UFS Pharmacies

📢 ALERT: There are increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria.

Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are increasing in Victoria, particularly amongst school-aged children. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness known for causing a cough, symptoms of which may be indistinguishable from other respiratory infections, especially in its early stages. Ensure vaccinations are up-to-date and get prompt diagnosis, isolation and treatment to reduce the spread.

To book your vaccination go to: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/whooping-cough/

To learn more about whooping cough go to: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/whooping-cough

For more information on the health alert see here: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-advisories/increasing-pertussis-whooping-cough-cases-in-victoria

A reminder during this Loneliness Awareness Week to look out for those around you.

❓❓❓ Was your child born in 2008-2009?

If so, they may have been in Year 7 during the COVID-19 lockdowns. This means they may not have received their whooping cough/HPV Booster.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a serious, contagious, respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease begins like a cold and then the characteristic cough develops. This cough may last up to 3 months, even after antibiotic treatment is completed and the person is no longer infectious.

There have been a number of whooping cough cases reported in Bendigo recently and the vaccination and administration is FREE at Bendigo UFS Pharmacies for adolescents who haven't been vaccinated via the school program.

For more information and to book see here: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/whooping-cough/

So grateful to be able to support incredible organisations like Sunshine Bendigo. We encourage you to follow their page as you too may be able to help 🙏🏻

We are so grateful to who saw our call out for baby toiletries and arrived today with boxes of baby items.
We so appreciate local businesses jumping on board and supporting us, so we can continue to support those in need of a helping hand!

Mohamed Bassuny (our Pharmacy Manager of View Street) and Susan Randall (Manager of Health and Innovation) attended the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Conference over the weekend. There was an incredible amount of networking, learning and inspiration. Lecturers from La Trobe University in Bendigo were there too! 🤩

📈Pharmacy is going through significant change with scope of practice increasing to meet the primary health care needs of our community. Now with pharmacists able to prescribe vaccinations and treatment for UTIs we will only see more of this.

❓What services would you like to see in our pharmacies of the future? ❓

Do you know what the 2024 COVID-19 Booster Dose Eligibility is?

In 2024, those aged:
• 75 years and over continue to be recommended a dose of COVID-19 vaccine
every 6 months.
• 65 years and over, and adults with severe immunocompromise, continue to be
eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose every 6 months.
• all other adults can receive a single dose this year

Come in and see us at our Vaccination Clinic at the Bendigo UFS Health Hub in Hargreaves Street. Walk ins available or book here: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

👖 Join Bendigo UFS in wearing Jeans on Friday the 2nd of August for Jeans for Genes Day.

Jeans for Genes Day raises money and awareness for the 1 in 20 children who are born with a birth defect or genetic disorder, money raised is donated to the Children's Medical Research Institute where scientists work to find cures.

If you would like to donate you can via this link or donation boxes in stores https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/fundraisers/BendigoUFSPharmacies4566

DonateLife Week (28 July - 4 August) begins today and we would like to raise awareness and give thanks to this second chance at life organ and tissue donors can help people get.

Approximately 1800 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and many more needing tissue donation.

The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care says that while four in five Australians say they support donation, only approximately one in three are registered to be a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

To learn more about donation click here: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/all-about-donation
To join the organ register click here: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today

Check out this Grow Cook Share Food Hub initiative by Bendigo Foodshare!

Exciting news!
Next Wednesday is our first Bendigo Foodshare pop-up market for Term 3. There'll be 4 markets this term and in Monday's edition of our New Beginnings Newsletter you can collect 4 x $10 vouchers to use at the market! (First 20 at each market will be honoured).

If you don't already subscribe to the newsletter and would like it emailed to you, please send an email to [email protected]
with "subscribe" in the subject line.

This week is National Diabetes Week (14 - 20 July) and we would like to introduce you to Tamer! Our Pharmacist, Diabetes Educator, Sleep Technician and more; working from the Health Hub in Hargreaves Street.

Tamer has a love for learning and a passion for an integrated healthcare solutions.

Tamer can offer the following services:
* Diabetes Educator sessions
* Diabetes Medschecks
* Health Screening (Cholesterol, Glucose and Blood Pressure)
* Injections for Administration
* Sleep consults
AND MUCH MORE!

