UC Health Clinics

Have you ever wondered what an Adult OT clinic does?
Here at our OT Adult clinic our students can help with:
1. Preventing Falls
2. Home Accessibility and Safety
3. Managing Pain and Fatigue
4. Managing stress
5. Adapting to vision changes
6. Personal care, housework and living skills
7. Adapting to memory changes
8. Participating in social and recreational activities

Just because you have osteoarthritis does not mean you shouldn't exercise. Make an appointment with the UC Health Clinics and let us help you come up with a plan.

With the days getting colder and shorter now more than ever we need to look after ourselves. Take a look at our tips for self-care and try and implement some of them this weekend. ❤️🥰

June is Migraine Awareness Month. Come see us at the UC Eye Clinic if you suffer from migraines and we may be able to help. Appointments are free - so what have you got to lose 😀

Lace up your walking shoes for a great cause!
The UC Health Clinics are proudly supporting the Walk to Fight Parkinson's! Join our team of clients, therapists, and students as we walk to raise funds and awareness for those living with Parkinson's disease.
When: Sunday, May 19th 2024
Where: Rond Terrace, Commonwealth Park.
Every step counts! Let's show our support and make a difference together.

Its Macular Month. Come and get your eyes checked to help fight this disease!

We had a successful glasses donation drive with 42 pairs of glasses finding a new home. Its wonderful to see old glasses given a new lease of life. Big thanks to the UC Community for your donations and to Mijica for taking them over to Fiji.

Did you know that
• about 16% of Australians experience lower back pain
• most people with 'non specific' low back pain can get better quickly

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological condition that has impacts on a person’s physical and mental health. There are 150,000 people living with Parkinson's Disease in Australia. Everyday 50 new Australians are diagnosed with this condition. It is the second most common neurological condition in Australia behind dementia.
The UC Health Clinics provides student led physiotherapy services to people with Parkinson's Disease - offering fun exercise classes for those living with the condition. There is no cure, but exercise has been shown to help:
• Maintain balance & decrease falls
• Reduce symptoms of PD
• Improve confidence & quality of life
• Decrease feelings of social isolation, depression & anxiety
• Improve strength and mobility
• Maintain independence

Big thanks to all the UC Health Clinic clients that have donated their old prescription glasses and sunglasses. Thanks to you, Mijica is taking 50 pairs of glasses to Fiji to donate to those in need. Good luck Mijica and we cant wait to see your photos!

Are you wanting to update your prescription glasses? We now have a wide range of designer brands in stock waiting for new owners. Come in and update your look today!

Over the last 12 months the UC Optometry Clinic has been collecting used prescription glasses and reading glasses that have been donated by people in our UC Community.

Over the Christmas Holiday Break we saw 78 pairs of these glasses reach the glasses outreach centres in Papua New Guinea.

The people that received their glasses were extremely grateful to be given the chance to read and see and ultimately improve their quality of life.

If you have any used glasses that are lying around gathering dust please consider giving them a new and purposeful lease of life by donating them to our UC Optometry Clinic.

Did you know that the UC Health Clinics often run research trials through the clinic? Currently we are running a trial with the aim of improving the lives of people who have had a TIA or mild stroke – the CRAMS trial.
Part of this research includes a 2 hour Cardiovascular Rehabilitation class which encompasses 1 hour of supervised exercise and 1 hour of education. The education ranges from nutrition advice, stress factors and how to limit stress to the importance of regular exercise.
If you have had a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) or mild stroke in the last 12 months and would like to know more about the research project please contact us at the clinic to see if you are suitable.

Did you know that our Optometry Clinic can now do Vision Training? Vision training is beneficial in improving oculomotor skills in both the adult and paediatric population. It is also useful for spatial awareness and improving vision and depth perception. Lauren our OT student helped the clinic out by practicing popping bubbles in our Virtual Reality Headset.

This week is Occupational Therapy Week and this year’s theme is ‘Unity Through the Community’. In co-ordination with Inclusion UC, the UC Health Clinic OT students provided an accessibility tour to staff, students and the general public across the University of Canberra Campus.

The tour went through accessibility spaces across campus and incorporated an accessibility scavenger hunt into the tour. The students encouraged people to think about what accessibility really means; as it’s not only restricted to physical accesses but to other accessibility options which are often not thought about, such as temperature and lighting.

It's National Nutrition Week this week!

Only 8.7% of Australian adults meet their recommended vegetable intake of 5 serves per day. Vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fibre. A diet full of vegetables can help with overall health including reducing your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Eat a range of colourful vegetables as no single vegetable provides all the nutrients needed for a healthy, well-balanced diet.
If you would like to find out how to increase you daily intake of vegetables, come and see us at the Student-led Nutrition & Dietetics clinic.

• https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/dietary-behaviour/latest-release
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/fruit-and-vegetables
• https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/vegetables-and-fruits/

Our student-led physiotherapy clinic has a new partnership with ACT Water Polo.

The students are running bi-annual sport specific screenings sessions which have been specifically developed for state level water polo athletes.

Yesterday the students had one of these sessions to collect information which assists with athlete monitoring and injury prevention.

The screenings are a fantastic opportunity for students to be exposed to sport specific Physiotherapy programs and interact with professionals working in the Sport industry.

Saturday the 14th of October is International Allied Health Professions day. The theme this year is ‘stronger together’. Here at the UC Health Clinics we work together in multidisciplinary teams to provide individualised treatment for our clients. And we wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our allied health students.

