Central Bayside Community Health Services

Today, our Harm Reduction team joined staff, volunteers and partner organisations to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. Seven Australians die from overdose every day and behind every number is a person – a loved one, a friend, a neighbour, a member of our community. Together, we remembered those lost to overdose and recognised the lasting impact their loss has on families, friends and communities.
The session also included training on how to recognise and respond to an overdose. With substances increasingly being contaminated or mixed with other drugs, overdose can happen unexpectedly. That's why carrying Naloxone can save lives, even if you or your friends don't use opioids. Follow sesh.ed for drug alerts and harm reduction information, and DM our Harm Reduction team at sesh.ed for free access to Naloxone.

Happy birthday, Mrs Wong! 🎉💯
This week, our Chinese Social Support Group came together with Mrs Wong, her family and friends to celebrate an incredible milestone, her 100th birthday. 🎂✨
Moments like these highlight what makes our community so special and the meaningful connections and friendships that grow through our social support groups. Mrs Wong's family shared their gratitude for the support she has experienced at BHN, and for helping make her 100th birthday such a memorable occasion.
Congratulations Mrs Wong on this remarkable milestone. We were honoured to celebrate with you and wish you happiness, good health and many more moments of joy. 💙

Looking to make friends or stay active? Find out more about our social support groups at bhn.org.au/social-support (clickable link available in our bio)

We're proud to be a member of Diversity Council Australia (DCA) and to continue strengthening a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected and included.
As Australia’s leading independent peak body for diversity and inclusion, DCA’s research shows that inclusive and diverse teams not only better reflect the communities we live in and support, but are also more innovative, collaborative and able to deliver better outcomes.
We're excited about this partnership and supporting our employees, clients and communities together. 🤝✨

Our Gambler’s Help team joined financial counsellors from community organisations across Victoria last week at Parliament House for the Financial Counselling Victoria Exhibition.

The event provided an important opportunity to raise awareness of gambling harm and the free, confidential support available through Gambler's Help.
While spending on electronic gaming machines (pokies) has remained steady, we discussed growing concerns about the significant rise in online gambling with parliamentarians and their staff. Many were keen to continue conversations about gambling harm and help connect their communities with trusted support services and resources.

If gambling is becoming a concern for you or someone you care about, Gambler's Help offers free, confidential support.
Call 9575 5353 or find out more at bhn.org.au/gamblers-help

Our NDIS Adult Community Options (ACO) clients recently joined Beach Patrol Mordialloc to clean up the local beach. 🌊♻️

They collected rubbish along the foreshore and carefully documented the types of litter found. This data is provided to government agencies and environmental groups, helping to identify pollution trends and support environmental initiatives. Volunteering opportunities like this offer our ACO clients meaningful ways to give back to their local community,🤝 get outdoors,☀️ build connections 💙and develop skills 📚 while making a tangible difference to the environment. 🌏

Beach Patrol is a community-driven environmental organisation that brings local volunteers together to collect plastic litter and rubbish from beaches and surrounding streets, helping to protect our waterways, marine life, and local environment. 🌊🐬♻️

If you'd like to get involved, Mordialloc Beach Patrol meets on the third Sunday of every month from 9am to 11am, behind Peter Scullin Reserve. Community members of all ages are welcome to get involved. 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

What if storytime could do more than entertain? 📚✨

That's exactly what our Health Promotion team is supporting through Early Threads: Weaving wellness into storytime.

Led by storytelling coach and educator Anna Manuel, and bilingual storyteller and founder of Hora da Historia Storytelling Leticia Hennessy-Maia, the workshop brought together librarians, Language Other Than English (LOTE) storytime facilitators and playgroup facilitators.

Participants explored multimodal storytelling techniques, which combines multiple communication modes such as text, audio, visuals and gestures. They also honed their storytelling skills to better engage young children, and reflected on how storytelling can support the wellbeing of multicultural children and their families.

Through Early Threads, we're empowering storytellers to create safer and more inclusive spaces where children and families can thrive. 🌱📖

Find out more about how our Health Promotion team supports communities at bhn.org.au/services/health-promotion/ or click the link in our bio.

Looking to make friends, build routine and keep active?🚶‍♀️🤝

Our Social Support Groups offer an affordable way for older adults to stay connected. From exercise classes and crafts🎨 to outings,🚌 quizzes,🧩 cultural celebrations🎉and more, there's something for everyone.

With groups and outings happening across south-east Melbourne, we'll help you find activities that match your interests, goals and abilities.🌟

📞 Call 132 246 to get started or find out more at bhn.org.au/social-support

Homelessness is a health issue as much as it is a housing issue. Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness with around 6% of people experiencing homelessness sleeping rough. Many more people are couch surfing, sleeping in cars, staying in temporary accommodation, or living with ongoing uncertainty about where they will stay next and whether they will be safe.

As Homelessness Week 2026 wraps up, we keep moving forward with its theme, Homelessness Action Now. BHN recognises the importance of responding to homelessness through a strong health lens and by addressing the social determinants of health that shape wellbeing, including safe housing, income, education, social connection, access to care and ongoing support.

Read more at bhn.org.au/blog/beyond-housing

It's Dental Health Week! 🦷

Keep your teeth healthy with these five simple tips:

✅ Brush twice a day and floss between your teeth
✅ Choose water as your drink of choice to stay hydrated
✅ Avoid swishing or holding sports drinks in your mouth before swallowing
✅ Take a sip of water after drinking a sports drink
✅ Wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth

Looking after your oral health is an important part of your overall wellbeing.

To learn more about BHN's dental services in Parkdale, Bentleigh East, Prahran and South Melbourne, visit: https://www.bhn.org.au/services/dental/