Tag: health

2010 Maroondah Hospital Fun Run

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The Maroondah Hospital Fun Run is an annual event that raises funds for Maroondah Hospital and the services it provides. The event takes place around Ringwood Lake and it is fantastic to see several hundred participants being part of the event.

Maroondah Hospital, located in Ringwood East, in a major health provider within the municipality and serves the Maroondah region and beyond. The hospital holds a number of events throughout the year to engage the community and to augment its funding levels.

Media Release: Draft Community Facilities Occupancy Policy and Pricing Policy on public display

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Maroondah City Council has endorsed the draft Community Facilities Occupancy Policy and the draft Community Facilities Pricing Policy for public display.

The policies were presented at the Council meeting on September 20.

Council currently owns or manages more than 100 sports fields, pavilions, halls, meeting rooms and other facilities on behalf of the community.

Maroondah Mayor Councillor Alex Makin said the draft policies were developed concurrently and were directly aligned.

“The draft policies provide a comprehensive framework for the community use of Council owned or managed facilities,” Cr Makin said.

“The draft Community Facilities Occupancy Policy and the draft Community Facilities Pricing Policy will guide the process of determining appropriate occupancy agreements and pricing structures for all Council owned or managed facilities and ensure the agreements are consistent and transparent,” Cr Makin said.

“The draft policies aim to establish clear frameworks so the community groups know what they are paying for, why they are paying and that other users groups in similar situations are contributing in a consistent manner,” Cr Makin said.

“Under the draft Community Facilities Occupancy Policy community groups wishing to use Council owned or managed facilities will have to undergo an assessment to determine the suitability of the proposed arrangement and the length of tenure. Once this assessment has taken place Council will then discuss the rate of rental,” Cr Makin said.

“There are two existing policies relating to the occupancy and the pricing of community facilities, however these policies have not been updated for a number of years. During this time there has been changes to legislation, increased emphasis on risk management and occupational health and safety requirements and changes to the way the groups are using the facilities,” Cr Makin said.

“To meet these new needs Council has also reassessed the pricing structure associated with the use of Council facilities. The current pricing structure has been in place for the past 11 years and was established with the intention that Council could recover an estimated 30 per cent of facility maintenance costs,” Cr Makin said.

“In the past 11 years that margin has dropped significantly and Council is currently recovering on average 3 per cent of maintenance costs for the sporting grounds and 15 per cent for the pavilions,” Cr Makin said.

“Council believes the sporting grounds and community facilities are integral to the development of a strong community, which is why we subsidise and support the many groups which use them,” Cr Makin said.

“We need to have a system in place which allows for the reasonable, transparent and equitable use of these facilities,” Cr Makin said.

The policies cover most Council owned facilities or grounds including:

  • Council Owned Community Halls
  • Community Centres
  • Kindergartens
  • Senior Citizens Centres
  • Sporting Pavilions
  • Sports Grounds and sporting activity surfaces
  • Scout and Guide Halls
  • Facilities managed by Council Committees of Management
  • Maroondah Federation Estate

The draft policies will be on public display until October 26. Those wanting to make a submission must do so before this date. Following consideration of the submissions the policies will be amended where appropriate and Council endorsement will be sought.

– ENDS –

Maroondah Weekly: Changes on the way in community care

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Maroondah City Council provides home and community care services to eligible residents that have a disability or are frail aged, as well as carers. These services, which include Meals on Wheelers, carer support, social support programs, domestic assistance, respite care and property maintenance, are provided to people in need of additional assistance.

The State Department of Health has recently developed a new approach to the delivery of home and community care services. This approach, known as the Active Service Model, has the aim of providing tailored services rather than the traditional one-size-fits all approach, resulting in higher confidence and wellbeing for participants.

