BERWICK
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Thursday, 28 September, 2023
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Athlete to represent Casey
Kicking goals for charity
Narre’s netball dynasty
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SPORT
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Call for more social housing
Curious collections From the weird and wonderful and everything in between, this year’s Berwick Berwick Antique and Collectables Fair will have something to catch a keen collector’s eye. Now in its sixth year, the fair is moving for the first time to the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre at 10 Raymond McMahon Boulevard in Endeavour Hills, running from 9am to 4pm on Sunday 8 October. The event will also include a barbecue and Devonshire tea. Organisers Coosje and John Dubach said they are excited to welcome people from across the South East, with more than 40 stallholders selling a wide variety of collectables and antiques, including jewellery, vinyl records and more. Story page 18 Berwick Antique and Collectables Fair coorganiser Coosje Dubach with an English Pelham puppet. 362483 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Nurse shortage By Matthew Sims Casey Council’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service recorded a 8.56 per cent drop in participation due to a shortage of trained MCH nurses. During its meeting on Tuesday 19 September, the council certified its Performance Statement for the 2022/23 year, which detailed participation had fallen to 60.58 per cent. Following a period of reduced service offering to the zero to eight week age group from
last October, this has now increased to zero to 18 months age group as of the end of June. Casey Council child, youth and family manager Bronwyn Saffron said the shortage of nurses was yet another impact of shortages across the healthcare sector. “Workforce pressures continue to be felt across Victoria’s healthcare sector, which has had a significant impact on staffing resources for Maternal Child Health (MCH) services,” she said.
“While we continue to manage workforce pressures, the recruitment of additional staff allowed us to increase our service again in June 2023, to make MCH appointments available for children up to 18 months of age, as well as families with additional needs. “Prior to this, we needed to prioritise appointments for newborns aged zero to eight weeks and families with additional needs.” Ms Saffron said the council was continuing to work closely with the Health Department,
the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Safer Care Victoria to resolve the issue to ensure the service could return to full service levels as quickly as possible. “One way we’ve been working to address the challenges is through our support of MCH student placements,” she said. “Over 2023 and 2024, the council will support 24 student placements.” Continued page 3
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