Nurses are such an important part of our organisation and play a key role in tackling major health challenges, in hospitals and out in the community. They do more than care for people and help them cope with illness – they advocate for better care and improve public health.

This international Nurses Day, let’s hear from people with firsthand experience.

If you’ve been thinking about getting more active, we have the perfect opportunity.

It’s officially Active April!

Active Alpine Group (a local community collective of Gateway Health, Alpine Health and Alpine Shire) is encouraging everyone in the Alpine Shire to be more active, more often. 

A list of all clinics currently offering Covid-19 vaccinations has been provided by the Commonwealth Government, which is in charge of the national vaccine distribution process.

The list can be found by going to the ‘eligibility checker’ provided on the Department of Health website: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

You will need to go through the process of entering your details to confirm (1) whether you are eligible to get your vaccination yet, and (2) where you can go to book and receive your vaccination.

Gateway Health is one of the locations where vaccinations will be given against Covid 19 – but not until late April at least.

Though vaccinations against Covid-19 start in Victoria from Monday 22 March 2021, Gateway Health has been advised it will not receive doses for local use for some weeks.

Gateway Health GP Clinics in Wangaratta and Wodonga will be administering the AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the UK.

A small number of other clinics in Wangaratta and Albury Wodonga will also be providing these vaccinations.

Please note that there will be very limited supplies in the early stages while vaccine supplies are being imported. Priority is being given to people in the highest at-risk categories first.

Normal telephone service has been restored to our Wangaratta and Wodonga centres, following some technical problems encountered last week.

Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Normal telephone service has been resumed in our Myrtleford office.  Our apologies to anyone inconvenienced by the problems last week.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine program in Victoria has begun.

If you are feeling confused or uncertain about the vaccine and what it all means, check out these key facts from the Victorian Department of Health:

Information is starting to become available on Australia-wide Covid-19 vaccination. These sites offer useful information that is now being updated regularly.

https://www.ncirs.org.au/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-frequently-asked-questions

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid-19-vaccination

When more local information becomes available to us, we will share it with you here and on our Facebook page.

There will be a need to reschedule some Gateway Health appointments due to the new 5-day Covid-19 lockdown announced by the Victorian Premier, starting 11:59pm Friday 12 February.

If you have an appointment scheduled any time from Monday 15/2 to Wednesday 17/2, you can expect to be contacted by us.  

Gateway Health phone reception will continue to operate as usual.

For latest State-wide information on the five-day lockdown, go to: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Free ‘in person’ legal advice for Gateway Health clients is available once more from Hume Riverina Community Legal Service.

Face-to-face meetings were suspended some time ago due to Covid-19, but the service is now able to meet clients again in person, as long as masks are worn at all times.

If you need to cross State borders to come to Gateway Health, please note that people living in border communities do not currently need a permit to cross. But you will need to wear a mask when inside at any of our premises (Wodonga, Wangaratta and Myrtleford).

New travel restrictions have been introduced for people travelling to and from parts of New South Wales in response to a cluster of Covid-19 infections in Sydney’s Northern Beaches area.

The situation is being monitored closely and it is possible that further restrictions may be introduced.