Rural Outreach Program

The Rural Outreach Program is a Commonwealth funded program providing Health Promotion and podiatry services to the towns of Goodnight, Tooleybuc, Kyalite, Piangil, Koraleigh, Nyah, Nyah West, Moulamein, Sea Lake, Culgoa, Berriwillock, Nandaly and Woomelang. More recently towns of Woorinen, Ultima and Lake Boga have also been included.

The program was originally initiated by the Nyah Action Group who felt there was a need for increased health services in rural areas.  Following this, an extensive process was undertaken and involved the engagement of consultants for a health needs assessment of the included communities.  This report assisted Swan Hill District Health to develop a plan to address the needs of the communities surveyed and apply for further funding under the Regional Health Services Program.

The program employs a full time program manager, and a Community Health Nurse, Dietitian, Physiotherapist and Podiatrist one or two day per week each to provide health promotion services.  In addition to this, the podiatrist has been employed to provide direct podiatry service one day per month in Nyah West (Tuesday's), one day per month in Tooleybuc (Friday’s) and one day per month in Moulamein (Monday's).  The service also provides podiatry to Swan Hill Aboriginal Service on a weekly basis. For appointments for the Podiatry Service, please contact:
 
Nyah West
Nyah West Medical Clinic
Ph 5033 9390 Allied Health Reception
Swan Hill District Health

Moulamein
Moulamein Retirement Village
Ph 5033 9390 Allied Health Reception
Swan Hill District Health

Tooleybuc
Tooleybuc Community Health
Ph 5033 9390 Allied Health Reception
Swan Hill District Health

Health Promotion initiatives implemented through the Rural Outreach Program include:

Better Blokes
Well Women
Falls and Balance
Diabetes
Healthy Heart
Parenting programs
New Mum's groups
Backcare programs
Footcare programs
School based programs
Dental health
Strokesafe- Know Your Numbers

To view current program newsletters go to the NEWS section on the home page of this website and look at Health Promotion News.

Contact:

Program Manager—Larni Byrnes
Address:    Health Promotion, 60 McCrae St, Swan Hill
Phone: 5033 9337 or 0428 447 925
Email:  lbyrnes@shdh.org.au

Community Health Nurse—Leanne Bibby
Phone: 5033 9337
Email: lbibby@shdh.org.au

Physiotherapist/Exercise Physiologist—Jacqui Crawford  
Phone: 5033 9390     
Email: jcrawford@shdh.org.au

Podiatrist—Harriet Farquhar   
Phone: 5033 9390     
Email: hfarquhar@shdh.org.au  

Dietitian - Renae Noblet
Phone: 5033 9337
Email: rnoblet@shdh.org.au