CHIRP Community Health
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COVID test clinic shifts
While more than 95 per cent of eligible people living in Castlemaine have now been double vaxxed, the town’s newly relocated COVID testing clinic is experiencing strong demand for testing, particularly from people who’ve attended exposure sites. The drive-through clinic last week shifted from where it had been operating in Mostyn Street to the McGrath…
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Hundreds turn out for testing
New COVID exposure sites across Macedon Ranges and Castlemaine led hundreds of people to front up for testing on the weekend. On late Friday afternoon the Health Department listed seven new local exposure sites including two contacts at Coles Gisborne, Gisborne’s Woks N Dumplings, McDonald’s Gisborne, Romsey Compounding Pharmacy, and Castlemaine Hospital. Most were listed…
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Vaccinated economy trials
The Victorian Government will conduct trials in businesses and events across highly vaccinated regional areas to help the state open progressively as a vaccinated economy. Greater Bendigo will be among the first invited to participate in the trials to test systems and support in the fortnight before Victoria is aiming to reach a 70 per…
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Reach out to connect
CHIRP Community Health has appointed a new LGBTIQA+ engagement officer to reconnect the community after a lengthy period of COVID isolation. Sherene Clow, a long-time local of Castlemaine, hopes to reach out to both long-term residents and newcomers to the shire who have not been able to connect with others during lockdown this year. Ms…
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Learner drivers back on the road as restrictions ease
Shanti Steventon-Lorenzen is gearing up to new freedom after gaining her ‘Ps’ with a little help from TAC and CHIRP Community Health in Castlemaine. The TAC L2P program has been running through CHIRP for five years, and it helps young learner drivers attain their probationary licence. The program matches them with trained volunteer mentors to…
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Jobs boost for CHIRP
CHIRP Community Health in Castlemaine will be able to employ eight new staff members thanks to a funding boost from the state government. Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford and Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited CHIRP on Friday to make the announcement. The funding is part of the government’s $500 million Working for Victoria fund…
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Teachers take the test
Castlemaine health services combined forces last week to undertake a mass COVID-19 screening of teachers and school staff from across Mount Alexander Shire. The state government introduced a voluntary testing scheme offering all Victorian public, independent and private school staff who were asymptotic the opportunity to be tested between May 13 and May 31. Castlemaine…
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Community pantry up and running
Local volunteers, community groups and organisations are working together to provide food relief for residents in need in Mount Alexander Shire. The newly created Mount Alexander Community Pantry is a centrally coordinated food relief system that aims to provide assistance in the absence of a local foodbank. Castlemaine Community House manager Martyn Shaddick said everyone…