The Community Nursing and Support Program provides high standard nursing care to people in their own homes and other community settings, enabling them to maintain quality of life.

Skilled clinicians, including registered nurses, occupational therapists and case managers provide care and family support. They work closely with your medical practitioner, hospital, allied health professionals and local council services.

The Community Nursing and Support Program can assist with:

• Comprehensive assessment and care planning and advice
• Wound assessment and management
• Palliative Care
• Continence assessment and advice
• Personal hygiene assessment and assistance
• Hospital in the Home and Post Acute Care Programs
• Stoma care and advice
• Diabetic management and advice
• Medication management
• Referral to other services or agencies as appropriate

Hours And Referrals

Anyone can make a referral for themselves, a family member or friend. Referrals can be made by a GP, allied health professional or hospital.

Hours of service: 8.00am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

A weekend service operates for eligible clients. A limited service is available after hours and public holidays.

For emergencies phone 000

Non-urgent messages can be left after hours on: Ph: (03) 52 580 841. This phone is checked regularly between 8.00am – 4.30pm, 7 days per week (including public holidays).

Our Point Lonsdale Health Centre offers a public dental program for adults (18 years and over) who are Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card holders. This service provides both emergency and general dental care.

Treatment services include examinations, fillings, radiographs, extractions, cleaning, fitting of mouth guards and splints, professional and dietary advice and referrals.

Health care or pensioner concession card holders or dependents of concession card holders, aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, refugees and asylum seekers or registered clients of mental health and disability services have priority access to dental care.

BCH Dental Health Services are available to public, full-fee paying and private health insurance patients. Fees may apply.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Phone (03) 5258 0828 for all dental appointments.

Dietitians practice in both nutrition and dietetics by:

• Supporting people to understand their nutritional needs in order to maintain optimal health throughout all ages and stages of life; and 
• Tailoring individual dietary plans to treat medical conditions and their associated symptoms.

Our qualified dietitians provide dietary advice relating to:

• suitable nutrient intake at different life stages e.g. pregnancy, menopause, ageing
• underweight/overweight
• sport, competition and hydration
• recipes and budgeting
• dietary supplements
• food and mood (mental health)
• food fuel to optimise performance for work/study/sport
• vegetarian diets
• vitamin/mineral deficiencies
• changes in appetite, dentition and swallowing
• treatment of diet-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, allergy and food intolerance, disordered eating and cancer.

Dietitians work with you to help you understand your dietary requirements and to develop an eating program tailored to your individual needs. They provide motivation and support to help you achieve your health goals. 

Our dietitians can work with you individually or together with your partner, carer or family.

An Occupational Therapist supports you maximise your independence, safety and quality of life.

Our Qualified Occupational Therapists help you to make changes in your daily activities including:

• Personal care activities – showering, dressing, grooming and toileting
• Home tasks – meal preparation, cleaning and home maintenance
• Community activities – banking, shopping and using public transport
• Leisure and social activities
• Work and education
• Pressure care

Our specialist team will discuss your goals, and assess your home and community environment to suggest ways for you to be as independent, capable and safe as possible. Solutions may include specialised equipment, home modifications or referrals to other clinicians to address specific medical or physical issues.Our team can also support in educating family or carers of your needs and assist in applying for funding for equipment and home modifications if required.

Our Occupational Therapists can visit you in your home, community, workplace or educational setting.

Physiotherapists provide expertise in functional and musculoskeletal problems, pain, balance and mobility.

Our Physiotherapy services can assist with:

• Exercise advice
• Pain reduction
• Recovering from injury
• Reducing risk of falls
• Returning to usual activities
• Providing advice to manage chronic conditions
• Recommending walking aids and equipment
• TAC Registered Provider

Our qualified Physiotherapists will assist you to develop a self-management plan and skills to achieve your activity and health goals.

Physiotherapy is available to public, full-fee paying and private health insurance patients.

Adult Podiatry

Podiatrists provide comprehensive foot care, diagnosing, treating and preventing foot, ankle and lower limb problems. Podiatrists can assist with:

• Acute and Chronic Foot Ulcers / wounds
• Foot infections
• Ingrown toe-nails
• Sporting injuries
• Biomechanical and musculoskeletal issues
• Heel spurs
• Corns and callous
• Skin and nail disorders including warts, fungal pathologies
• Diabetes related foot issues
• Degenerative joint deformities
• Neuropathic disorders

Our qualified and experienced Podiatrists examine your feet, taking into consideration your general health and medical background. They will advise you of any identified risk factors, provide you with treatment options and develop a care-plan to maintain or improve your foot-health.

A doctor’s referral with an attached health summary is appreciated but not required.

Self referrals are accepted however a doctor’s referral with an attached health summary is appreciated but not required.

You can also access this service with a Medicare Chronic Disease Management Plan

Podiatry is available to public, full-fee paying and private health insurance patients.

