The Childhood Cancer Association is one of Australia’s key childhood cancer support organisations, dedicated to supporting children living with cancer, and their families.

Support is tailored to meet the needs of every individual family.  Key services and support include: professional counselling, daily hospital visits, sibling support, accommodation for country/interstate families, respite accommodation for all families, financial assistance, education support via home tutoring and bereavement support.

The Childhood Cancer Association relies solely on the generous support of the community, to enable it to continue to provide vital services and support to families in need. You can make a donation, help fundraise,  buy an Elliot – Childhood Cancer Association’s mascot and friend to children living with cancer.

For further details about services and support provided by the Childhood Cancer Association, visit their website.

‘Connect, communicate, care’ is the theme of the 2016 World Suicide Prevention Day.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many again make a suicide attempt. In Australia more than 2500 people die each year with latest figures (2014) telling us that 2,864 Australians took their own life. Research also tells us that some 65,000 think about attempting suicide each year. The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has tried to take his or her own life, as well as those struggling to manage suicidal ideation.

Make an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns and feelings, or cal lifeline on 131 114 for confidential support. Visit the World Suicide Prevention Day website for information about fundraising and events.

If your gut says something’s not quite right with someone, chances are that they might need a bit of extra support from the people around them. They might be acting a bit differently, seem to have a lot on their plate, or simply aren’t themselves. Don’t ignore those signs but instead take some time to start a conversation.

One of the great things about asking “are you ok?” is you don’t have to know the answers to a mate’s problems. Nor do you have to be ok yourself. Or feel particularly strong. As long as you feel up to listening, not judging and just talking through stuff you have found useful in the past, you’ve everything it takes to have a meaningful conversation to support a mate in need.

For confidential advice and support call a crisis support line – such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. Visit the RUOK website for more information.

Join Alzheimer’s Australia to raise awareness about dementia this September!

More than 353,800 people are living with dementia and 1.2 million people in Australia care for someone with dementia.  The theme for 2016 is “you are not alone”.

The purpose of Dementia Awareness Month is to encourage Australians to become dementia-aware, have a better understanding of what it is like for a person to live with dementia, and ultimately be encouraged to create communities where people with dementia are supported to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value.

For more information, and to find out about local campaigns visit the Alzheimer’s Australia Website.  If you are a carer or are living with dementia, make an appointment with your GP for advice and support.

It is the second most common genetic disorder in Australia affecting 1 in 2000 people.

Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is a gene mutation in your DNA and is associated with cleft palates, congential heart disease and many other disorders, up to 180 disorders can be linked to VCFS! Which can affect nearly every organ system in the body with broad reaching effects on development and behavior, including speech, language, personality, mood, learning, attention, and temperament.

The abnormality is detected through genetic testing and can be done on adults or for the baby during pregnancy.

For more information visit the VCFS Foundation Website.

Daffodil Day is one of Australia’s best known and most popular fundraising events. This year it is held on the 26th of August.

You can help beat cancer by wearing a daffodil pin this Daffodil Day, and joining the fundraising efforts.

Daffodil Day merchandise is on sale throughout July and August, but you can donate to Daffodil Day at any time.

The vibrant yellow daffodil represents hope and a continuing fight against cancer. You too, can help in the fight against cancer by wearing a Cancer Council pin this Daffodil Day. Who will you wear one for?

You can dedicate a daffodil to someone you know through the Cancer Council website.

Be Medicinewise Week is an annual, national awareness week that promotes the safer and wiser use of medicines. This year, Be Medicinewise Week will be held 22–28 August 2016.

This year, we will be encouraging Australians to take charge of their health by being medicinewise, and raising awareness on the importance of having conversations about medicines. The campaign is encouraging people to:

• Ask the right questions
• Ask the right people
• Follow the right advice

To be medicinewise you should ask questions to make sure you fully understand everything about the medications you are taking;

1. what is the medicine for?
2. what is the active ingredient?
3. how do I take or use this medicine correctly?
4. what are the possible side effects, and what can I do about them?
5. what should or shouldn’t I do when taking this medication?

Remember to check the expiry dates of your medications, taking expired medication can be harmful or not give you the intended effect. You can these to your pharmacy, where they will be correctly destroyed – don’t throw medications in the rubbish or toilet!

You can make an appointment with our GP’s to discuss and review your medications, call 8038 1070 or book online.

Visit the NPS Medicinewise website for more information.

Have you had your blood pressure checked recently?

Do you know if you’re at risk of high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force your blood travels through your arteries in your body. High blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, such as;

• stress
• age
• being overweight
• unhealthy diet
• family history

Make an appointment with one of our GP’s to discuss your risk of high blood pressure and have it checked today!

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID) occur when eosinophils (pronounced ee-oh-sin-oh-fills), a type of white blood cell, are found in above normal amounts within the gastrointestinal tract. The eosinophils generally attack foods (or airborne allergens) creating an allergic response and causing inflammation wherever they may gather.

People living with EGIDs often have to live with food restrictions which make it hard on physical, emotional and social levels.

There is NO CURE and one of the common treatment options patients follow is an Elimination diet which can mean removing the Top 8 common allergenic foods! This means no milk, eggs, wheat, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy or shellfish.

Visit the EOS website for more information.