Maroondah City Council has been implementing the Active Service Model which will be gradually rolled out to the 3000 home and community care clients that reside within the municipality. The Maroondah Weekly has reported on the improvements that will be delivered through this new approach:

Mayor Alex Man said the revamp would abolish the “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead focus on each client and their individual nutritional, social and cultural needs.

“It’s about providing services which promote capacity building and restorative care so that people can stay involved in everyday activities, maintain or rebuild their confidence and strengthen their capacity to adapt to changing life circumstances.”

Maroondah City Council was recently announced as a finalist in the LGPro Aged and Disability Services Awards, reflecting the Council’s commitment to delivering an approach to home and community care that improves the wellbeing of the recipient.

Media Release: New holistic approach to Home and Community Care services

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Maroondah City Council will this week launch a change to their Maroondah Home and Community Care program as part of the Department of Health’s newly developed approach to service delivery.

The changes are a State Government legislative requirement aimed at improving services for frail older people, people with a disability and their carer.

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said the changes would result in more flexible, personalised services which promoted wellness to maintain and or improve an individual’s capacity to live as independently and autonomously as possible.

“The services will not be a one size fits all approach, Council has adopted the wellness approach which is centred on assisting each client with their individual nutritional, social and cultural needs,” Cr Makin said.

“This includes encouraging and assisting people to continue their hobbies, walk around their communities and maintain their levels of activity. The changes will help clients and their carers to establish goals and supply them with the relevant services to enable them to best meet their goals,” Cr Makin said.

“It is about providing services which promote capacity building and restorative care so that people can stay involved in everyday activities, maintain or rebuild their confidence and strengthen their capacity to adapt to changing life circumstances,” Cr Makin said.

“Growing evidence suggests that being physically active, having a nutritious diet and remaining mentally and socially engaged with friends, family and the broader community can help to reduce the impact of some conditions associated with ageing,” Cr Makin said.

“So with the assistance of these services hopefully more and more people can maintain their independence for longer and avoid premature admission to long term residential care,” Cr Makin said.

Services provided through HACC include:

  • Meals on Wheels
  • Planned activity groups
  • Carer support
  • Social support programs
  • Domestic assistance
  • Personal care
  • Respite care
  • Home from Home pilot program
  • Support Residential Services
  • Integrated Holiday Program
  • Property Maintenance

Councillor Makin said while the services being offered were still the same, the way they will be delivered to clients will change.

“The service will be a person centred approach. Clients will continue to be assessed by Council officers in their own home and a Wellness Action Plan will be prepared identifying goals they would like to achieve,” Cr Makin said.

“These will vary for each person but could include things like building up the strength to be able to clean their own home, or being mobile enough to do their own shopping,” Cr Makin said.

“During this initial phase clients and their carers will be provided information on a range of other HACC services which would also enable them to live more independently, remain active members of the community and achieve the goals of the Wellness Action Plan,” Cr Makin said.

“Supporting an individual in this way is a shared responsibility and where appropriate, clients, family and friends will be encouraged to be involved in preparing and maintaining the Wellness Action Plan,” Cr Makin said.

People eligible to receive HACC services are the frail older people, and people with a disability and their carers. Services are provided on the basis of eligibility, assessed need and within service resources.

While Council provides the HACC services, the Department of Health is responsible for managing the program under the Home and Community Care Act 1985.

Maroondah City Council has already received recognition for the transition into this new approach being a finalist in the Award for Outstanding Program or Project (Grant Based) category at the LGPro Aged and Disability Services Awards. The award recognises the development and implementation of a project or program which has achieved a significant service improvement though an effective and innovative approach.


For more information contact Council’s Aged and Disability Services on 9294 5729.

– ENDS –

Heatherdale Community Action Group – 2010 Annual General Meeting

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The Heatherdale Community Action Group was formed as a residents based group to preserve and enhance the amenity of Heatherdale, a locality located within the municipalities of Whitehorse and Maroondah.

