October 2002

Revamped services improve health of eastern residents

People in Melbourne’s east will have better facilities for managing key health issues following community health upgrades and refurbishments made possible with Government support.

Health Minister John Thwaites visited three upgraded premises in Ringwood which house a range of health and support services for people in the eastern suburbs.

He officially opened a new counselling centre in Ringwood operated by Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) and visited the new Lifeworks psychiatric disability support service day program premises and the Womin Jeka health centre.

He also officially opened the refurbished former Manvantara hospital site in Warrandyte Road, which co-locates Eastern Drug and Alcohol counselling services, Gambler’s Help and Financial Counselling.

‘The Government and EACH jointly provided $1 million to make the facility operational and ease overcrowding at other Ringwood facilities.’

Mr Thwaites announced two grants totalling $332,000 for EACH to extend its drug and alcohol support services, including a new family counselling service for people affected by substance abuse problems and assistance for more GPs to provide specialist services.

He said the Womin Jeka health centre, upgraded with $250,000 in Government funding, allows co-location of the Human Services Department’s Outer East specialist children’s services team, Maroondah Council’s Maternal and Child Health and Women’s Health East.

The new premises for Lifeworks allows the program to boost its efforts across many day activities for people with a psychiatric illness including arts and crafts, music, drama, cooking and internet use.