Connected Community Grants- up-to $100,000

Recently we have faced challenges related to natural disasters and a global pandemic, which can have a negative impact and a compounding effect of the health and wellbeing of our residents, the health system and the wider economy. To best support our communities, planning for future events, will minimise negative consequences, build resilient communities and achieve the best outcomes possible.

Sydney North Health Network invited organisations and community groups to apply for grants to support the community to be more connected, improving individual and community physical and mental wellbeing and resilience. As well as improving preparedness of communities impacted by extreme weather events, including by not limited to floods.

These grants have been made possible by the funding support of the NSW Ministry of Health.

The following grants were awarded for the 2023-2024 period:

Extreme Weather Community Resilience Grants- Up-to $10,000

Australia has a long history of disasters and over the past few years there have been drought, heatwaves and bushfires, followed by severe storms, flooding and a pandemic. Some communities have been hit harder than others, but all have been affected. Communities impacted by extreme weather are to choose their response to loss and strengthen social connections, and assist with recovery whilst supporting mental health and community wellbeing.

These grants have been made possible by the funding support of the Commonwealth Department of Health.

The following grants were awarded for the 2023-2024 period:

Launched in May 2022, the grants are in recognition of innovation and contributions of allied health professionals in response to emergencies and natural disasters, and in enhancing primary health services and community connection. Grant recipients will be delivering a range of evidence-based activities over the next six months.

Here are some of that ways in which these one-off small grants will support the delivery of allied health services in primary care.

Day Night Chemist Crows Nest

The pharmacy will be expanding its capacity to provide in-pharmacy vaccinations during and outside of usual business hours.

McDonalds Pharmacy St Ives

Pharmacist Immunisers are providing an in-home vaccination and medications review service for customers and by local GP referral.

Rebound Health

A multidisciplinary allied health team will be delivering a wholistic education and support program for people experiencing prolonged symptoms of COVID. The program aims to equip participants with knowledge and skills to safely manage symptoms, paced and tailored to their individual needs.

Activempowerment

Accredited Exercise Physiologists will be providing an in-home exercise program for seniors at risk of falls who are on a waiting list for a Home Support Package and are unable to access similar community-based exercise programs.

SquareOne Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists will be offering frailty screening for people aged 65 years and over. Coupled with individualised recommendations and resources, the program aims to reduce the risk of older people becoming frail or having a fall.

Avalon Beach Chiropractic

The practice will be delivering a preventative screening service at local community events. Aimed at reducing the incidence of musculoskeletal injury, the service offers individualised assessment, injury prevention recommendations and exercise prescription.

BoneFit Exercise Physiology

An Exercise Physiologist will be delivering a subsidised, group-based exercise program for those with or at risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis, including initial assessment followed by group exercise and education sessions.

DMC Health

The Chatswood Community Chronic Pain Program will provide evidence-based education, counselling and exercise therapy for individuals with chronic pain.

Renewed Health

The grant will help support the delivery of and access to the MyHealth Challenge, an online health behaviour change program for people with or at risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or osteoarthritis.

The Modern Dietitian

An Accredited Practising Dietitian will be presenting a 10-week health education series aimed at increasing knowledge of the role of nutrition and healthy dietary choices in prevention and management of chronic conditions.

Bumpy Psychology

Developed by a psychologist with specialist expertise in perinatal anxiety and depression, the grant will help support the delivery of online learning modules and resources for soon-to-be and new mums.

Centre for Effective Living

The grant will support the delivery of an online, individualised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychoeducation program for people experiencing mild symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression.

Rhona Barker Psychology

A psychologist will be facilitating a psychoeducation program incorporating mindfulness based stress management exercises with bushwalking, an activity that benefits mental health whilst also allowing for social distances in an outdoor environment.

Ramsay Professional Services

Trained and accredited allied health professionals will be delivering the 8-week Indigenous Healthy Eating Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL™) program to local Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander community members.

RWA Psychology Family Matters

The grant will support the delivery of the Circle of Security Parenting Program (0-5 years), an internationally recognised early intervention program aimed at strengthening healthy parent-child relationships.

Urban Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, podiatrist and dietitian will be expanding digital access to online allied health modalities and content, with specific outreach to vulnerable groups.

Wise Care

A psychologist is running a program for residents of Willandra Village, who are required to relocate to other aged care facilities due to site re-development. The program aims to increase resilience and coping strategies and includes education on funding and support available.

MQ Health General Practice Clinic

The grant will support a multidisciplinary, team-based and coordinated approach to improving access to psychology and social work support services.

The Cottage Counselling Centre

The grant will help build skills and capacity in delivery of specialised domestic and family violence counselling services. Funding will also support training and seminars for community agencies and help subsidise the cost of counselling for clients experiencing financial difficulty.

Wound Innovations

Wound Innovations is delivering four Fundamentals of Wound Management workshops for nurses and care staff working in residential aged care facilities in Northern Sydney.

WoundPods

The grant aims to build capacity and support the early identification and comprehensive health assessment of people aged 75 years and older who are at risk of frailty, falls and hospitalisation.

Sydney North Health Network is excited to announce the two successful recipients of the Community Engagement Grants.

In 2022 Relationships Australia NSW and Mission Australia were commissioned to engage with the local Northern Sydney communities to identify the impact of recent extreme weather events such as floods, storms and bushfires.

These Community Engagement activities have identifed ways communities can support one another during such events. This will inform future activities that assist in building well-being and resilience, preparedness, response and recovery, for future extreme weather events, and natural disasters.

Please see below the final reports from the Community Engagement consultation:

• Relationships Australia Report
• Mission Australia Report

Immediate Response Grants – Natural Disaster and Extreme Weather: Wellbeing, Resilience and Preparedness Program in Sydney North.

Sydney North Health Network offered Immediate Response grants of up to $10,000 to community organisations across the nine LGAs of Northern Sydney to community groups that are willing to provide grassroots activities between August 2022-June 2023. The funding will cover activities that support recovery through social connectedness, wellbeing and healing; for communities and or individuals that have been impacted by recent weather events in 2022, including floods.

Sydney North Health Network offered two COVID-19 related grants to General Practices.

The first stream of General Practice Resourcing for COVID-19 grants were in recognition of practices contribution and ongoing efforts to the region’s COVID-19 response.

The second stream of Improving vaccination rates for specific CALD populations grants focuses on increasing vaccination rates of non-medicare card holders and populations often more difficult to reach. These grants will ensure our region continues to maintain high vaccination rates.

List of General Practices awarded grant(s)