Events & Functions - Ballarat Community Health Centre

What's on at BCH?

Follow these links for details or scroll down.

Alcohol & Other Drugs Programs

Personal Development Programs

Youth Programs

Physical Activity Programs

Healthy Eating & Weight Management

Life Skills / Enhanced Quality of Life

Mental Health

General Support Groups

Mental Health Support Groups

For further information and to book for any these programs, please contact us on 03 5338 4500 or the specific number listed below.

Alcohol & Other Drugs
Alcohol and Other Drugs: Therapeutic Group	A ten week program for clients experiencing issues with alcohol and other drugs. providing psychosocial support, education, maintenance and relapse prevention.	For times and dates, please contact the AOD intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
Alcohol and Other Drugs - After Hours Counselling Service	Alcohol and Other Drug counselling appointments for voluntary and mandated clients who are unable to attend during normal operating hours.	By appointment only, contact AOD intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
SSMART ASSK (Surviving Substance Misuse and Alcohol Risk Taking - Alcohol Substance Survival Knowledge)	A party safe program for Year Nine students. The program is delivered by a network of local service providers. The program is delivered at 21 Arms nightclub, where students attend a series of workshops - topics include: Drink spiking. Standard drinks. Emergency first aid. Effects of binge drinking. Risks of illicit drug use. General risk assessment.	Throughout school terms. Schools can contact Youth Services at the City of Ballarat www.ballarat.vic.gov.au
Hepatitis C	Community groups & individual education.	Contact Kirsty Simpson at Cooinda on 03 5338 4500.
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Personal Development
Build It! Self Esteem	A program for men and women who want to build better self esteem. The program aims to give people the tools to understand how low self esteem develops and is maintained, with the aim to challenge and change our thinking about ourselves and our world. Run in conjunction with Men And Family Relationships Program CAFS. More information here	Cooinda site 10 week program Gold coin donation Contact Jenny Apps on 03 5338 4500.
Pit Stop	Pit stop consists of 7 brief screening stations, modeled on the analogy of the body being likened to a car being serviced at a garage. Men are invited to participate and measure their roadworthiness (health status) in a 20 minute assessment by mechanics (health professionals) Chassis check (waist measurement) Torsion (flexibility) Exhaust (smoking) Fuel Additives (alcohol consumption) Shock absorbers (coping) Oil Pressure (blood pressure) Duco (skin cancer)	Contact the Healthy Lifestyle Team Leader on 03 5338 4500.
WRAPS Women Responding to Abuse by Partners (& others)	8 week support group for women who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, family violence - any age group. Information session prior to commencing program. More information here.	Co-facilitated by WRISC at Cooinda. Gold coin donation Contact Reception on 03 5338 4500.
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Youth
Funk Dance	Funk/Modern dance for teenagers, young adults and even keen mums or dads. Age: upper primary to lower secondary	Sebastopol site $5 per session Thursday evenings
Young Parents Group (PODS)	Pregnant or parenting Under 20 years of age Provides young parents (mums and dads) with support to continue or resume education or training Wednesday Afternoon Young Parents Group; Life skills, parenting skills and socialization (paediatric first aid, jewelry making, cooking, relationship skills)	Ballarat Central Library Free childcare available
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Physical Activity
Community Walking Groups	Aim to improve physical fitness in a social environment.	More information available here
Living Longer Living Stronger	Strength/weight training to regain and maintain muscle. Improve strength balance gait flexibility coordination preserve bone density 50+ age group. Assessment required before attending group.	$3 per session Sebastopol site Monday 8.30am–11am Tuesday 8.30am-10.30am Wednesday 8.30am-10.45am Thursday 8.30am-10.45am and 1pm-3.00pm Friday 8.30am-10.45am Cooinda site Tuesday 1pm-2.30pm Friday 11am-12pm Dereel Tuesday 11.30am-12.30pm Thursday 11.30am-12.30pm Haddon Friday 9.15am-10.15am
Vigour for Veterans	High intensity aerobic class that involves stretching, standing and seated activity and relaxation. Prior assessment is required. 50+ age group. Assessment required before attending group.	Sebastopol site $3 per session Monday 11:30am–12:30pm Tuesday 11am-12pm
Smart Start	Low intensity chair based exercise group designed to improve muscle strength and flexibility. Gentle exercise. Assessment required before attending group.	Sebastopol site $3 per session Tuesday 1:30pm–2:30pm
Tai Chi for Arthritis	Aims at improving pain, quality of life and balance of arthritis sufferers.	Sebastopol site $30 per 10 week term Monday Beginners 1pm-2pm Advanced 2pm–3pm More information available here
No Falls	An exercise program designed to improve balance for people who have experienced a fall or are at risk of falling, through developing muscle strength & balance.	Sebastopol site $3 per session Friday 11am–12pm
Parkinson’s Exercise Group	An exercise program designed to improve balance for people with Parkinson’s Disease who may be at risk of falling, through developing muscle strength & balance	Sebastopol site $3 per session Friday 1.00-2.00pm (1st Friday of month 12pm-1pm)
WAGS Community Group	Aerobics, etc.	Cooinda site $3 per session Tuesday 11am-12pm Friday 9:15am-10.15am
Yoga	A gentle form of exercise designed to benefit every part of the body done in conjunction with breath exercises and meditation.	Sebastopol site Wednesday 2pm-3pm Initial contact details required.
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Healthy Eating & Weight Management
Supermarket Tours for people with Diabetes	Do you have Diabetes? Would you like some help in reading food labels and choosing healthy foods?	Cost $8 Bookings call 03 5338 4500 For more information, please contact the Clinical intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
Coeliac Information sessions & Supermarket Tour	3 week education program for people diagnosed with Coeliac disease or gluten intolerance - run by a Dietitian. 2 education sessions 1 supermarket tour More information here.	Sebastopol site Cost $20 (including manual) For more information, please contact the Clinical intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
MEND	Program was designed in 2001 by leading health experts in the field of childhood obesity management. MEND 2-4 MEND 7-13	For more enquiries, please call Demelza Diacogiorgis on 03 5338 4500.
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Life Skills / Enhanced Quality of Life
SCUFF Self Care Understanding For Feet	A 2 hour presentation by a podiatrist on prevention & management of common foot conditions. More information here.	Sebastopol & Cooinda sites Cost $3 Phone 03 5338 4500
Well Women’s Clinic	This service is provided by female Pap Test Credentialed Nurses. Pap testing Breast health awareness Education Support Pregnancy testing Blood pressure reading Referral to other relevant health professionals More information here.	Cooinda site Clinics are held the first Tuesday of each month. 3pm-7pm Each appointment is 45 minutes in duration. For bookings phone 03 5338 4500.
Smoking Cessation Support	Ballarat Community Health offers clients who wish to stop smoking a Stop Smoking information and support service. The service may be in the form of brief intervention support on the telephone or time limited face to face support with a trained smoking Cessation Nurse We are also able to assist with referral to other Quit services if required. These may include phone based ie QUIT line or other local providers. Group Stop Smoking Information Sessions are also available to workplaces or community organisations on request delivered by trained Smoking Cessation Facilitators.	For more information or to refer, please contact the Clinical intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
Caring for Diabetes	Short course for people recently diagnosed or anyone with Type 2 Diabetes. Support people welcome. Self referral welcome.	Sebastopol & Cooinda sites 8 week program For more information, please contact the Clinical intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
DAFNE	Short course for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. Attendance is daily for the entire week. Referral from an Endocrinologist or GP required.	Sebastopol site Cost $100 ($50 for low income earner) 9am to 5pm For more information, please contact the Clinical intake worker on 03 5338 4500.
Asthma Education	Individual Asthma education and facilitates through Asthma Victoria, Asthma Friendly Schools and Emergency asthma management courses. Any queries re asthma management welcome.	Cooinda site Contact Margaret Stangl on 03 5338 4500.
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Mental Health
Please refer to the APROTCH program guide available at all BCH sites
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General Support Groups

