.
Entry prices:
- Adult indivdual - $25
- Adult team member (if joining us, this is your price) - $20
- Juniors (12 years and under) - $10
Remember when signing up, to select ‘Join a team’ when prompted and search for Team Latrobe Health Assembly. Alternatively you can join as an individual or create your own team.
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Health Innovation Discovery Workshop 2
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The Collaborative Evaluation Unit (CEU) has partnered with the Latrobe Valley Authority to deliver the Health and Wellbeing stream of the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3).
The Smart Specialisation approach is based on three principles:
• Smart: Identify the regions own strength, comparative and competitive assets
• Specialisation: Prioritise research and innovation in competitive areas
• Strategic; define and develop shared vision for regional innovation
Working in partnership with stakeholders, the CEU will explore current and future strengths and challenges in the heath sector. A series of workshops will lead a collaborative Discovery, Inquiry and Design process that is evidence based to explore strengths and opportunities.
Workshop 2 continued the Discovery Phase of this project and focused on furthering discussion about current and future health and innovation needs in the region by showcasing current expertise and research.
You can view the presentation recordings from guest speakers including our own Executive Officer EJ Browne at: federation.edu.auy/ceu
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International Rose Garden Festival Morwell
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Beginning last weekend, the 2021 International Rose Garden Festival Morwell is currently being held at the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, Avondale Road Morwell.
The 2021 IRGFM will expand the light installation to run across nine days from 13th – 21st November and incorporate lanterns and flower making online workshops and activations in the Tarwin Street event space from school students garden sculptures and a cut rose competition.
People are invited to walk through the rose garden and along Commercial Road to find all the lights as part of this year’s extended lighting footprint. The weekends will feature additional roving performances and attractions whilst during the week only selected areas of the garden will be lit up.
This year, bookings are essential due to COVID-19 restrictions. For more information, please visit: https://irgfm.com.au/
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