Foot care Nurse

Foot care is an important part of maintaining well-being, mobility and independence. Bellarine Community Health offers an integrated podiatry and foot care team, dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and maintenance of foot health and wellbeing.

Our qualified foot-care nurse provides basic foot-care services to clients who are in good health, but have difficulty reaching their toes or feet or have poor eyesight. The foot care nurse can support you with:

• Toe-nail maintenance or treatment
• Education on how you can improve your foot health at home

To be eligible for foot-care nursing services you must first be assessed by a Podiatrist.

Our qualified and experienced counsellors, both male and female, pride themselves on their confidential and caring service. Providing short to medium term counselling for adults (aged over 25 years). Working in partnership with you the counsellor will help you to identify your goals and match the therapy approach that best meet you needs. Your counsellor will discuss the number of sessions that will best support you and how often these sessions are held.

Therapies proven to be effective in helping people with a range of challenges including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Coping with the impact of mental health issues
• Relationship and family difficulties
• Grief and Loss
• Trauma
• Difficulty adjusting to life transitions including chronic health conditions
• Substance abuse and problem gambling
• Eating disorders
• Managing emotions and problematic behaviours
• Self-esteem and identity issues

To access BCH Counselling Services, you can request an appointment at any time. You do not need a doctor or medical referral.

People with low income or holders of health care or pension concessions cards are prioritised for appointments.

Please Note -

Bellarine Community Health is not a crisis counselling service. If you require a crisis service we can refer you to one.

Alternatively, the following organisations provide a 24 hour support service.

Barwon Health Mental Health, Drugs And Alcohol Services - 1300 094 187

Lifeline Barwon Region - 13 11 14

Exercise is an important part of maintaining or improving your health and wellbeing.

Bellarine Community Health offers a range of physical activity options for adults at locations across the Bellarine.

All new participants receive an individual assessment to select and tailor the right program for your needs and fitness aims. Individual programs are reviewed and adapted as your fitness progresses. 

All programs are supervised by qualified and registered instructors and are suitable for people with chronic health conditions.

Your GP (doctor) consent is required to register for the program.

Make A Move Program

This program is for people aged over 80 years and aims to prevent falls.

Participants complete the program at home following an assessment with one of our Physiotherapists and receive support from one of our instructors for a 12 month period.

Mobility Plus

This program aims to improve strength, flexibility and balance. Weekly classes are led by an instructor and include moderate, mostly chair based exercises with light weights.

Weight Resistance Training (WRT)

Is a  more challenging centre based program which provides participants with a strength, flexibility and balance training program in a group setting.

This program allows participants to exercise independently with a tailored program under the supervision of their instructor.

Nordic Pole Walking

This weekly group walk is ideal for people with chronic health problems.

Nordic Pole Walking provides increased stability and mobility and decreases the impact of walking on your lower limb joints.

Bellarine Community Health supports people to stay living independently into their older age.

We also operate the Eric Tolliday independent Living Units which are co-located at the Point Lonsdale Community Health Centre site. The tenanted units are managed under the Retirement Villages Act.

To find out more about our packages to keep you living independently in your own home, click here.

Meals on Wheels provides you with a nutritious, freshly prepared meal delivered to your home. Arrangements can be made for special dietary requirements.

Weekend meals are frozen and delivered on a Friday.

Some fees do apply but may be subsidised through a Home Care Package.

To learn about Home Care Packages, call the Intake team on (03) 5258 0812.

Keeping social, physically and mentally active is vital to our overall health. Our Social Support Program offers social and recreational activities for adults, supporting them to:

• Stay connected with the community and live as independently as possible, with a focus on working with you, rather than doing for you
• Stay active socially, physically and mentally
• Engage in stimulating and interest based activities and outings

Why Join A Social Support Group?

By participating in a range of enjoyable and meaningful activities, people can enhance, practice or maintain their skills, enjoy social contact with others and participate in the community.

The groups provide social support, respite and health information for participants and their carers. Assistance with transport may be provided for those not able to drive themselves. Morning tea and lunch is available.

Who Can Attend Social Support Groups?

The program is open to people who are seeking to maintain their independence and connection to the community.

This may include people living independently at home, or with the support of carers or family, and those with a disability. Specific programs also support people with memory loss and reduced mobility.

Attendance may also provide respite opportunities for carers.

Activities And Outings

The Social Support activities are planned in collaboration with the participants, based on their interests, strengths and goals.  In this way, the Planned Activity Group activities can enhance participant wellness and independence and support them to be an active participant in their health care.

Activities are held at our pleasant and spacious Community Health Centres or within the community and may include:

• Guest speakers and health information
• Sharing and discussion
• Gardening, fishing, billiards
• Participation in local projects
• Gentle exercise
• Activities to stimulate mind and memory
• Outings to local venues
• Games and activities
• Art, craft and music
• Picnics