There are a number of support groups that meet at Ballarat Community Health sites.
For more information, please call Ballarat Community Health on 03 5338 4500.

Ballarat Type 2 Diabetes Support Group

Open to all people with diabetes, family and friends or any interested persons.

When: Meets once a month Monday afternoon at 4pm.
Venue: Sebastopol site

Also meeting is a walking group Thursdays 4pm at Victoria Park outside toilets on Sturt Street.

For more information, please contact Kathy Allen 0418 175 880 (after 3.30pm) or email kgmac3@bigpond.com

Parkinson’s Support Group

When: 1st Friday each month, 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Venue: Sebastopol site

Prostate Cancer Support Group

When: 1st Tuesday, every 2nd month, 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Venue: Sebastopol site

Respiratory Support Group

Last Tuesday each month, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Location: Sebastopol site

Mental Health Support Groups

Insights Bi-Polar Group

The Insights group is made up of those who suffer from bipolar disorder, formally called manic depression. The group also invites those who support people with bipolar, including family members, friends and carers, but on when invited by the person for whom they care. Having started in 2005, the group aims to provide a forum so that people can gain and give support and education about their experiences of illness. It is intended that members will learn about the illness and ways of dealing with it and so gain inspiration from one another. Confidentially is crucial, so there is an expectation that matters discussed in a meeting and the details of those who attend will not be discussed outside the group.

When: Meetings are held monthly. They are on the 4th Thursday of each month between 7pm-8pm. Meetings are followed by a supper.

Venue: APROTCH site

For more information, please contact Mark Lacey on 5320 4100 / markl@bhs.org.au or John Harrison 5336 0565 / 0417 133 993 / johnharrison1946@hotmail.com

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Bereaved Parent Support

TFC support groups offer the opportunity for bereaved parents to meet in a safe environment with others who have 'been there' after the death of a child at any age and from any cause, and who understand and care. "We need not walk alone".

When: Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month between 7pm-8.30pm.

Venue: Sturt Street site

For more information, please contact Robyn on 0417 844 126 or toll free on 1800 641 091.

Ballarat Eating Disorders Carer Support Group

For carers / family of those who have an eating disorder.

When: Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7pm.

Venue: APROTCH site

For more information, please contact Nola Kervarec, Carer Respite & Support Service, on 5333 7104.

Ballarat Family & Friends Support Group

This group is for family/carers who care for someone with a mental illness.

When: This group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

Venue: APROTCH site

For more information, please contact Nola Kervarec, Carer Respite & Support Service, on 5333 7104.

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