Engaging with the community

Country SA PHN Newsletter April 2025

Country SA PHN Community Advisory Committees are providing their local knowledge in auditing the Regional Services Directory, which is a single database of health and social services in country South Australia that is presented as thirteen separate on-line regional service directories.

The directories are designed to be easily accessible platforms of current information about health and support services in each region – helping people find the right service, at the right place, at the right time. Services are aligned with six domains related to people’s health and wellbeing.

The directory aims to be a valuable resource for both community members looking for a service and service providers looking to refer or provide direction to clients. We are thankful to the Community Advisory Committees for their assistance. Visit the Services Directory.

Community Advisory Committees are also working with Health Q Consulting to connect community members into the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) consultation, so authentic local knowledge and lived experience can inform relevant future service design and commissioning planning.

On Tuesday 11 March, Bridget Kennelly, Country SA PHN’s Manager – Community Collaborations, joined the Fleurieu Region Community Services Advisory Committee at Yankalilla. Highlighted in this meeting were high levels of appreciation for the Dementia Support Pharmacist program currently being implemented in the local region by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia.

On Wednesday 12 March, the Barossa Local Health Cluster met in Nuriootpa. Guest speaker and local Pain Educator, Karine Meadley, a recipient of the 2024/25 Health Promotions Grant, spoke of the upcoming Pain Revolution Community Event, to be held at Barossa Bushgardens on Saturday 10 May. The other successful 24/25 Health Promotions Grant recipient, The Barossa Big Sing, kicked off their first workshop as part of the Barossa Vintage Festival on Saturday 15 March, with the main event to occur during the Vintage Festival on Saturday 26 April.

Bridget travelled to Berri on Tuesday 18 March for the Riverland Community Services Alliance meeting. A meeting highlight was guest speaker Skye Hayes from the Office for Early Childhood Development discussing the implementation of 3yr old pre-schoolers from 2026.

Bridget, on behalf of Country SA PHN, also sits on the Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) in Research Action Group for Health Translation SA. She joined their meeting on Monday 24 March.

For any enquiries around Country SA PHN’s Community Advisory Committees, please reach out to Manager - Community Collaborations at [email protected].

Image: Riverland Community Services Alliance Executive (L-R) – Bridget Kennelly (Country SA PHN Manager – Community Collaborations), Scerina Rasheed, Jo Stolz, Prue Sinoch.

Published on: April 9, 2025