Latest News

COVID-Normal. There has been more easing of restrictions in a number of areas and these are further welcome steps towards “COVID Normal” – a relief, but in reality, COVID-Normal is less about rules and more about putting the on us back on us, as community members. Our experience over the past two years has demonstrated that our Mallee communities do the right thing and, in COVID-Normal.

Visits to Aged Care. If you are visiting a resident in Aged Care, you may be asked to take a RAT test before you enter. We are ramping up testing for visitors as a precautionary measure. We are doing all we can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposures to our vulnerable residents, such as wearing N95 masks and having visits outdoors wherever possible.

From the kitchen. Our MTHCS kitchen teams in Ouyen and Sea Lake have been busy introducing a new approach that will give residents on special dietary requirement a better food experience. Food moulds (pictured below) are the latest in many improvements we’ve put in place over the past two years after a dietary review of our menus.

MTHCS receives carers funding. We are excited to announce that MTHCS will receive $19,200 in funding, which will go towards helping unpaid carers receive additional respite, employment and training opportunities, supporting their vital roles of caring for vulnerable loved ones during the pandemic.

Welcome Back to Early Years! We are all getting into the rhythm of new routines and processes at our MTHCS Early Years sites. They are always a hive of activity, and getting back to school and early years has been even busier than ever this year, with new systems and processes to manage COVID-19 risk.

A TEMPORARY hold on visitors at Mallee Track Health and Community Service (MTHCS) Ouyen facilities, has been lifted. Visits were suspended at Ouyen Aged Care and Pattinson House late last week due to a COVID-19 exposure, but both facilities reopened for visitors on Monday (January 24) 2022 under strict protocols, including a requirement for visitors to phone ahead.

Kids showing the way. We're happy to see so many families booking in for children's COVID-19 vaccination. Although children and young people are less likely to develop severe symptoms, some do get very unwell. Vaccination can protect kids and help prevent them transmitting the virus to family members, particularly older family members.

A local team to provide long-term mental health support for communities will be complete when Mallee Track Health and Community Service (MTHCS) recruits a Mental Health Clinician in the coming weeks. The Mental Health Clinician will work across the MTHCS catchment and within the Ouyen, Murrayville and Manangatang P12 colleges.

Keep doing the things that keep us safe. A lot has changed since our last update before Christmas - COVID-19 is now present in our Mallee Track communities, and the Omicron variant is extremely infectious. As Government restrictions change and evolve, the best protection for our families and communities is to go back to what we know works:

Volunteers Renae and Peter have been busy wrapping gifts and putting together food hampers to be delivered to local households as part of the Mallee Track Annual Community Christmas Appeal. The appeal is again being coordinated by MTHCS Ouyen Neighbourhood House in partnership with the Murrayville Neighbourhood House, Victoria Police, St Vincent de Paul Society and local schools.