Community Matters

In this important episode Nicky talks with Kim Bertino.  Kim is the Chief Executive Officer of Big Fat Smile, a not-for-profit provider in the Illawarra providing Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services.  Kim and Nicky discuss the multiple impacts on children, families and communities of a lack of access to quality affordable ECEC and the existence of "childcare deserts" often in regions which correspond with other forms of multiple compounding disadvantages and giving children a poor start at life.

Global research confirms that children build invaluable skills in the first five years of life. From language, to social, emotional and cognitive development, this crucial period of intense growth informs later outcomes and is why accessing quality ECEC services allows children to thrive and get the best start in life meaning investment in this critical area must be a priority for government. 

Kim talks about recent strategies including the introduction of a wage subsidy, that have had positive benefits for the sector to improve workforce attraction and retention.  She describes innovative programs that Big Fat Smile is now operating to meet unmet need, and how the not-for-profit sector community sector is willing and able to work with government on solutions including capital funding for new centres to put resources back into community to meet the needs of children and families.

Childcare Desert Report Victoria University: Mapping the childcare deserts: Childcare accessibility in Australia | Victoria University 

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Aged Care, Ageing and Dementia Advocate, Val Fell joins Nicky to give a very personal account of being a patient who has experienced the impact of bed block. A member of the Minister’s Council of Elders and the National Older Persons’ Reference Group, Val was taken into hospital for a medical emergency and spent 3 weeks in a locked geriatric dementia ward – despite not having dementia and having spent decades working for better outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers. Val explores the impact of ageism, recounts personal experiences of ageism and reflects on how ageism is behind much of the lack of services for older people. She speaks about her hopes for the new Aged Care Act with its focus on keeping the older person at the centre. On finally returning home from hospital, Val was assessed for a Home Care Package, but at 96 years of age has been waiting over 6 months. Despite this, Val continues to fight for the rights of older people, continues to inform Government policy, and continues her work to support people living with dementia and their carers.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In our third episode focusing on “Bed Block,” Nicky is shocked to learn that older people admitted to hospital are staying, on average, over 16 times longer than younger people. This is “Bed Block,” where people no longer in need of acute care are unable to leave the hospital due to a lack of availability of residential care or not having the supports at home to meet their needs.

In this episode, Nicky talks with Tanya Southworth, the Coordinator of the Supported Transition Assistance Response Scheme (STARS). STARS is a new voluntary program that is seeing great success in the Illawarra Health system, with referrals supporting older people to move out of hospital into suitable aged care options, supporting recovery and quality of life for the older person, and creating capacity in the hospital system. Tanya discusses the insights her dedicated group of specialist aged care volunteers have gained from their work with older people who are ‘Bed Blocked’ in hospital, and their families.

Already, through the program, Tanya has managed to support 78% of those people referred to STARS to transition out of the hospital system. She credits this success to developing an understanding of the older people awaiting appropriate care, through conversation, and understanding the barriers to discharge. She shares some of the misapprehensions and concerns both older people and their families have about moving into residential services and reveals the real-life impacts that well-informed volunteers can have. Tanya also shares strategies we can all put into place to ensure our wishes are known and respected as we move into older age.

In our third episode focusing on “Bed Block,” Nicky is shocked to learn that older people admitted to hospital are staying, on average, over 16 times longer than younger people. This is “Bed Block,” where people no longer in need of acute care are unable to leave the hospital due to a lack of availability of residential care or not having the supports at home to meet their needs.

In this episode, Nicky talks with Tanya Southworth, the Coordinator of the Supported Transition Assistance Response Scheme (STARS). STARS is a new voluntary program that is seeing great success in the Illawarra Health system, with referrals supporting older people to move out of hospital into suitable aged care options, supporting recovery and quality of life for the older person, and creating capacity in the hospital system. Tanya discusses the insights her dedicated group of specialist aged care volunteers have gained from their work with older people who are ‘Bed Blocked’ in hospital, and their families.

Already, through the program, Tanya has managed to support 78% of those people referred to STARS to transition out of the hospital system. She credits this success to developing an understanding of the older people awaiting appropriate care, through conversation, and understanding the barriers to discharge. She shares some of the misapprehensions and concerns both older people and their families have about moving into residential services and reveals the real-life impacts that well-informed volunteers can have. Tanya also shares strategies we can all put into place to ensure our wishes are known and respected as we move into older age.

Music Credit:
"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Aged care consultant Mark Sewell joins Nicky on this episode of the podcast bringing his wealth of knowledge and insights into the crisis facing the Health Care system due to “bed block”.  Bed block is where people are unable to leave the acute care hospital setting due to lack of availability of residential care or not having the supports at home to meet their needs. 

Mark steps through the demographic trends, including the arrival of the Baby Boomer generation now reaching their 80’s, that have brought us here.  He outlines the systemic issues that have meant we have not managed to keep up with the increased demands for residential care, home modification and home care support services.

Mark and Nicky explore what needs to be done including the need for an additional 1,000 beds in the Illawarra Shoalhaven in the next few years.  Additionally Mark explains the importance of a continued focus on increasing accessibility across our community and in our homes, the range of supports currently available and what people who are aging and looking at entering the aged care system can do to plan and prepare for this important life transition we all must face.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Local Health District CEO, Margot Mains joins us to explore how hospitals are coping with the nearly 200 older people in hospital who need to move to, or return to, residential care. Margot explains how this impacts both older people who need and deserve specialised aged care, and health care opportunities for the whole community.

Together we explore what the health district team are doing to actively address the current situation, and how the health sector is working with other sectors on long-term solutions.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Residents of the Illawarra Shoalhaven are being called to action! The Strategic Regional Transport Plan is open for consultation, offering a chance to shape the future of transport in our region.

In this episode of Community Matters, Nicky speaks with George Takacs, Active Transport Taskforce Coordinator at Healthy Cities Illawarra, about the vital role of active and public transport in building healthier, more connected, and sustainable communities.

Join us as we explore how transport impacts public health, the environment, and community connection—and how your feedback can make a difference.

Links:

• Have your say: Follow this link to visit the Transport for NSW consultation platform to share your ideas and contribute to the future of our region.
• View the video version of the podcast here on Youtube.
• Healthy Cities: Find out more about Healthy Cities Illawarra ISATT (Illawarra Shoalhaven Active Transport Taskforce) here.

Together, let's shape a transport system for a better tomorrow!

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Acknowledgement of Country

Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders. 

We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country. 

We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/