Happy World Sight Day! Your eyes are precious, so let's take good care of them together. Here are some simple tips to keep those peepers in top shape! 💪👀

1. Protect from UV rays: Always wear sunglasses when outdoors to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays. 🕶️
2. Blink Breaks: Remember to take breaks from screens. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 💻
3. Balanced Diet: Nourish your eyes with a diet rich in leafy greens, colourful fruits, and omega-3 fatty acids. 🥦🍊🐟
4. Regular Check-ups: Schedule regular eye exams to detect and address any issues early on. (P.S. Free student led eye exams at the UC Eye Clinic) 📆👓
5. Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports eye health. Remember to drink enough water daily. 💧
6. Good Lighting: Ensure well-lit spaces to reduce strain while reading or working. 💡
7. Get Moving: Exercise boosts circulation, benefiting overall eye health. 🏋️‍🏃‍
8. Quit Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of eye diseases. Kick the habit for healthier eyes. 🚭

Let's spread awareness and prioritise our vision. Share these tips and tag someone to remind them to care for their eyes too!

Its World Mental Health Day today. Take some time to go through our tips to see what you can do to improve your own mental health. For more help or strategies make an appointment to see one of our allied health students and they can put together a personalised plan just for you.

Heart Disease one of the major causes of death in Australia and around the world. It can be a broad range of conditions that includes coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure and valve disease.

So how can I reduce my risk of heart disease?
• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Be more active, try and add activity into your every day life
• Stop smoking
• Get regular check-ups with your doctor; this is especially important if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
• Try and manage your stress

If you need support we can help you with exercise plans, meal ideas and stress reduction techniques.

The UC Health Clinics were at the University of Canberra's Open Day on the weekend! Armed with our balloon poo we were there to showcase all the clinics that we have on offer.

We had a number of competitions on offer including grip strength, rank the poo and fuzzy quoit toss.

Hopefully we convinced the high school students coming through to take on a degree in allied health! We love our clinics and are passionate about training the next round of allied health professionals!

Have you visited our student-led clinics in the Health Hub lately? The reception area is now home to an incredible Indigenous mural! 🎨

The mural was created by contemporary Indigenous artist Eddie Longford – a proud Wiradjuri man, born and raised on Ngunnawal country, whose work can be seen in schools and public spaces all over Canberra.

“I started by sketching a draft of the main features with pencil and then we decided on the colour palette,” Eddie says.

“The centre of the mural tells the story of the clinics being a place of learning and teaching, and how people from the community attend the clinics, but also how students then go out and take what they’ve learnt into the community as well.”

To book an appointment and see Eddie's beautiful mural in person visit:
https://bit.ly/43qvMK4

May is Macular Month – an important date in raising awareness for this life-changing eye disease that affects 1.9 million Australians each year 👀

Currently, there isn't a cure for Macular Disease - however, early detection can allow for treatment and slowed degeneration.

Symptoms to look out for include difficulty in reading, distortion (straight lines may seem wavy), problems with distinguishing faces, and dark patches in your vision. You may also be at an increased risk depending on your family history, diet, and overall health.

While Macular Disease can feel daunting, we are here to remind you that you are not alone. Empower yourself this Macular Month by visiting UC Health Clinics for a free overall eye health check by our optometry students and create a vision for a healthier future today 🙌

Visit https://bit.ly/3VdSZNs for information on bookings and appointments.

Yesterday, UC Health Clinic's annual Exercise Right Campaign united the UC community with health professionals in a sun-filled walk around campus.

The event highlighted the important work our health professionals do and why connecting with qualified staff is essential to an informed health journey.

We loved meeting you all and answering your health questions while getting our daily exercise in simultaneously 🙌

If you missed out on the event and would like to connect with our staff to start reaching your health goals, visit https://bit.ly/3p10Em7 😊

UC Health Clinic's annual Exercise Right campaign is taking place next Tuesday 23 March and we need your support! 😊

Kicking off at 1pm, the passionate Exercise Physiology team at UC's Health Clinics is inviting the UC community (staff and students) to join them on a 30-minute walk to raise awareness of the value of consulting Accredited Exercise Physiologists.

It's a chance to get moving, soak up the midday sun and learn how to implement exercise into your daily routine - no cost required.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3pSHsaA

We can't wait to see you there and walk together on a path towards a healthier future! 🙌

Looking to improve your health as the colder weather creeps in? ☃️ UC Health Clinics is here to help.

At both on-campus locations, we offer a suite of services including optometry, physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics, counselling, and more!

With a focus on student-led care and innovation, all our services set the bar high for affordable, high-quality treatment in Canberra.

To set yourself up for a healthy 2023 visit https://bit.ly/3p5bY0E

Meet the passionate students behind your care! 😊

At UC Health Clinics, all our services are led by our students, who offer a range of specialised treatments under the guidance of healthcare professionals.

By putting their training at the heart of everything we do, we not only support the future of ACT’s healthcare workforce but provide you with more time for assessments, treatments and integrated care - all at a lower cost.

Want to experience the student-led clinics for yourself? Visit https://bit.ly/3p5bY0E for bookings and appointments.

Welcome to the official account for the UC Health Clinics! 👋

Here you will find information about our clinics and services, as well as tips to help you live a healthy and happy life.

To contact us or book an appointment, visit canberra.edu.au/health-clinics