This week Tamer is offering FREE Diabetes Educator Consults.
To book a FREE consult click here (and select DIABETES MEDSCHECK) : https://bendigoufspharmacyservices.timetapau.com/ #/

*Note: This is only form our Health Hub location until Saturday 20th July

Pop in today and support National PJ Day!

👚 Bendigo UFS Staff at Strathfieldsaye, Hargreaves Street and Optical are wearing their PJ's on Friday the 19th of July.

❤ This is in support of The Pyjama Foundation who raise awareness and funds for children in foster care.

💲 The funds raised go towards improving the learning skills of the children in care who have the lowest education outcomes nationally. This program makes a positive and lifelong impact on all involved. Feel free to make a donation in store or just join in the fun wearing your PJ's this Friday!!!

🙏🏻 If you would like to donate directly please go to: https://fundraise.thepyjamafoundation.com/fundraisers/bendigoufspharmacies

👚 Bendigo UFS Staff at Strathfieldsaye, Hargreaves Street and Optical are wearing their PJ's on Friday the 19th of July.

❤ This is in support of The Pyjama Foundation who raise awareness and funds for children in foster care.

💲 The funds raised go towards improving the learning skills of the children in care who have the lowest education outcomes nationally. This program makes a positive and lifelong impact on all involved. Feel free to make a donation in store or just join in the fun wearing your PJ's this Friday!!!

🙏🏻 If you would like to donate directly please go to: https://fundraise.thepyjamafoundation.com/fundraisers/bendigoufspharmacies

With so much illness in our community, ensure you are up-to-date with your COVID booster. ATAGI booster dose recommendations as at 1 March 2024:

🔵 People with severe immunocompromise, who are aged between 18 to 64 years, are recommended a dose every 12 months and are eligible for a dose every 6 months based on an individual risk-benefit assessment.
🔵People aged between 65 and 74 years are recommended a dose every 12 months and are eligible for a dose every 6 months based on an individual risk-benefit assessment.

For more information and to BOOK NOW visit: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

Or come and visit us at the back of the Hargreaves Street pharmacy - 379 Hargreaves Street Bendigo, - walk-ins welcomed!

💤 Did you know we have sleep apnoea services available?

👨🏻‍⚕ Sleep studies, machine/mask trials, machine servicing as well as care and support is provided by our team.

📅 To book go to: https://bendigoufssleep.timetapau.com/

ℹ See here for more information: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/apnoea/

In celebration of Teddy Bear Picnic Day, our team in Strathfieldsaye held a morning tea with lots of yummy treats!

This day is all about spending time on a picnic with friends, family, and teddy bears. We hope you were able to get outside with friends and family and enjoy the sunshine to boost those vitamin D levels today. 🧺👯🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒🧸☀️

With thousands of children testing positive for influenza, COVID and RSV the government is urging the community to get vaccinated - the emergency departments are seeing increased demand with unprecedented influenza cases - especially in children.

Come and see us at the Bendigo UFS Health Hub - with walk-in appointments available now.

OR BOOK HERE: : https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

💉 Childhood vaccinations are available at our Health Hub in Hargreaves Street (at the back of the pharmacy).

Our highly qualified and experienced Nurse Immuniser can provide these on Tuesdays through to Saturdays at a time that suits you and you baby/children.

Come in and see us or to book and for more information visit: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/home-2/childhoodvaccinations/

👶🏻 Bendigo UFS Pharmacies offer childhood vaccinations at the Hargreaves Street Health Hub in a safe and quiet environment with our Nurse Immuniser Nicki.

Now you can book in on a day and time that suits, with the clinic open from Tuesdays to Saturdays - no need to time those naps!

Come in and see us or to book and for more information visit: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/home-2/childhoodvaccinations/

👩🏻‍⚕️ Having trouble getting into a doctor?

Our Nurse Nicki is available Tuesdays to Saturdays and can help with many minor ailments including:
- Examination ear/nose/throat/skin
- Removal of basic sutures and splinters
- Wound care management
- Minor cuts, bruises, abrasions and burns, strains and sprains
- Administer injections
- Health screening and urinalysis
- Skin conditions and rashes
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Hayfever or allergic reactions
- Insect bites

Book using this link: https://bendigoufsnurse.timetapau.com/ #/

For more information visit: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/health-hub/

❓ Did you know Bendigo UFS Health Hub in Hargreaves Street offer childhood vaccinations 5 days a week ❓

This includes catch-up vaccinations for those who may have missed any scheduled vaccines as well as the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule for younger children.

