With World Health Day just last week, what better time to reflect on the incredible impact you've had on the lives of others this month; 20 meaningful sessions, to approximately 263 participants covering 14 different topics!
Sessions for April and May are also now up on the website so please take a moment to look here to see if you may be able to keep the momentum of this impact going by fitting in one or more into your busy schedules πππ Scroll down to hear more about our updates this month... |
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Quality Use of Medicines Project |
Just a reminder that our funding requires us to talk about safe use of medicines in our sessions. Please make sure you grab enough Using Medicines Safely handouts from the storage shed to hand out at your sessions, and return what you don't use. Thanks. |
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Please spread the word! π |
Please tell your colleagues about our Melbourne face-to-face volunteer induction event, coming up on Saturday 20 April. If you are an experienced volunteer and would also like to come along to help on the day, please email tracy@thewaterwellproject.org. |
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Time for reflection... ππ |
A piece from Tracy, on behalf of the Health Education Team...
As I scroll through some of our photos from our health education sessions last year, I smile as I rememberβ¦ I'd like to share with you a story of one of those sessions. The setting was a Pacific Islander Women's event as part of Women's Health Week. The theme was Breaking Down Barriers – recognising that Pacefika women are often hesitant to seek help for health concerns, yet often have high rates of disease compared with other cultural groups. Women in particular tend to care for the community, often at the expense of looking after their own health.
The Water Well Project facilitated two health education workshops on Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening, discussing the importance of screening, and walking the women through the screening tests. This helped to demystify the process and address many women's fear of the unknown. The women hadn't heard about the self-collection option for cervical cancer screening and some expressed that they would now consider having this test done.
Several women cried as they shared personal stories – of bowel cancer and of breast cancer – and encouraged their Pacific Islander sisters to see a doctor if they noticed something unusual in their bodies. We gave each woman a Women's Health Screening Tool to empower them to advocate for screening and health checks at the appropriate times and ages.
A generous Pacific Island lunch was followed by cultural dancing to top off a wonderful day of celebration and learning together. These are incredible opportunities we have the privilege to
share in, and I encourage you to engage wherever possible in these important health conversations. |
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Some beautiful testimonials π |
"It was great to bring to mind that emergency situations can happen with anyone and how we can take a few steps to educate ourselves, our families, friends and be prepared." (Community Participant, Women's Friendship Evening, Extreme Weather, Disasters and Health session, 12/03/2024)
"It is an interesting and a timely topic. I am more alert now about the topic than previously because talking about the mental health keeps the subject fresh on the mind." (Community Participant, Australian Multicultural Community Services, Mental Health and Wellbeing session, 21/03/2024)
"It was really valuable to have The Water Well Project's health worker volunteers coming to speak to our community group to speak to specific health concerns such as Vitamin D deficiency and sun protection, and share preventative and protective measures for heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The Water Well Project speakers were informative and approachable and our migrant community members felt comfortable asking the questions they had." (Community Representative, Maidstone Community Centre, Migrants Talking About The Weather group, Sun Safety session, 24/02/2024)
"Several of the group members said they had found it hard asking their doctors for more information on topics or about specific therapies - I talked with the group about how this could be approached. As a GP it reminded me the importance of taking the time to listen to what the patient needs, particularly when ESL - making sure I understand what they require." (Volunteer Healthcare Professional, SydWest session, Men's Health session, 12/03/2024) |
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We know it can seem a little tedious, but we really rely on feedback from session participants to keep our sessions free for community groups (feedback is a requirement of our funding). Please take a few minutes at the end of your session to have participants complete the feedback forms.
Your feedback is also important for our funding, so please complete the quick two minute volunteer feedback form after your sessions. Thank you!! π |
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ββ Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month - Vanessa Fowosere ββ |
Since inducting as a volunteer last year, Vanessa has facilitated seven wonderful sessions across a range of health topics for our community participants. She has stepped in at the last minute to a number of sessions needing a facilitator and was a finalist for last year's Save the Day Volunteer Award. We would like to commend her on her efforts thus far! Make sure you check out her profile here! |
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And of course, thank you to the rest of our super star volunteers! |
The following brilliant volunteers have delivered a session this month. Annabelle, Catherine, Claire, Elaine, Emily, Georgia, Hanneke, Harmeet, Helena, Indah, Madison, Marra, Roya, Ruby, Ruchika, Sawsan, Siobhan, Sophie, Vanessa, Wendy and Zoe
Thank you team, you continue to amaze us! π€©π€©π€© |
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Donate today to give the gift of health literacy to people from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. |
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