Issue 11 22 Nov 2024

Dental In - Clinic Appointments

All students attending government schools are eligible for Smile Squad for free dental services– includes teeth cleaning, fluoride applications, fillings and any other non-cosmetic, follow-up treatments. They do not need a healthcare card, Medicare or access to the Child Dental Benefits Scheme. Parents will still need to complete the consent online form but can book independently and directly with the Smile Squad provider, Barwon Health.

Barwon Health North Dental Clinic

155 Princess Highway, Norlane 3214

Tel: 03 4215 7240

Head Start Program

Congratulations to Joel Curran (Certificate III in Meat Processing- Retail Butcher) for starting his Head Start School-based Apprenticeship in 2024.

Doctors-In-Secondary Schools (DISS)

The Doctors in Secondary Schools (DISS) program is still operating at NGSC each Thursday. The clinic is staffed by Nurse Kate, Dr. Cecilia, and Nathan (Psychologist) from Barwon Community Health. Students can see the nurse or doctor for a wide range of reasons and referrals can be made online https://bch.org.au/contact/youth-referral/ or by contacting one of the Student Wellbeing Coordinators. Parents/carers can also contact Student Wellbeing for enquiries.

Doctors- In- Secondary Schools’ last day of onsite services for the school year will be on the 5th of December.

Financial Support - Uniting Barwon

Financial Support for 2025 Education Costs

Uniting Barwon provide eligible NGSC families with financial support for textbooks, uniforms, and education expenses.

Families that hold a current Health Care Card or are experiencing exceptional circumstances are eligible for support.

We encourage all eligible families to contact Uniting Barwon ASAP to book in an appointment time.

Please call 4210 1100 between 9:30 -11:45 Monday – Friday.

Uniting Barwon is located at 270 Torquay Rd, Grovedale.

If transport is not available, please advise the Uniting Barwon worker when you call.

Uniting Barwon

Ph: 4210 1100

Call between 9:30am - 11:45am Monday to Friday to book an appointment.

If you do not hold a Health Care Card but require assistance, please contact the Student Wellbeing team on Ph: 5240 5800.

Support Numbers for Young People and Families

Emergency - 000

Barwon Health Mental Health Services - 1300 094 187

Orange Door - 1800 312 820

Lifeline - 13 11 14

Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800

Suicide Line 24/7 - 1300 651 251

The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre -03 5222 4318

Headspace - 03 5222 6690

eHeadspace - Emergency assistance | headspace

Youth Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636

Get support - Beyond Blue - Beyond Blue

Adolescent school immunisation catch-up sessions

Adolescent School Immunisation Catch Up Sessions | Barwon South West Public Health Unit

If your child has missed out on their school-based vaccinations, it’s not too late to catch up.

Secondary school immunizations are provided free to students in Year 7 and Year 10.

Catch up for secondary school immunisations is free up to 19 years of age.

Barwon Health Immunisation Service will offer a catch-up week at different venues around Geelong from Monday 25 November to Saturday 30 November 2024.

This is open to any Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 age students up to 19 years of age, who have missed their immunisations at school.

Booking links for the extra sessions:

Barwon Health North:

Tuesday 26 November 3.30pm-6.30pm and Friday 29 November 3.30pm-6.00pm, Barwon Health North,

https://www.trybooking.com/CWAIM

To see if your child is due for any vaccines, check your child’s immunisation history statement on the Australian Immunisation Register using your MyGov account.

If your child is over 14 years of age, they will need to access their immunisation history statement themselves through their own MyGov account or the Medicare mobile app.

Learn more about school-based vaccinations and why they’re important:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary-schools

Where can I get emergency food in Geelong?

There are many organisations that provide food assistance in the local Geelong region. Where You Can Eat provides an up-to-date guide on all the food relief agencies across the Geelong region. Please click on the link below for information on when, where, how, and what food relief services are available near you.

https://www.feedgeelong.com.au/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Where-You-Can-Eat-July-2024-Ed_FINAL.pdf

Health and safety risks associated with vaping

Many e-cigarettes contain highly addictive nicotine, even though it’s not stated on the label. Nicotine use by young people can have a damaging effect on brain development.

• E-cigarettes ('vapes') can explode or catch fire, causing burns and injuries that can be fatal.
• There are signs of reduced lung function in some people who use e-cigarettes. These people may be at higher risk of lung disease in the future.
• Vaping during pregnancy may harm the developing baby.

Vaping can cause addiction

• Many e-cigarettes ('vapes') contain nicotine, which is highly addictive
• Teens become more easily and rapidly addicted to nicotine than adults
• Nicotine harms the way a teenage brain grows, which may affect memory and concentration
• Most vapes and e-liquids in Australia contain nicotine, even though it’s not stated on the label
• People who use vapes are more likely to start smoking tobacco cigarettes

Vapes have safety risks

• Vapes can explode or catch fire. Burns and injuries from vapes can be fatal.
• Burns and injuries most commonly occur on faces and around the genitals (when vapes are kept in pockets)
• E-liquids are poisonous if swallowed. Nicotine poisoning causes seizures that can be fatal.

Vapes come with health risks

• Many of the chemicals in vapes have health risks. These include chemicals that are known causes of cancer, heart disease or lung disease
• There are signs of lung function problems in some people who vape. These people may be at higher risk of lung disease in the future
• Vaping during pregnancy may harm the developing baby
• There is some evidence that babies whose mothers vaped during pregnancy have a higher risk of low weight at birth
• The health effects of e-cigarettes for tobacco smokers include nausea, headache, throat irritation, cough, dizziness, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure

People who smoke who also vape may suffer from:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Headache, nausea and dizziness
• Throat irritation and cough.

https://www.vapingfacts.org.au/health-and-safety-risks#health-risks

Below you can find a First Nations information sheet on Vaping

First_Nations_Vape-Animation_Fact-Sheet.pdf

Watch this video clip on How Vaping Can Harm Your Health and Make You Dependent on Nicotine

• Arabic: https://youtu.be/OLIDfh7mPt4
• Dari: https://youtu.be/hsktVo_PTkU
• English: https://youtu.be/6SGoCmLnmy0
• Karen: https://youtu.be/L4cepoXG_vM