Women’s Mental Health a priority for the Shire of Coolgardie!

Published on Friday, 23 October 2020 at 8:59:21 AM

Women working or living in Kambalda can now sign up for counselling for anxiety, relationship advice, self-esteem, parenting challenges, isolation and other support.

It comes after the Shire of Coolgardie, Goldfields Women’s Health Care Centre and Gold Fields formed a partnership to enable the delivery of fortnightly Women’s Health Services to the Kambalda community.

Seven confidential appointments will be made available shortly every fortnight for women aged 16 and over.

The partnership is the first of its kind in the Goldfields and will provide a local focus on supporting women’s health and wellbeing. The service will be provided through the Goldfields Women’s Health Care Centre, a not-for-profit organisation with experienced councillors who have been operating in the region for over 30 years.

All counselling sessions will be private and confidential, and clients will be encouraged to contribute to the service depending on their ability to pay. If able, women can also pay a little extra to “pay if forward” to help another woman.

Shire President, Cr Malcolm Cullen said the Shire is committed to the delivery of a coordinated, integrated health care system that helps people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

“The needs of regional communities such as the Shire of Coolgardie are quite unique - we’re much more isolated than larger regional areas. Many community members work in the mining sector and are subject to shift work, which can impact quality family time and access to personal support networks,” he said.

“The Shire has recognised a need for targeted mental health support for women and children within our community”.

The service will complement the Shire and St John WA’s innovative Country Primary Health Care Model which addresses, not only the day-to-day health of the community through doctor’s services but, through the vision of our CEO, has developed into a model that includes targeted services to meet the community’s other health needs. Services that compliment the model include physiotherapy, disability services, wellness checks, meals on wheels, provision of a community transport vehicle and now, counselling sessions for women.

Gold Fields General Manager at the St Ives gold mine, Bevan Jones said: “We’re very proud to partner with the Shire of Coolgardie and Goldfields Women’s Health Care Centre to help fund the delivery of these critical health services to women in the Shire. It is more important than ever for us to focus on and support the mental health and wellbeing of our communities, given the challenges that we have all seen in 2020.”

Gloria Moyle, CEO at the Goldfields Women’s Health Care Centre, said establishing partnerships with key stakeholders in the region, has enabled the Centre to successfully deliver clinical services.

“Our experienced female counsellors help women with issues, including but not limited to, mental health, relationship counselling, grief and loss, post-traumatic stress, childhood trauma, self-esteem and post-natal depression, in a safe and non-judgemental way,” said CEO, Gloria Moyle. “We’re thrilled to extend our services to the Kambalda community.”

The new Women’s Health Program forms part of a wider Integrated Health Care Model at the Shire of Coolgardie. Other services include Meals on Wheels, wellness telephone calls to seniors, paediatric occupational and speech therapy sessions as well as a partnership with St John WA to deliver a community transport volunteer service.

Confidential appointment bookings are available through Goldfields Women’s Health by calling 08 9021 8266 or sending an email to [email protected]. The service will commence in Kambalda on Wednesday 28th October .

For media enquiries, please contact: Cr Malcolm Cullen Shire President P: 9080 2111 M: 0459 999 296 E: [email protected]

Mia Hicks Director of Economic and Community Development P: 9080 2111 M: 0458 115 557 E: [email protected]

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