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Our Well-Being Grants program officially launched in January 2019 and funded community-led initiatives that supported the mental health, well-being and resilience of farming communities affected by drought. These grants were funded through the Federal Government's 'Empowering Our Communities' (EOC) initiative.

This year has certainly taken some unexpected twists and turns. We have found ourselves playing a pivotal role in coordinating communications and integration between the primary and acute care health systems, enabling us to help manage the medical response in our region during the pandemic.

We welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. 

Our region was one of many to be affected by the 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires that tore through homes, businesses and communities. 

We are pleased to announce the region’s third GP-led COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic has opened in Windsor today.

It’s been an unbelievable time for our region. From drought and raging bushfires, to floods and now a world-wide pandemic.

This week we celebrate the NSW Seniors Festival and the unique contribution older people make to our community. It is also a chance to highlight that for many older Australians social isolation and loneliness is a significant issue.

Our Well-Being Grants to Support Farming Communities project has provided us with the opportunity to engage with some of the isolated communities within our region. 

We have heard many stories from those impacted by the drought, particularly in the outer-lying areas of Lithgow and Hawkesbury. One person who has openly shared her personal journey is St Albans farmer, Sherri McMahon. Sherri has told us heart-wrenching stories of having to put down animals in poor condition, or because they have become ill from eating poisonous plants as a result of limited feed supply. 

On Wednesday I was thrilled to officially launch the NewAccess program for the Lithgow and Hawkesbury communities. 

Developed by Beyond Blue, and provided by Marathon Health, NewAccess is an early intervention self-referral program for people 16 years and over who may be going through tough times. 

Our Well-Being Grants to Support Farming Communities help build on existing strong community networks so that people have the skills to support each other and have the best opportunity to thrive. 

I’m excited to announce four more of our Well-Being Grants to Support Farming Communities recipients that have been successful in the Lithgow region. Capertee Valley Landcare Incorporated, Lithgow Area Women’s Shed, Lithgow Information & Neighbourhood Centre and Trybal Productions. 

Last week I attended the WADEM Congress on Disaster and Emergency Management and presented a paper on the important role Primary Health Networks and General Practice play during disasters and launched our disaster preparedness guide.

Disasters are part of the Australian landscape. Bushfires, floods, cyclones, and drought re-occur consistently across our continent. Primary Health Networks and GPs are inevitably involved when disasters strike their local communities.

I am excited to announce the first of our Well-Being Grants to Support Farming Communities recipients launched their project yesterday.

Hawkesbury Be & Co. is a fortnightly pop-up social event that aims to foster community connections and improve access to support for isolated people.

Our Well-Being Grants to Support Farming Communities is funded by the Federal Government’s Empowering Our Communities project, which was introduced as one of several measures to support communities affected by drought.