School holidays are the perfect time to get up-to-date and stay protected!

For more information and to book go to: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/home-2/childhoodvaccinations/

Finding Freedom is this year's theme for Refugee Week (16-22 June).

The theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families.

Our Manager of Health and Innovation, Susan Randall is pictured here with Bendigo Community Health Services staff and the CALD community to celebrate the ways in which we help the community together.

Sam from our Hargreaves Street pharmacy shows in-language cue cards that help us learn common greetings of our growing refugee communities.

We are currently supporting access to optical services for refugees via an initiative with Bendigo UFS Optical. Ken is pictured here providing these services. We are proud to be able to offer such important services to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.

Congratulations to Sarah Plowright who has made the state finals for Pharmacy Assistant of the Year (PATY)! This is a huge achievement!

PATY acknowledges outstanding pharmacy assistants’ skills, knowledge, leadership and customer service over a 12-month period.

Join us in cheering Sarah on to the next stages of Pharmacy Assistant of the Year 👏🏻

⏳ IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO VACCINATE!

😷 With huge cases of influenza, COVID and RSV affecting our community there is still time to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones.

❓ Did you know:
🥈you can get influenza and COVID vaccinations administered at the same time (separate injections)? That's efficient protection.
🧒🏻 cases of children are extremely high and often responsible for transmission. We have appointments after school and on weekends to fit kids in too.
👩🏻‍⚕️ we also have a nurse immuniser available so can vaccinate children under 5 years of age, convenient for the whole family!

To book: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

Do you have an old phone somewhere at the bottom of your draw? This phone can save a life! 💛

Donate your old mobile phone to help a victim of domestic violence.

HOW?

1. Sign out of your old mobile, including iCloud, iTunes and the App Store, and erase your data 📱

2. Drop your old phone at the Bendigo Library. 📍

They will pass on all phones to DV Safe Phone, who provide working mobiles directly to victims of domestic violence.

DV Safe Phone collects, repairs and gives free mobile phones to domestic violence survivors, through over 360 Domestic Violence and Law Enforcement Agencies, Safe Houses and Hospitals Australia -wide.

For more information, visit https://dvsafephone.org/

💉 mpox (formerly Monkeypox) vaccine eligibility criteria has been updated.

Yesterday, the Victorian Government expanded the eligibility criteria for free mpox vaccination to include additional at-risk groups. This change is due to 21 of 24 confirmed cases of mpox having been locally acquired in Victoria since 18 April.

See here for more information and the updated criteria: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alerts/changes-to-mpox-vaccine-eligibility-criteria

To book your mpox vaccination call or email our Health Hub team on 03) 5442 0444 or [email protected]

For other vaccination bookings go to: https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

✅ Be prepared like the Premier this Winter ❄️
‼️We recorded the highest number of flu cases on record at the start of the 2024 season and we are now seeing a triple threat of flu, COVID-19 and RSV cases circulating at high rates among the community.
📈There has been a 20% rise in influenza cases in children already this year with the peak of the season still to come and more than 90% of children aren’t vaccinated. 😳
💪🏻It’s not too late to vaccinate!
If you’ve been putting it off or lost track of time, book in now - our Health Hub Vaccination Clinic in Hargreaves Street can vaccinate for influenza, COVID-19, RSV and many more…and we are open Saturdays as well as after school hours!
https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/vaccinations/

Two days to go! Eden voucher refunds are still available until 5.30pm this Wednesday.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Pharmacist to join our dedicated Bendigo UFS community pharmacy team. We are hiring for a permanent, part time role working at our View Street and Strathfieldsaye pharmacies. To qualify, you are a registered pharmacist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Whilst we value experience, if you are newly registered and have a can-do attitude, we still want to hear from you.
For a full description and to apply at bendigoufs.com.au/careers or for any questions email us on [email protected]
We will be reviewing applications as they are received – so please apply as soon as possible.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Pharmacist to join our dedicated Bendigo UFS community pharmacy team. We are offering a permanent, part-time role working at our View Street and Strathfieldsaye pharmacies.

To qualify, you are a registered pharmacist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Whilst we value experience, if you are newly registered and have a can-do attitude, we still want to hear from you. We will be reviewing applications as they are received – so please apply as soon as possible.

For a full description, and to apply, head to bendigoufs.com.au/careers or email us at [email protected] with any questions.