Author: Chris Mar

Dear Employees, Families, Friends & Representatives,

Following our communication on Saturday (January 2nd) regarding the conclusion of the COVID-19 outbreak at Taylor House, we are writing to provide an important update.

While the outbreak has been declared over, we are currently experiencing a moderate risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) transmission across the wider Easton Park campus and local community. As a precautionary measure, we are asking all employees and visitors to Taylor House to continue wearing surgical masks while in the building.

This measure aligns with current precautions across the campus and helps protect our residents and employees during this period of increased respiratory illness activity.

If you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms, we ask you to please refrain from visiting the home.

We appreciate your understanding and continued cooperation in supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.

Kind regards

Whiddon

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

We are pleased to inform you that the COVID-19 outbreak in Whiddon Easton Park – Taylor House has been officially declared over.

Please note, Surgical Masks are no longer required when visiting the home.

If you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms, we ask you to please refrain from visiting the home. The health of our residents and employees is our utmost priority.

Thank you to all who assisted in the management of the outbreak and to our residents and families for their patience and understanding.

Kind Regards,

– Whiddon

Dear Whiddon Moree Families, Friends & Representatives,

We have declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility in line with NSW Health Public Health Unit guidelines.

At present, 3 residents have tested COVID-19 positive. All residents are clinically stable and recovering well, with no major symptoms identified.

Please note, visiting may still occur under the following conditions:

• All visitors are required to complete a COVID RAT before entering the facility
• RAT results must be shown to the RN or administration staff before entry
• Visitors should follow all infection control measures in place while on site

We ask you to refrain from visiting if you are feeling unwell or showing any signs of cold and flu symptoms.

Thank you for your support.

– Whiddon

Dear residents, families and representatives,

This Tuesday, Whiddon Maclean will officially begin using the new Clinical Manager system. This is an exciting milestone that will help us deliver care in a more consistent and efficient way.

You may see staff using the system on mobile phones, tablets or computers, but please be assured that your care will continue as usual. The new system is designed to help our team look after you even better.

Thank you for your patience and support as we move to this new way of working.

If you have any questions, please contact your RSM.

– Whiddon

Dear Whiddon Mareeba Maclean employees,

We’re aware that some employee payments processed by Whiddon on Thursday were returned due to incorrect bank details.

If you’re affected, we’ll contact you today (Saturday) to confirm your correct details so we can make a fast payment — this should appear in your account today.

If part of your pay is through AccessPay, we’re unable to resend that portion today, but it will be prioritised with AccessPay on Monday, with payment expected by Tuesday.

Your payment is our absolute priority. We apologise for this issue and any inconvenience caused.

For urgent matters, please contact payroll@whiddon.com.au — Lynne Fleming will be monitoring this inbox over the weekend.

– Whiddon

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
 

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