The Cowboys and the Raiders are partnering on and off the field in Dubbo this Saturday to promote mental health among indigenous men and raise money for worthy local causes.

Please see media release for more information.

The Quit B Fit Tackling Indigenous Smoking program is proud to collaborate with Wellington Cowboys and Macquarie Rugby League clubs to promote living smoke-free.

The game, at Kennard Park Wellington this Saturday will be preceded with League Tag which kicks off at 2pm. “Quit B Fit has sponsored the first grade jerseys for the match, with the aim of promoting smoke-free homes, cars and communities,” said Quit B Fit team leader, Chris Ah See.

“We aim to provide information and education on the harmful effects of tobacco smoke, in particular; highlighting the effects of second and third hand smoke,” he said.

As a major sponsor of Wellington Cowboys Rugby League Football Club, Quit B Fit have set up designated smoking areas at every home game and encourage spectators to use these.

“Quit B Fit encourages the community to say hi to them on game day and learn about referral pathways for those who wish to quit or seek smoking cessation advice.

“The Quit B Fit team will be there to provide advice and there will be educational announcements about the effects of tobacco smoke throughout the day,” Mr Ah See said.

“With the recent statistics released around smoking for the Wellington community, it is important that we provide the community with information to help them make more informed health choices.

“There are direct links between smoking and many chronic illnesses and we hope by having a strong presence within the community, we will be able to assist in reducing chronic illness and smoking rates.”

Keep an eye out for Cowboys players spreading the Quit B Fit – Living Smoke free message on social media really soon @quitbfit #quitbfit

The National Indigenous Touch Football Knockout planned for this June long weekend has been postponed to November.

Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service’s Quit B Fit – Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in conjunction with NSW Touch Football & Touch Football Australia and Dubbo Regional Council will host the 2017 National Indigenous Touch Carnival Knockout which will be the first of its kind in Australia.

“The organising committee agreed to change the date and also review the registration and competitor criteria to encourage more registrations to ensure a highly successful event for Dubbo,” said WACHS CEO Darren Ah See.

The Knockout will be open to men, women’s, mixed and junior grades and will feature a prize pool of up to $40,000 for winners and runner’s up.

“The revised registration and competitor details will be available on the event’s website and social media on 1 July 2017.

Mr Ah See encourages all interested players to get involved.

“We have received overwhelming support from the community and we thank the sponsors on board already including the Western NSW Local Health District, Cloudwize, Sydney University, and Western Plains Zoo.

“We will be moving forward in November with our plans to host a health hub and kids activity/entertainment area at the Knockout to promote healthy living,” he said.

“We’re also planning entertainment and an open mic session for amateur musicians to make the weekend a family fun-filled time,” he said.

For more information visit the KO website www.indigenoustouchknockout.sportingpulse.net or follow @quitbfit on Facebook and #quitbfit on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact: Rebekah Bullock 0407959781

The Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service’s Quit B Fit – Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in conjunction with NSW Touch Football & Touch Football Australia will host the 2017 National Indigenous Touch Carnival Knockout.

The smoke-free Event will be staged from Friday 9 June 2017 to Monday 12 June 2017 at Caltex Park, Dubbo NSW. The first of its kind to be held in NSW, the Knockout will be open to men, women’s, mixed and junior grades and will feature a prize pool of up to $40,000 for winners and runner’s up.

Read more below

WACHS has signed NRL clubs, Melbourne Storm and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles as ambassadors for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, Quit B Fit.

WACHS is one of the recipients of a regional grant under the Commonwealth’s Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program to deliver culturally appropriate tobacco control activities to reduce the unnecessary high rates of smoking in the indigenous population.

Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) new provider of Aboriginal health services in Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains.

WACHS is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its bid to tender for the provision of culturally appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services to Western Sydney and the Nepean Blue Mountains, through a joint tender process led by the Commonwealth in partnership with the NSW Ministry of Health.

The Commonwealth funding has been awarded to WACHS under the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme for Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains regions for 2016-17 and 2017-18. The NSW Ministry of Health is also providing funding for the provision of culturally safe services for Aboriginal people including population health, Chronic care, mental health and drug and alcohol.

Under this arrangement, WACHS will formally take on these services from the 1 April 2017.

“We are very pleased to have formally signed off on the funding agreement following negotiations with the Commonwealth and State Governments,” said WACHS CEO Darren Ah See.

The scope of the arrangement includes operations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Health Services provided from the Mt Druitt premises as well as Aboriginal health services to Penrith and the Healthy4Life services to Nepean Blue Mountain areas,” he said.

Currently the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WentWest) over sees the operations of the Sydney West Aboriginal Health Service (SWAHS), which is supported by funding from both the NSW Ministry of Health and the Commonwealth Government.

“WACHS will work closely with WentWest to transition their current operational arrangement to WACHS for the 1 April deadline.”

WentWest CEO, Walter Kmet welcomed the funding announcement.

“WACHS has a long-standing reputation for a strong business model which delivers culturally appropriate services. WentWest will work closely with WACHS during the transition of these services in line with the new arrangement.”

Western Sydney Local Health District CEO, Danny O’Connor also confirmed a commitment to working closely with WACHS and the PHN to strengthen Aboriginal health services in the city’s west.”

“WSLHD has already developed a relationship with WACHS and is looking forward to the opportunities that this new arrangement will bring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Western Sydney.”

CEO of Nepean Blue Mountains PHN, Lizz Reay said she was looking forward to the continuation Healthy4Life program in the Blue Mountains region.

Mr Ah See said that core primary health services continued to be provided from Mt Druitt and will continue to be provided during the transition period to WACHS.

“WACHS looks forward to working with the local Aboriginal communities of Western Sydney and the Nepean Blue Mountains as the service is established.”

For 25 years, WACHS under the guidance of a community appointed Board of Directors, have been providing primary health care, allied health and health promotion services to the Aboriginal community across NSW. In recent years WACHS has built a reputation for applying its successful business and operational model to enable the viability and stability of a number of community controlled Aboriginal health services.

These include:

• Establishing Aboriginal Medical Services in Orange, Coonamble and Dubbo
• Au spicing operations at Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service which is now independent
• Re-establishing the services at the Moree Aboriginal Residential Rehabilitation Service which had been closed for a number of years.

WACHS Board Chair, Marsha Hill said, “WACHS is very excited about the opportunity to extend its service capacity and is committed to working with staff at Sydney West Aboriginal Health Service, WentWest, Wentworth Healthcare Limited, Nepean Blue Mountains PHN, the Western Sydney Local Health District and other key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to support the continuity of Aboriginal health services to the Aboriginal community of western Sydney, and Nepean Blue Mountains regions”.

Further information about WACHS can be found at www.wachs.net.au

Media Contact: Rebekah Bullock 0407959781

This office will be CLOSED on the following dates:

Friday, 23^rd December 2016 from 12pm

Monday, 26^th December 2016

Tuesday, 27^th December 2016

Monday, 2^nd January 2017

The Board and Staff of WACHS would like to wish you and

your family a very happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2017

Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) are joining forces to tackle smoking at this year’s Walgett Aboriginal League Knockout.

The Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout returns to Sydney for the first time in 10 years and Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service will be a major partner to promote key health messages including Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program, organ and tissue donation and health screening.

Wellington at the forefront in health:

A recent health provider survey conducted by NSW Ministry of Health has found the Western NSW Integrated Care Strategy is working.

http://www.wellingtontimes.com.au/story/3981035/wellington-at-the-forefront-in-health/