Happy Belated New Year

Our volunteers have all (hopefully) rested and anxious and eager to recommence our activities at the Hospital and other places.

To see whatare activities will be in 2014 please check our weekly activities website at:-

http://www.inourhands.com.au/

Whilst you are there, please feel free to download and view our newsletter. Interesting reading...

Please everyone, look after yourself and keep cool. 

We'll be having our planning session soon and will let you know what we are planning for the Whyalla Community...

Cheers for now...

A Big Sortout and Re-Organisation

Visitors to the 'Health In Our Hands' Centre will see some big changes to our room's layout. With increasing numbers attending the centre we had to find some more room to cater for our exercise groups.

Archive & Storage area at the back and the Resource & Equipment area in the middle.

With the freeing up of some small areas, we have re-organised our storage area and can now boast a much-needed exercise area that is available to our various group leaders.

Pathways Through Pain Workshop - Week 2

Week 1 was successful and we are looking forward to Week 2 with anticipation. The participants have actively participated and we are pleased no end.

Paul and John have settled in their workshop and look forward to the next five sessions.

Planning will soon take place so that we can organise the workshops in the Pathways Through Pain and Diabetes.

Male Out - A Complete Success...

Health In Our Hands has once again actively participated at the 2013 Male Out function at the UniSA on Sunday, June 16th, 2013.

Paul and Mary Holmes with John and Brenda Groffen staffed the stand during the morning and afternoon.

We were kept busy throughout the day answering questions and taking names for our exercise sessions and up-coming Pathways programs.

With material rapidly running out towards the end of the day, it was deemed a successful day and well worth being a part off. Thanks to UniSA and Gary Misan for letting us be a part of it.  See you all again next year.

By Golly! We're a busy mob...

Just look at some of the things we do every week! Why not join us!, Gold coin donation is all charge. No other costs involved.

Pathways Through Diabetes COMPLETED!

Another successful course completed... The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program or as we call it the 'Pathways Through Diabetes'. The feedback we have received from our workshop participants are that they gained knowledge about how to use and apply the tools available to them in the toolbox to manage their condition.

With the positive feedback we have recived, we, as leaders, are spurred on to continue to provide these free workshops to the Whyalla Community.

Our next workshop, 'Pathways Through Pain', will commence on Monday, 13th May, 2013.

Going Well!

We are now half-way through the Pathways Through Diabetes workshop and it is going ever so well. The participants are keen and embracing the knowledge like no body's business.

The next course in the 'Self-Management' workshops, Pathways Through Pain, is now open for nomination and places are starting to fill.

The 6 week workshop, running for 2.5 hrs per week, is facilitated by accredited trainers who have been trained by Stanford University of California qualified staff.

Are you interested? Contact the Centre on 8648-8463 between 10.00am and 3.00pm to make enquiries. What else could I tell you......

OH YES!     IT'S FREE!

The 'Funky' Wii Dance Exercise has taken off...

The Funky Wii Dance  Exercise group has proven to be very popular and we have a regular group of 8 people who are not only enjoying themselves but getting fitter as well.

We can still fit a couple of people in at the moment but soon it will be standing room only.

If you are interested, the 'Funky Happening' is on Friday mornings at our Centre on the 3rd floor from 10.30am to 11.30am or longer if you can handle it.

Funkey CLothes NOT required...

Chronic Disease Self-Management

Starting very soon will be the 'Pathways To Healthier Living' course which is TOTALLY FREE. The course will be conducted at the Whyalla Library. This course for those of us who have a Chronic Disease or condition.

Thw 6 week course will commence at 1.30pm on Monday 18th February, 2013. You can register your interest by telephoning the Health In Our Hands Centre on 8648-8463 anytime between 10.00am and 3.00pm (closed for lunch 12.00pm to 1.00pm). Alternative you can email us on ioh1@iprimus.com.au. Please be quick as closing time is soon. However, you can also join us at the library on the day (18th Feb) at the library.

This course is not only for people with Chronic Disease but for people who care for or are partners of people with Chronic Disease.

AND IT'S FREE

Next Year We Will Be....

The health In Our Hands CDSMP leaders have completed their forward planning for the first six months for 2013 and we are happy to advise that we WILL be conducting more Pathways to Better Living Courses next year.

These Workshops are FREE. Yes, FREE! 

Our final and confirmed dates are as follows:

• Pathways to Healtier Living: Monday 18 Feb to 25 Mar 2013.
• Pathways Through Diabetes: Wednesday 6 Mar to 10 Apr 2013
• Pathways Through Pain: Monday 13 May to 17 Jun 2013

The workshops consists of a 2.5 hour session, once a week and will be held at the Whyalla Library at Westlands.

Places will fill quickly so if you think you, or your partner/carer may be interested, expressions of interest will be taken at our Centre.

Remember that these courses are free of charge and loan books will be available for participants for the duration of the course.