This evening I attended the Annual General Meeting of the Heatherdale Community Action Group, where committee members were elected for the upcoming year. In addition, the evening featured a presentation from EACH a community based health provider located within the eastern region of Melbourne and beyond.

EACH, which was formally known as Eastern Access Community Health, has grown extensively since its formation over 30 years ago and now includes over 600 staff who deliver a range of health and community support services. In addition to its active presence in Maroondah, Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges, EACH also covers most of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, as well as having a presence in regional Victoria and Western Sydney.

EACH has a focus on preventive health and provides services covering dental care, mental health, disability assistance, gambling assistance, counselling and career assistance. For further information on EACH please visit www.each.com.au.

Luncheon with Noeline Brown – Ambassador for Ageing

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This afternoon I attended a luncheon organised by Yarrunga Community Centre, with Noeline Brown the Ambassador for Ageing.  Noeline was appointed as the Ambassador for Ageing in 2008, which was a newly created position that aims to create a positive image for ageing.

Alex with Noeline Brown, the Ambassador for Ageing, and staff at Yarrunga Community Centre.
Alex with Noeline Brown, the Ambassador for Ageing, and staff at Yarrunga Community Centre.

Approximately 100 guests attended the luncheon, where Noeline spoke about the importance of healthy lifestyles and remaining socially included within our community. In addition, Noeline discussed her extensive film and theatrical experience, discussing the techniques she uses to memorise scripts and to develop the characters within the roles she performs.

Yarrunga Community Centre holds a range of programs for all members of all community, including extensive offerings specifically for Maroondah’s seniors. For further details please visit the Yarrunga Community Centre website at www.yarrunga.org.au.

Maroondah Leader: Most like Council

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Each year the State Government undertakes a survey measuring community satisfaction levels across each local government within Victoria. The survey, which was distributed through the State Government in February and March, asks 350 residents their thoughts on their relevant council.

The surveys measure community satisfaction across a number of different Council areas and were tabled at the July Council meeting. Council will use this information to assist in identifying areas of improvement, such as advocacy, which is an area Council needs to enhance.

One of Maroondah’s strengths is its recreational facilities, as well as health and human services, where Maroondah has consecutively scored highly as reflected through these results. The proposed new Maroondah Leisure and Aquatic Centre will further enhance the municipality’s performance in this area.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the outcomes of the community satisfaction survey:

Mayor Alex Makin said the results for recreational facilities showed the city had a “wealth of top-class sporting and leisure opportunities”. He said he was pleased with the ratings, which generally remained unchanged, but that the council would use the feedback to prioritise resources.

One of the areas requiring improvement is advocacy and Council will be embarking on a significant campaign seeking a commitment towards the complete redevelopment of Ringwood Station in a safe, integrated and accessible transport interchange.

Media Release: Community satisfaction results are in

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The State Government’s 2010 Community Satisfaction Survey results have been announced and it’s great news for Maroondah.

The Survey is conducted by an independent research group for the Department of Planning and Community Development. This is the thirteenth annual Community Satisfaction Survey and results are used to measure how Victorian residents rate the performance of their local governments.

The random phone interview survey was conducted during February and March, with a minimum of 350 Maroondah residents asked to rate Council’s performance.

“Maroondah City Council’s overall results are excellent,” Mayor, Councillor Alex Makin said.

“The survey is an important measurement tool in gauging Council’s progress towards the goals stated in Maroondah 2025 and Council’s mission.

“It is one of many processes by which Council elicits important community feedback to ensure its activities are well targeted, performing efficiently and are relevant to the community,” Cr Makin said.

“Maroondah City Council was rated on par with the median result recorded for the group of “like” inner metropolitan Councils. In terms of overall performance, 84 percent of respondents rated Council’s performance as excellent, adequate or good with only four percent of respondents indicating Council’s performance needed a lot of improvement. Seventeen percent thought it had improved and 71 percent thought it had stayed the same,” said Cr Makin said.

