World Hepatitis Day is a campaign bringing the world together to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and play a part in the fight to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. The 2021 theme is ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’: with a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis

Worldwide, 290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware.

World Hepatitis Day is an opportunity to celebrate progress and advancements made, highlight the current challenges and an occasion to increase awareness and work towards prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

• People living with viral hepatitis unaware can’t wait for testing
• People living with hepatitis can’t wait for life saving treatments
• Expectant mothers can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment
• Newborn babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination
• People affected by hepatitis can’t wait to end stigma and discrimination

Get involved this July by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Handing out promotional merchandise
• Creating a poster
• Volunteering
• Donating

For more information, visit: https://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/world-hepatitis-day
https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/

DonateLife Week is a key part of the Australian Government’s national reform program to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation outcomes. Each year, events are held across Australia during DonateLife Week to encourage all Australians to register their donation decision and to discuss their donation decisions with their loved ones.

Some key numbers for 2020: (1)

• There are around 1,650 Australians currently waitlisted for a transplant and more than 12,000 additional people on dialysis — many who may need a kidney transplant. 
• In 2020, 1,270 Australian lives were saved through an organ transplant due to the generosity of 463 deceased organ donors and their families.
• Since the national program began in 2009 there have been 14,352 organ transplant recipientsfrom 5,029 deceased organ donors.

Get involved this August by:

• Registering for a donation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Informing family and friends

For more information, visit: http://www.donatelife.gov.au/donatelife-week

Each year Chronic Pain Australia organises National Pain Week to champion the needs of the many Australians living with chronic pain. The theme of National Pain Week for 2021 is “Connection”.People living with chronic pain can often feel isolated by their pain. The 2021 theme “Connection” is designed to:

• Remind friends, family and professionals that connection is key to addressing the social challenges that pain can create
• Encourage people to connect with their bodies and to acknoweldge their pain
• Encourage people to seek support and advice from others rather than ignoring it and suffering in silence

1 in 5 Australians live with chronic pain – including adolescents and children. This includes 1 in 3 people over the age of 65. (1)

National Pain Week aims not only to educate the broader population about chronic pain, but also communicate to medical professionals what people in the pain community require.

Get involved during this week by:

• Accessing resources on their website
• Raising awareness on social media
• Educating friends and family about this week
• Making a donation

For more information, visit:
https://www.nationalpainweek.org.au/

Stress Down Day falls on 24th July, and is an initiative designed to raise important funds for Lifeline Australia. The funds raised contribute to Lifeline’s crisis support services, aimed at encouraging help seeking and awareness of suicide prevention.

“Research shows that 90% of Australians need to stress less – with 74% of people reporting being stressed from work. ”

Get involved this July by:

• Managing your well-being
• Making a donation
• Organising a fundraiser at work
• Volunteering with the organisation
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:https://www.lifeline.org.au/support-lifeline/lifeline-campaigns/campaigns

National Pyjama Day is on July 23,  jump into your favourite PJ’s and help raise vital funds for children in foster care. Together, we can support little kids with BIG dreams.

In 2015 there were 43,399 children under 18 living in various types of foster care. Just ten years earlier there were 25,454. The numbers have nearly doubled. (1)

The aim of of the day is to raise as much funds as possible for The Pyjama Foundation’s Love of Learning Program which is offered to children in foster care. Supporting the Pyjama Foundation allows them to not only support children in foster care, but inspire them with learning, life skills, and confidence.

Get involved this July by:

• Hosting a Pyjama Day
• Making a donation
• Volunteering with the foundation
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://www.nationalpyjamaday.com/

National Farm Safety Week has been running for over 20 years, and aims to raise awareness of farm safety issues nationwide with a goal of reducing risk of injury in the agricultural industry. Farmsafe Australia uses this week to advocate for improvements in available information on hazards, risk factors and safety solutions, striving to bring farming communities together to work on reducing risk of injury in the agricultural industry.

“Around 20 children under 15 years are fatally injured on an Australian farm every year and many more are hospitalised or treated by General Practitioners across rural Australia.”

Get involved this July by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Learning how to be safe on Australian farms
• Sharing safety information with others

For more information, visit: https://farmsafe.org.au/national-farm-safety-week

NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended for adolescents in a school-based vaccination program. These are essential vaccines that allow optimum individual health as well as public health.

These vaccines are given at school through parental permission; however, if your child is absent on the day, parents are advised that free catch-up vaccination is available at their local GP during the school year only.

For more information, visit: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/schoolvaccination.aspx.

To check your immunisation records or request a vaccine, book an appointment with Waitara Family Medical reception on (02) 8038 1070.

National Diabetes Week 2020 kicks off on 11th July and runs until 17th July.

Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can have a significant impact on quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, one can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and managing it effectively .

“280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes.” (1)

Too many Australians are being diagnosed with diabetes too late. This is true for both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The delay in diagnosis is putting many people at risk of major life threatening health problems.

Get involved this July by:

• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Speaking with your GP if you have any concerns
• Making a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/news-resources/current-campaigns/national-diabetes-week/

ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS AVAILABLE

at

Waitara Family Medical Practice

Podiatrist

Physiotherapist

Psychologist

Dietitian

Please contact Reception on 02 8038 1070 for further information on individual services or to make a booking.

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month, designed to create public awareness of sarcoma and stand in solidarity with the sarcoma community. Sarcoma is a rare and complicated cancer arising from the bone, cartilage or soft tissue and can occur anywhere in the body.

“In 2016, there were 1,616 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in Australia… In 2020, it is estimated that 1,840 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma will be diagnosed in Australia.” (1)

Get involved this July by:

• Making a donation
• Fundraising through an activity
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness in the community
• Gathering support on social media

For more information, visit:
https://sarcoma.org.au/news/events/july-is-sarcoma-awareness-month