Category: Uncategorized

Dear Residents, Families and Visitors,

We’re writing to share an exciting update about our Raines House property, located on our Easton Park campus.

In partnership with Women’s Community Shelters, Housing All Australians and other partners, Whiddon is proud to be part of a new initiative to support older women in need. In the coming months, levels 2 and 3 of Raines House will become safe, transitional housing for these women.
This initiative, known as a ‘meanwhile use’ project, transforms underutilised spaces into temporary accommodation, which is a practical and compassionate response to the growing housing crisis.

Here’s what this means for you:

• No disruption to your care or services: All resident services remain unchanged.
• Security. Raines House will have secure access with Levels 2 and 3 having their own entry points, separate from residential spaces. The program will have dedicated staff supporting these women.
• Our Home Care Seniors Group has now also moved to Level 1 of Raines House with its own access point next to the existing Men’s Shed.

We’re proud that our organisation can help support women in our community by offering safe housing and a chance to rebuild. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to speak with your Residential Services Manager.

Thank you,
Whiddon Team

Hi all,

We’re pleased to share that Whiddon has partnered with Embedded Health Solutions (EHS) to further enhance the clinical care and support we provide across our care home, specifically to review medications in consultations with GP’s and our supply Pharmacy for some residents.

EHS may be in touch with families and nominated representatives shortly to request consent for your loved one’s participation in this program.

This partnership will help us continue to deliver high-quality, person-centred care for our residents by streamlining access to clinical information, ensuring timely healthcare responses and supporting our teams with additional expertise.

Please be assured this process is designed to be simple and supportive. Your privacy and the wellbeing of your loved one remain our highest priority, and no action will be taken without appropriate consent.

If you have any questions about this partnership or what it means for you or your loved one, please don’t hesitate to speak with your Residential Services Manager.

Thank you,
Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Please be advised that we currently have a positive COVID-19 case at Whiddon Moree, affecting Nan Crane – Memory Support Home.

Visitors are still welcome, but please note that masks must be 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 also strongly encourage keeping up to date with vaccinations.

The family of the resident who has tested positive will be contacted directly by the team.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage the situation.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Residents and Families,

We’re excited to share some wonderful news with you.

Whiddon is expanding and refurbishing our Bourke residential aged care home to meet growing demand in the community and further strengthen the personalised, relationship-based care that we’re proud to provide.

Thanks to a grant from the Australian Government’s Aged Care Capital Assistance Program, and with additional support from Whiddon, we’ll soon begin a project that will create up to three new resident rooms – increasing capacity by 25%

We’re also pleased to share that Whiddon has purchased a neighbouring property to provide staff accommodation. This will allow us to relocate our live-in Clinical Supervisor and begin works inside the care home without disruption to residents’ comfort or care.

Construction is expected to start in October 2025 and finish in March 2026, with the new rooms opening shortly after.

As always, we will keep you updated throughout the process and will take every step to ensure residents continue to feel safe, supported, and at home during this period.

We are proud of our long-standing commitment to Bourke and the Far West community, and this expansion is a meaningful step forward in ensuring older people in the region can continue to access high-quality care, close to home and grounded in the relationships that matter most.

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

Warm regards,
The Whiddon Team

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives,

Following consultation with the Public Health Unit, we are pleased to inform you that the COVID-19 outbreak in Whiddon Easton Park – Taylor House has been officially declared over.

Due to COVID-19 exposure in the area, Surgical Masks are still 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.

Kind Regards,
– Whiddon

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives, 

I hope you are all well. 

As you may have heard, Whiddon is collaborating on a research project to evaluate whether residents achieve better health outcomes if their medications are specifically prescribed, based on their individual genetics. Researchers study genes to understand why some people respond to a medication, while others do not, or why some people experience a side effect while others do not. We decided to join this study as we are committed to continuously improving the clinical care of our residents.

We discuss this with each resident and are contacting you as we have been alerted that you also need to provide consent if you agree to the resident you represent, joining the study. Participating residents have their cheek swabbed by one of our team to collect a sample that is sent for genetic testing, and an individual report with recommendations will go to the resident’s pharmacist and GP, who may use it to customise medication type and dose. Our aim is to minimise unwanted medication side effects and improve aged care residents’ quality of life.

Please follow the links below to find:

1. A Participant Information Sheet (PIS) (link here) which contains detailed information about the research project. This information is for you to keep.
2. A Participant Consent Form (PCF). (link here) 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:

i. Sign electronically using Adobe Acrobat Reader (fill and sign tool) and then email back to e.wehbe@whiddon.com.au.

ii. Print, fill/sign and scan the document and then email it back to e.wehbe@whiddon.com.au.

iii. Print and sign, then bring the hard copy with you during your
next visit.

iv. Sign a printed copy available at our office when you come in.

v. Drop off a signed copy at the admin office during regular hours.

Thank you for your time and cooperation. 

Kind regards,
Alaya
Residential Services Manager

Dear Clients, 

We hope you are well. Please be aware that severe weather warnings are in place for the Northern and Mid North Coast regions of NSW. 

We will continue delivering Whiddon’s Home Care services while it is safe for our team members to travel. Should there be any changes to your service, we will contact you directly. 

• To stay up to date, we recommend: 

• Downloading and using the “Hazards Near Me” app 

• Listening to your local radio station 

• Checking the SES website for updates or calling 132 500 for assistance 

Remember, in an emergency, call 000. 

Please stay safe, and we will update you if there are any further changes. 

Thank you, 

The Whiddon Team 

Dear Team, 

Please be prepared for severe weather affecting the Northern and Mid North Coast regions of NSW over the coming days. 

To stay updated with official advice from emergency services, we recommend: 

• Downloading and using the “Hazards Near Me” app 

• Listening to your local radio station 

• Checking the SES website for updates or calling 132 500 for assistance 

• In an emergency, call 000 

At this stage, all services for clients will continue while it is safe to do so. Please plan your travel routes carefully and prioritise your safety during these weather events. 

Thank you, team. Stay safe, and we will keep you updated should anything change. 

The Whiddon Team 

Dear Families, Friends & Representatives of Taylor House,

Please be advised that Whiddon Taylor House is currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in Straughen 2

Please note:

• Visiting may still occur during this period, restricted to resident rooms.
• Visitors are required to follow our safety precautions including:
  • RAT to be attended on entry and N95 mask to be applied upon entering the home
  • Regular handwashing and use of hand sanitisers are strongly encouraged. Hand sanitising stations are available throughout the care home.
  • Maintain appropriate social distancing whenever possible. Visits should be conducted in resident rooms or on balconies.
• All visitors are encouraged to consider postponing any visits if they are unwell or experiencing any flu-like symptoms. The safety of our residents and team members is our number one priority.

We thank everyone for their support and understanding while our team manage this outbreak.

The Whiddon Team

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