“Community satisfaction with Council’s performance in eight of the specific performance areas remained unchanged, but we have seen a marked improvement in the scoring for recreational facilities,” Cr Makin said.

“We have also seen significant positive change in the delivery of health and human services,” Cr Makin said.

“The survey results for recreational facilities have reinforced what we in Maroondah have known for a long time – our municipality is home to a wealth of top class sporting and leisure opportunities,” Cr Makin said.

“Ninety-three per cent of residents scored Maroondah’s recreational facilities as excellent, good or adequate, with seven per cent indicating that Council’s performance in this area needed improvement,” Cr Makin said.

“The delivery of health and human services in Maroondah also received a solid response, with 88 per cent of respondents scoring Council’s performance as excellent, good or adequate,” Cr Makin said.

“And although there are areas where residents desire further improvement, Maroondah did relatively well compared to other councils in its group for traffic management and local roads and footpaths,” Cr Makin said.

  • Traffic Management and parking facilities were well above the respective median. (Maroondah scored 61 compared with the Group median of 57)
  • Customer Contact was slightly above the respective medium. (Maroondah scored 74 compared to the Group median of 73)
  • Town Planning Policy and Approvals were equal with the Group median of 57.
  • Local Roads and Footpaths and Advocacy Enforcement of Local Laws and Appearance of Public Areas were all just under the median.

Community Engagement and Waste Management were areas that the survey indicated had a need for improvement.

“This survey provides valuable feedback and assists Council to prioritise its resources. To ensure that continued improvement occurs, these areas will receive attention,” said Cr Makin said.

“However, I am very pleased with the ratings and believe this reflects our commitment to community partnership and is a reward for our efforts,” said Cr Makin.

– ENDS –

Victoria Rocks – Music Equipment Grant

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This morning I joined James Merlino, the Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairsm who announced a $10,000 grant to Maroondah City Council through the Victoria Rocks, Music Equipment Grant. The money received will fund a Council project called “Before the Gig”, which will provide a greater level of access to music equipment for young people in Maroondah.

The program will run through EV’s Youth Centre and will allow Council to purchase music equipment (including acoustic and electric guitars, a drum kit and portable amplifiers) that will be available for young people to use free of charge. Ultimately the project will create new opportunities for local young people to participate in the arts and to increase their music skills.

Alex with members of Maroondah's EV Youth Services participating in the Victoria Rocks program.
Alex with members of Maroondah's EV Youth Services participating in the Victoria Rocks program.

In addition, it will provide resources to support local partnerships between EV’s Youth Centre and several organisations, including Eastern Access Community Health (EACH), the Migrant Information Centre, Arrabri Community House and the Rock School at Croydon Community School.

I would like to thank the Minister and the State Government for the $10,000 grant. In addition, EV’s Youth Centre has been chosen as a venue for the State wide FReeZA Central Tour, which will feature a range of musical acts on Friday the 27th of August. This is a significant opportunity for young people in our community and it is fantastic to see the State Government recognise the importance of EV’s Youth Centre.

Maroondah Leader: Groups unite to help drinkers

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The Victorian Early Intervention Pilot Program (VEIPP) is a combined Victoria Police, Department of Health, Eastern Access Community Health and Turning Point initiative that seeks to provide a holistic to combating alcohol abuse by young people in Maroondah.

The Maroondah Leader has reported on the program which is being piloted within the City of Maroondah:

Mayor Alex Makin said Maroondah had the highest level of alcohol-related harm and the second highest alcohol-related injuries in the eastern region.

The program will link younger people with health and counselling services to try and intervene prior to the involvement within the justice system and the courts. This will work towards reducing the worrying trends of alcohol abuse that have been emerging within the municipality.

Maroondah’s Community Wellbeing Plan identified the need to promote healthier lifestyles and to address the level of at-risk alcohol consumption. As a result, it is encouraging that several agencies are working together to combat this growing problem within Maroondah.