Colac Area Health

🌱 Building Resilience in Children 🌱

The Colac and Corangamite Child and Family Services Alliance, in partnership with the Regional Parenting Service, are pleased to announce FREE Parenting Workshop presented by Lael Stone ✨

Join us for an engaging and an informative session designed to help parents nurture resilience in their children! Learn practical strategies to support your child's emotional wellbeing, confidence, and ability to navigate life's challenges. 💛

📅 WHEN
Thursday 22 October, 7:00pm

📍 WHERE
Colac Otway Performing Arts & Cultural Centre
95-97 Gellibrand Street, Colac

🎟️ BOOKINGS
This is a free event but bookings are essential! Scan the QR code on the attached poster or book here 👉 https://tickets.geelongaustralia.com.au/event/building-resilience-

🧠 We'll explore:
🔹 What is resilience
🔹 How to support children through adversity
🔹 Navigating anxiety and worry
🔹 Helping our children find their power

👩‍🏫 About Lael
Lael Stone is an author, TEDx speaker, counsellor, and parenting educator specialising in navigating trauma and disconnection in families. With 23 years' experience working with families — from babies to teens — Lael is a mother of three grown-up children and co-founder of Woodline Primary School, an innovative school focused on emotional intelligence. She's also the author of two books, Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children and Own Your Story. 📚

💫 Don't miss this chance to gain valuable tools to support your child's emotional growth!

👉 Book now: Geelong.link/LaelStoneParenting

💙 Celebrating Carers – Past, Present & Future! 💙

📍 Miller House
📅 Monday 12 October | 1pm – 3pm
☕ Afternoon Tea – FREE!

Carers' Week is our chance to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness of the incredible unpaid carers in our community who give so much to support others. 🙏

This event is a chance to connect, gain support, and hear from other carers about their journey — one that can be rewarding, but also difficult and isolating at times. 🤍

Whether you're a current, past, or future carer, we'd love for you to join us for a relaxed Afternoon Tea. 🍰🫖

👉 Need respite for the person you care for? We can arrange onsite respite so you can attend and enjoy the afternoon.

This event is completely free — our way of saying thank you for all that you do! 🌸

✅ RSVP by Friday 9 October 2026
📞 Call Miller House on 5232 5351
📝 Please let us know your dietary requirements and any respite needs when you RSVP.

We hope to see you there! 💛

🍽️ Celebrating Our Food Services Team! 🍽️

📅 Friday 25 September is National Food Service Employees Day, and we're taking the opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to our amazing food services team! 👏💛

From Aged Care to Acute Care, and keeping our Cafeteria well stocked, our food services staff work hard every day to nourish and care for our Residents, patients, staff and visitors. 🍲🥗☕

Your dedication, warmth, and hard work don't go unnoticed — you help make our facility feel like home for so many people. 🏡💙

Thank you for everything you do, every single day! 🙌✨

Pictured (L to R): Jess Clayton - General Services Assistant, Nick Jones - Head Chef, Shirley Stephens - General Services Assistant, Cherrie-Lyn Frith - Trade Cook, and Sylvia Hall - General Services Assistant

🌏 World Pharmacists Day – Friday 25 September 2026! 💊

This year's theme, "Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures," highlights the trusted care pharmacists provide and their expanding role in meeting the healthcare needs of Australians. 🩺✨

Today, we want to acknowledge and thank our wonderful pharmacy team at CAH! 🙏💙

Your knowledge, care and dedication make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our community every single day. From advice and support to accessible, reliable healthcare, you play a vital role in keeping our patients, Residents, clients, and community well. 🌱

Let's celebrate the important part community pharmacy plays in delivering accessible healthcare, and say a big thank you to our pharmacy team for all that you do! 👏💊

This week, 21–27 September, is National Week of Deaf People.

Deaf communities across Australia will be celebrating and raising awareness of the rights of Deaf people. This year’s theme, “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights,” highlights important aspects of Deaf people’s rights, including access to education and sign language, the recognition and celebration of Deaf culture, and the right for Deaf people to be at the centre of decisions that affect their lives.

In June, 20 Colac Area Health staff had the opportunity to undertake a beginner Auslan course delivered by Expression Australia. Since completing the training, staff have continued building their skills through a monthly Auslan Study Group, catching up over coffee to practise their newly learnt Auslan skills.

National Week of Deaf People is an important opportunity to celebrate Deaf culture, recognise Auslan as the language of the Australian Deaf community, and continue working towards more accessible and inclusive healthcare.

If you are interested in completing an Auslan course with Expression Australia please view the link below https://training.expression.com.au/w/courses/2-auslan-101

Listen to your body - is it telling you it's time to quit?

Coughing, wheezing and bleeding gums may be your body sending you signals that it's time to quit.

🚫Quitting can seem like a big deal, but when you take it one step at a time it becomes more doable.

It's time to quit, one step at a time. Give it a go.

There’s lots of support available to help you :
🚫https://www.quit.org.au/en
🚫Colac Area Health's Ni****ne Management Clinic 5232 5100, https://cah.vic.gov.au/services/smoking-clinic/

Join us for a series of Possum Skin Cloak Workshops led by Aunty Lisa Couzens.

These workshops are an opportunity for community to come together to contribute to the creation of possum skin cloaks and blankets for patients on their cancer journey or receiving palliative care. Supporting connection, comfort and cultural care.

The workshops are open to everyone, regardless of experience, and all materials will be provided. Workshop 1 in both Geelong and Colac will include an introduction to Possum Skin Cloaks, their cultural significance, and a demonstration on laying out and cutting the skins.

Geelong Region workshop 1 | Booln Booln Cultural Centre | Tuesday 15 September | 4.00pm to 6.00pm

Geelong Region workshop 2 | Norlane ARC | Tuesday 22 September | 11.30am to 2.30pm | Drop in at any time during the session

Please register your interest for catering purposes only.
Geelong registration link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/3smJQu9nrX

Colac Region workshop 1 | Colac Makers Space | Tuesday 29 September | 11am – 1pm

Please register your interest for catering purposes only.
Colac Registration link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/p69DtAktCe

We welcome community members to come along, learn, connect and contribute to this meaningful project.

If you would like further information, please use the contact details below:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

or Phone 0499321345 (Project Phone)

Breathe stronger. Play harder. Stay vape-free.

The best way to stop is to never begin.

Barwon South West youth are taking a stand against va**ng.

Va**ng can affect your breathing, fitness and recovery- all things that matter when you play sport.

If va**ng is getting in the way of your sport, or you’re thinking about cutting back or quitting, free support is available - no judgement. Find support here: https://cah.vic.gov.au/services/smoking-clinic/

Look after your lungs, back yourself and keep doing what you love.

More information here: https://www.geelongcity.vic.gov.au/services/family-and-community-services/young-people/youth-vape-prevention-project