This year Clean Up Australia Day falls on Sunday 7th March. It provides an opportunity to inspire communities and encourage combined action to clean up, fix up and conserve the environment. This is an event aimed to encourage all Australians to take to their local park, beach, bushland or streets and help collect rubbish.

A cleaner Australia is an important step in ensuring maximum prosperity of the country.

Get involved this March by:

• Organising your own clean up
• Donating to the foundation
• Volunteering

For more information, visit: https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/

World Hearing Day falls on 3rd March each year and is a
global call for action to address hearing loss and ear diseases. This year, the theme is Hearing care for ALL! Screen. Rehabilitate. Communicate.

“Around 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, and 34 million of these are children.”

Key messages World Hearing Day aims to highlight include:

• Good hearing and communication are important at all stages of life.
• Hearing loss can be avoided through preventative actions such as: protection against loud sounds; and good ear care practices.
• People at risk of hearing loss should check their hearing regularly.
• People experiencing hearing loss should seek care from a health care provider .

For more information, visit: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/03/03/default-calendar/world-hearing-day-2021-hearing-care-for-all

‘March into yellow’ is a campaign designed to raise awareness for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body.

“More than 830,000 (more than 11%) of Australian women suffer from endometriosis at some point in their life with the disease often starting in teenagers.”

Show your support this March by:

• Taking pictures of your yellow challenges and post them on your social media accounts using #MarchintoYellow #endoaustralia
• Inform family and friends of the cause
• Donate to Endometriosis Australia
• Join the community group
• Volunteer with an Endometriosis Australia event

For more information, visit: https://www.marchintoyellow.org.au/

Sweetheart Day is an annual event held on 14 February 2021. It is also known as International Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Day. The day is designed to raise awareness and funds to support the 8 babies born everyday with a heart defect. That is one every three hours.

Despite being a serious life-threatening condition, over 65,000 Australian babies, children and adults are currently living with CHD, yet they continue to face unique challenges for the rest of their lives, including repeated heart surgeries and ongoing medical treatment.

Get involved this February by:

• Organising a fundraiser
• Raising awareness on social media
• Making a donation to help HeartKids reach their goal

For more information, visit: https://www.sweetheartday.org.au/

Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind. It is also known as Hansen’s disease. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of a disease that many people believe to be extinct.

Around 210,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and millions more people are living undiagnosed.

The aim of World Leprosy Day is to change this attitude and increase public awareness of the fact that leprosy can now be easily prevented and cured.

Get involved this January by:

• Making a donation
• Volunteering
• Organising a campaign
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/world-leprosy-day.

Waitara Family Medical Practice wishes you and your family a Happy Australia Day 2021!

NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended for adolescents in a school-based vaccination program. These are essential vaccines that allow optimum individual health as well as public health.

These vaccines are given at school through parental permission; however, if your child is absent on the day, parents are advised that free catch-up vaccination is available at their local GP during the school year only.

For more information, visit: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/schoolvaccination.aspx.

To check your immunisation records or request a vaccine, book an appointment with Waitara Family Medical reception on (02) 8038 1070.

Did you know that Waitara Family Medical Practice has a podiatrist available onsite?

The following services are provided:

• Toenail care
• Nail disorders
• Corns and callous
• Dry feet
• Cracked heels
• Flat feet
• High arch feet
• Foot orthotics
• Foot and ankle pain
• Sports injuries
• Wound care
• Diabetic foot care
• Children’s feet

To make an appointment call reception on (02) 8038 1070.

Dietitian on-site

Did you know?
Less than 1 in 10 adults met the recommendations for daily vegetable consumption in 2017-18. (AIHW)

Healthy diet is important for your general well being and helps in prevention of health issues such as diabetes or hypertension. It is necessary to ensure uptake of all necessary nutritional elements in the healthy food pyramid.

Visit the GP and Dietitian to discuss a healthy diet and lifestyle plan.

For more information or an appointment, contact Waitara Family Medical reception on 02 8038 1070.

Vaccines are a great way to prevent infectious diseases and promote public health safety.

Did you know that travel and infant immunisations are available at Waitara Family Medical Practice?

For more information, contact Waitara Family Medical Practice reception on (02) 8038 1070.