Author: Chris Mar

To the Wingham team,

I wanted to reach out to provide you with an update following the recent extreme weather event.  While the floodwaters may have receded, we understand that the impact continues to be far-reaching, impacting team members, residents, loved ones and the broader community.

With this said, as an organisation, Whiddon is here to support you and the Wingham community as best we can, as we have a role to play now and in the future.

In addition to other support initiatives we have been a part of, I’m incredibly proud to share that we’ve recently collaborated with Need for Feed, and together, we’ve successfully donated a truckload of essential feed to local Wingham farmers. This initiative aims to provide some much-needed relief to those whose livelihoods have been significantly affected.

Beyond this, we are actively working with some other agencies to further aid and support the Wingham community. Our focus is on identifying and addressing key needs, and we’ll keep you updated as these partnerships develop.

Your resilience and dedication, especially during these trying times, are truly inspiring. Please continue to look out for yourselves and each other. We are all part of the Whiddon family, and we will always do our best for our people.

Warm regards,

Chris Mamarelis

Hi Team, 

We wanted to check in on you and make sure you are doing ok; things are tough and we are thinking about you all. 

Resilience is knowing how to cope despite setbacks or barriers and is the ability to overcome obstacles with emotional strength.  Our individual level of resilience is determined by our personality traits and environmental factors.  The current rain and flooding can test all our personal resilience. 

Remember, it’s ok not to be ok, and it’s ok to ask for help, and here at Whiddon, Hapstar is standing by to help you! 

Download the app and log in by clicking the link below using your Whiddon email address:  

https://auth.platform.hapstar.app/auth-saml/login?entityId=https://sts.windows.net/908c3580-cfa8-44f3-a064-575a2200b696 

Otherwise, you can call 1800 818 728 for EAP support. 

It is important you can recognise the signs and symptoms that indicate that your resilience is not letting you bounce back from a confronting situation and engage support through self-care, early intervention or asking for help early.  

Below is a great chart to check on your own resilience:

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please be advised that we currently have confirmed positive Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases at our Laurieton home.

The outbreak management plan has been activated and the affected residents are isolating in their rooms.

Visitation is to continue in resident rooms and N95 masks are to be worn.  Please consult with the registered nurse on duty.

Please note: If you are unwell or have any flu-like symptoms, we ask that you please do not visit the home.

The families of residents who have tested positive will be contacted directly by the team.

We know that this is a challenging time and we appreciate your understanding and support. Our team is here to provide the best possible care for your loved ones and we are confident that we can manage this outbreak effectively.

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends and Representatives,

We are pleased to inform you that the recent Influenza A outbreak at our facility has officially been declared over. We are grateful to be returning to normal routines while continuing to prioritise the health and safety of our residents and staff.

We would like to extend my thanks to all residents and families for your patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout this period.

We also want to acknowledge our dedicated staff, who worked diligently to care for residents and implement the necessary precautions to bring the situation under control.

Although the outbreak has ended, we remain committed to maintaining high standards of infection prevention and will continue monitoring the health of our residents closely.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

-Whiddon

Dear Whiddon Maclean Residents, Families & Representatives,

Please find important information regarding a visit to Whiddon Maclean from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission here:

Whiddon Maclean ACQSC Audit

You can find information and instructions on how to leave feedback via the above link.

Regards,

The Whiddon Team

Dear Beaudesert, Grafton, Kyogle and Tweed Community Care Clients and Employees,

An update from Whiddon.

We hope you are keeping safe and well. Whiddon is currently working towards resuming services from tomorrow, provided there are no further significant flooding or weather events.

While the Cyclone has been downgraded, conditions can quickly change, and it is important to continue to stay indoors and informed about local area conditions.

We will be contacting our clients tomorrow about services.

Take care

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Grafton Families, Friends, Representatives and Employees,

We want to assure you that all residents are safe, and the home has not been affected by the recent flooding. However, we are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak at our Grafton Home, with positive cases among both residents and employees.

We are following our usual protocols to manage the situation, and we are maintaining our staffing levels to ensure continued care. If there are any specific concerns regarding your loved ones, we will reach out to you directly.

We will keep you informed of any changes to this situation. We hope you are staying safe and well.

Best regards,

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Beaudesert, Kyogle, Casino, Maclean and Grafton Families and Employees,

All remains well overnight. The cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical low, however heavy rain and flooding are still expected for SE QLD and Northern NSW.

Our teams continue to prepare and closely monitor local conditions. We will be in touch if there are any changes.

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Laurieton and Wingham Families and Employees,

All remains well overnight. The cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical low, however heavy rain and flooding are still expected for Northern NSW and some areas of the mid-North Coast.

Our teams continue to prepare and closely monitor local conditions. We will be in touch if there are any changes.

– The Whiddon Team

Dear Laurieton and Wingham Community Care Clients and Employees,

An update from Whiddon.

We hope you are keeping safe and well. Today the cyclone has been downgraded to a tropical low, however heavy rain and potential flooding are still expected for some areas of the Mid-North Coast.

It’s important you continue to stay informed about your local conditions.

You can call us on 1300 738 388 and follow the call prompts for our On-Call team if you need to contact us.

For urgent support, contact the SES on 132 500 or call 000.

Take care

– The Whiddon Team