The Closing the Gap team change the live on many Aboriginal community members who live with Chronic Diseases. Here are some of our wonderful client stories that we have had the pleasure of working with recently.
Our lovely client, Gary has tried out a new mobility scooter at an independent living specialist in Penrith. Garry found it difficult to get to the grocery store and attending his GP appointments but now through My Aged Care, our Aboriginal Health Outreach Worke, Belinda has organised an occupational therapist to assist Gary in picking a new mobility scooter.
Gary’s new mobility scooter even has attachments that can keep Garry dry from wet weather, helps to carry groceries, and his walking stick with ease. Garry was excited to take it for a spin!
We received amazing news for one of our clients who has been on our program since October 2023 who was initially reluctant to engage with our Integrated Team Care. The client who has numerous chronic diseases including cardio, respiratory and the main one being cancer, would not attend any appointments. Our team would coordinate between CNC nurses from Nepean Cancer Clinic as she would not answer our calls or request any type of help from our team. Her distrust would cause her to constantly miss appointments and she would refuse to take her medications.
NCNS Aboriginal Health Outreach worker, Belinda and Care Coordinator, Sara would consistently try and contact this client as they did not want to give up. The client began to engage with Belinda and Belinda was able to build rapport with this client leading to her accepted the teams help which was incredible.
The client called Sara on 27th May and told us that her cancer is now in remission and now she only needs to attend the Nepean Cancer clinic every 3 weeks, for the next 2 years on a trial injection that Medicare will financially assist with.
Gary’s new mobility scooter even has attachments that can keep Garry dry from wet weather, helps to carry groceries, and his walking stick with ease. Garry was excited to take it for a spin!
We received amazing news for one of our clients who has been on our program since October 2023 who was initially reluctant to engage with our Integrated Team Care. The client who has numerous chronic diseases including cardio, respiratory and the main one being cancer, would not attend any appointments. Our team would coordinate between CNC nurses from Nepean Cancer Clinic as she would not answer our calls or request any type of help from our team. Her distrust would cause her to constantly miss appointments and she would refuse to take her medications.
NCNS Aboriginal Health Outreach worker, Belinda and Care Coordinator, Sara would consistently try and contact this client as they did not want to give up. The client began to engage with Belinda and Belinda was able to build rapport with this client leading to her accepted the teams help which was incredible.
The client called Sara on 27th May and told us that her cancer is now in remission and now she only needs to attend the Nepean Cancer clinic every 3 weeks, for the next 2 years on a trial injection that Medicare will financially assist with.
“The workers at City Specs are wonderful! I get anxious when attending medical appointments but having my outreach worker, Belinda, walk me through it, made things a lot easier. I got to try on and pick my new glasses and they will be ready for collection in two weeks’ time!” explained Leon.
You may be eligible for the NSW Spectacles Program if you:
- are an Australian permanent resident living in NSW.
- receive a full Centrelink pension or income support payment, and receive no other income other than the Centrelink payment, or
- are a low-wage earner who earns less than:
- the full Jobseekers Payment if you’re aged under 65, or
- the aged pension if you’re aged 65 or over.
- have financial assets less than $500 (if single) or $1,000 (if married/partnered or parent/guardian).
- are a DVA cardholder who is not eligible to receive subsidised glasses through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- are not eligible for any other spectacles subsidy schemes.
To apply for the NSW Spectacles Program, please go to:
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-the-nsw-spectacles-program
For more information about our Closing the Gap team or to speak with our Closing the Gap team, please call 02 4706 0299.