Year: 2025

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please be advised that we currently have an Influenza A outbreak in Christie, Level 1.

Visitors are still welcome, but please note that we kindly request N95 masks are worn at all times while inside the home.

If you are unwell or have any flu-like symptoms, please do not visit the home.  

We thank everyone for their support and commitment to resident and employee safety.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

As we are now out of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, RA tests are no longer required, however Surgical masks are to be worn (provided).

We ask you refrain from visiting if you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms. The health of our residents and employees is our utmost priority.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Residents and Families

Following our recent communication about the new Women’s Accommodation at Raines House, we would like to invite you to an Open Day to find out more about this initiative.

About Glenfield House (Formerly Raines House)

We are proud to be re-purposing levels 2 and 3 of Raines House into Accommodation for women in crisis. Under this initiative, each woman accepted into the program will be offered housing for a period of 6 to 12 months. During their stay, they will receive tailored case management, wellbeing activities, and community engagement support.

Hume Housing will deliver the program in partnership with Women’s Community Shelters, a specialist service provider supporting women in crisis. Together, they will work closely with each resident to help them secure long-term, affordable housing options. This program is already successfully operating in several locations across NSW, including Sydney and the Central Coast.

Whiddon sincerely thanks you for your continued support as we bring this important project to life with our partners.

Open Day – Meet the Team

To provide more information and answer any questions you may have, staff from Women’s Community Shelters and Hume Housing will be hosting an Open Day on Thursday, 25th September from 1pm – 2:30pm. We invite you to attend and connect with the team.

If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to your Residential Services Manager. You can also read our FAQs document here.

Many thanks

The Whiddon Team

Dear Team,

The new Women’s Shelter at Raines House, Easton Park, will hold an official opening event on the morning of Monday 15th September.

During this time, there will be an increased level of activity in and around Raines House, and there may be media present to capture the opening.

We will have a number of our Team members assisting in directing visitors to the carpark behind Raines House to minimise disruption.

We expect that parking and traffic around the site will be heavier than usual between the times of 8:30am – 11:30am. Please ensure you do not park in the carpark behind Raines House, as this is being reserved for the event parking.

We have an Open Day planned later this month which our residents and employees will be invited to attend, and we will send further information about this over the coming weeks.

We thank you in advance for your patience and please reach out to your Manager if you have any questions or concerns.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Residents, Families and Representatives

The new Women’s Shelter at Raines House, Easton Park, will hold an official opening event on the morning of Monday 15^th September.

During this time, there will be an increased level of activity in and around Raines House, and there may be media present to capture the opening.

We will have a number of our team members assisting in directing visitors to the carpark behind Raines House to minimise disruption. We expect that parking and traffic around the site will be heavier than usual between the times of 8:30am – 11:30am.

We thank you in advance for your patience and please reach out to your Residential Services Manager if you have any questions or concerns.

From 15^th September, the Women’s Shelter will be fully staffed, and we expect residents will commence moving into the accommodation from this date. We have an Open Day planned for later this month, which our residents and families will be invited to attend, and we will send further information about this over the coming weeks.

For more information, you can read our FAQs here.

Thank you,
The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

We are advising that our Kyogle home is now out of COVID-19 outbreak status.

Until further notice, the following precautions remain in place at our care home:

• Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are required by all employees and visitors before entry.
• Surgical masks are to be worn (provided), as advised by NSW Health.

We ask you refrain from visiting if you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms. The health of our residents and employees is our utmost priority.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team managed the outbreak.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Easton Park employees,

Access to Raines House (levels 2 and 3) is restricted to authorised Whiddon employees only 

We wish to remind everyone of the important new program launching shortly at Raines House, with the Women’s Community Shelter occupying levels 2 and 3. Please be reminded that access to levels 2 and 3 is strictly restricted to authorised team members only. Raines House will be the home for the women living there, so please respect it as such. 

Raines House is not to be used as a thoroughfare between buildings, and no unauthorised access is permitted under any circumstances. This restriction applies to all Easton Park and Support Services employees.

We appreciate your cooperation with these guidelines. 

Please note: the Men’s Shed and Home Care Social Group areas on Level 1 (ground floor) can be accessed via their entrances around the back of Raines House only – there is no access via the lift or internal stairs from level 2 or 3.

Smoking Area update

Please note that the designated team member smoking area for the Easton Park campus is located behind the BBQ area near the carpark. There is to be no smoking in the area at the side of Raines House, near the laundry.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Kind regards,  

Whiddon Management
 

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

We would like to provide an update regarding the Gastroenteritis outbreak at Whiddon Narrabri – Jessie Hunt.  

The outbreak continues at this time, however only limited residents remain impacted and all employees have now returned to work.

Visitors are still welcome but will be required to use PPE if visiting residents who are personally impacted by this Outbreak.

We will continue to work with the Public Health Unit to resolve the matter quickly.

Further updates will be provided in due course, and we thank you for your understanding during this time.

Regards,
Whiddon

Dear Residents and Families,

We are pleased to let you know that Whiddon Moree will be introducing a new mobile optometry service for our residents. This clinic specialises in providing on-site eye care to aged care facilities across Australia, offering the same quality of care you would expect from your local optometrist – all from the comfort of our home.

Date: Monday, 3rd November
Appointments: From 9:00am
How to book: Please contact our Administration team to arrange an appointment.
Links: Information pamphlet and consent form

What residents can expect:

• Bulk-billed eye examinations in the familiarity of our facility.
• Comprehensive checks for conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma.
• A full eye care report provided to the facility and to the nominated EPOA/NOK.
• Glasses and vision aids supplied (if required), with personalised engraving. Delivered and fitted on-site within 2–3 weeks.
• After-care services for glasses, including on-site repairs and adjustments.
• Referral to ophthalmology if needed.

We are excited to be able to offer this new service and encourage families to take advantage of this convenient, high-quality care for their loved ones.

If you have any questions, please contact our Administration team.
– Whiddon Moree

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

I hope you are all well.

I am writing to inform you that Whiddon is collaborating on a research project to see whether residents feel better and/or have fewer side effects when their medications are specifically prescribed, based on their genetics. We are partnering with the University of Sydney, Monash University, myDNA and Choice Aged Care to see if genetic testing can help find the right medicines for each person.

Resident participation in the study is completely voluntary. We will be discussing the study with each resident and asking for their consent on Tuesday 9th September and Wednesday 10th September. As their Registered Supporter/ Person responsible, you may need to provide consent if you agree to the resident, you represent joining the study.

Participation in the study involves residents having their cheek swabbed by one of our team. This sample will be sent for genetic testing and an individual report with recommendations will go to the resident’s pharmacist and GP who provide their usual care. Based on the report, the GP may choose to customise the medication type and dose.

Please see links to:

1. A Participant Information Sheet (PIS) which contains detailed information about the research project. This information is for you to keep.
2. A Participant Consent Form (PCF). If you agree to the resident, you represent joining the study, this document needs to be filled in and signed. You may choose whichever option is most convenient for you to return it:

• Sign electronically using Adobe Acrobat Reader (fill and sign tool) and then email it back.
• Print, fill/sign and scan the document and then email it back to e.wehbe@whiddon.com.au.
• Print and sign, then bring the hard copy with you during your next visit.
• Sign a printed copy available at our office when you come in.
• Drop off a signed copy at the reception or RN office during regular hours.

Alternatively, please let us know if you would not like the resident you represent approached.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Kind regards,
Manju Thomas
RSM