To register your interest, contact us on 8648-8463 on weekdays between 10.00am and 3.00pm (closed for lunch 12.00pm to 1.00pm). Don't delay and get your booking in early.

Officially Official!

It is now officially official 'cos I have seen the award. And here it is.

Once again, Well done the Paul and Mary, the committee and of course, all the volunteers. There were 13 nominations from all over the state. All the nominations were outstanding but it is thought that what stood out for 'Health In Our Hands' was the fact that our organisation is staffed completely by volunteers and always has been. That just makes the award that much sweeter  for the centre.

Once again, well done and well deserved.

WE WON !!!

It's Official! I woke up this morning and after turning on my mobile was blasted with the good news that Health In Our Hands has WON the COTA's Every Generation Award for our section. This is a great reward for not just the HIOH organisation but for all the people involved in the running of the Centre and all of it's programs.

Great news but, I modestly feel, well deserved.

The 2nd Pathways Through Pain Course completed.

The second 'Pathways Through Pain' workshop (the Stanford University Chronic Pain Self-Management Program) has been completed successfully and the transformation has been an utter joy to have seen. The course leaders, Brenda, Teena and John have worked their way through this course which were largely attended by people who were recommended through the Pain Clinic in Adelaide.
The success of the workshop was seen through the participation of the clients and the taking on of the information discussed.
We're looking forward to the next course. If you are interested in learning more about the course and registering an interest in the participation of the next course, please contact the centre by:

• Telephone - 8648-8463 (between 10.00am and 3.00pm)
• Email - ioh1@iprimus.com.au
• Website - www.inourhands.com.au and use the message service there.

But don't hesitate! Be pro-active and become a Self Manager for your Chronic Pain Management.

Come and see the totally re-vamped website.

WOW is the word that springs to mind! Having just seen the newly revamped Health in our hands website, I am impressed to say the least. Paul has done a cracker of a job and the much improved layout seems to make everything easier to find. Absolutely well done Paul. 12 out of 10...

You can check it out our new website here

PS I like the whyalla webcam live pictures...

Pathways Through Pain Workshop Coming Soon!

Commencing Tuesday 18th September at 1.30pm for 6 weeks there will be a Pain Self Management course to be held at the new Whyalla Library at Westlands.

For further information, please contact the 'Health In Our Hands' Centre on 8648-8463 or by email at ioh1@iprimus.com.au

Chronic pain is a debilitating problem for many people, constant pain makes them feel many emotions in addition to the actual pain itself and this results in loss of lifestyle. There is no “magic bullet” that will cure chronic pain but there are strategies that will help them to manage the pain and the emotions to a level that is acceptable. Of course medications play a large role in the control of pain as does, in some circumstances, surgery etc. 

This program is not intended to replace anything that currently is working for you, The course, which runs over six weeks (2.5 hrs per session approx) is designed to give you a set of extra tools that may help in the relief of pain. We have called it Pathways Through Pain because the course is actually a pathway and on that pathway there are many simple things that can be done to help minimise the discomfort caused by pain, not just to the individual with the pain but to their families and friends around them.

Some of the topics covered in the six weeks are,

•    Debunking the myths around pain
•    Pacing activity and rest
•    Fatigue / sleep
•    Medications - how they work
•    Fitness and exercise
•    Healthy eating 

And many more

The Diet is Resolved...

It appears that my diet is finally working...

Shape Up For Life....

A new program will be starting up soon. it is a free weight management program. further information on their facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/katrina.knights.18

well worth thinking about.

Celebrating 10 Years

And what a celebration it has been. Health in Our hands, which commenced on 15th May, 2002 has been working in the Whyalla community for 10 years. Celebrations were held with:

* A luncheon for the participants at the    Centre’s room at the hospital
*A dinner for the volunteers at Roopena and
*A function at the UniSA Whyalla Campus for specially invited guests and the volunteers  

The UniSA function was organised by Kate Warren and her staff at the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School. To say that all three functions were successful would be an understatement.
A special gift was presented to the four original members still active at the centre for their 10 years of service. The presentations were made to Paul Holmes, Mary Holmes, Chris Broadhead and Colin Stephens.

When Paul was asked whether he would still be there after another 10 years, he laughingly replied that he hoped that he would still be around to still be taking part.

Paul thanked all the volunteers who have worked so hard to make the Health In Our Hands a success and thanked the current volunteers for their dedication and hard work.

10th Aniiversary Function

Here is the Ch 4 News item regarding our 10th Anniversary organised by Kate and her wonderful staff at UniSA in Whyalla.

Many thanks for a wonderful day Kate, Jackie, Katrina and all the other people concerned.

Our AGM Today

Don't forget that our AGM will be held today, 2nd July, 2012 at 1.00pm today at the SGRHS room MB1-41 at the UniSA. See you there...