What is ‘Healthy Me, Healthy Community’?
Healthy Me, Healthy Community is a free program in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region that encourages and empowers you to engage or re-engage with social activities of your choosing.
We want to know what matters to you and help you to find and engage with local activities you’re interested in!
We are here to support you to achieve your goals to increase your social connections and improve your connection with the community, so you feel happier and healthier!
Best of all, the program is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN and is delivered by Feros Care, free of charge for you!
How to connect?
You can get in touch with us to learn more about the program. Or your General Practitioner (GP), aged care provider, service provider or health professional can refer you to us.
Once we’ve received your enquiry or referral, we’ll contact you to check that you’re eligible, and work with you to find the right information and activities to connect you with.
How Does Healthy Me, Healthy Community Work?
Step One
If Healthy Me, Healthy Community is a good fit for you, we will book your first session with your Wellbeing Coach .
Your Wellbeing Coach is a local expert and has the skills and knowledge to help you find and connect with information and activities you are interested in.
Step Two
Your Wellbeing Coach will work with you in the first session to understand what matters to you, and the things you might like to explore – such as joining a craft group, volunteering, or getting back into activities you used to enjoy. Together, you will identify goals and create an action plan to achieve them.
Step Three
Your Wellbeing Coach will determine the number of follow-up sessions required to review your goals and reflect on your experiences. Depending on what best suits your needs, we’ll continue to work with you to make the connections you need.
Once you feel like you are on the road to feeling more connected, you may not need your Wellbeing Coach anymore, and you are welcome to leave the initiative at any time.
Is Healthy Me, Healthy Community for Me?
If you are:
- 18 years or older,
- Live in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, and
- Want to connect or reconnect socially by exploring groups or activities in the community
Then YES, this may be for you!
Would you like to…
- Learn about local activities in your community, and get help connecting to them?
- Do things that interest you with others in your community?
- Meet new people in your local community?
- Explore volunteering opportunities?
You may like to ask yourself…
- Do I want to feel more connected to my community?
- Would I like to meet new friends, take part in community activities, and learn new skills?
- Would I be interested in volunteering and helping others?
Healthy Me, Healthy Community is not for you if…
The Healthy Me, Healthy Community program focuses on increasing social connections. It does not offer mental health support or other extensive supports. If you feel you are not currently equipped to engage socially, this program may not be the best fit for you right now.
Healthy Me, Healthy Community is not a mental health service and does not provide mental health intervention. If you need mental health or other support options, please speak with your GP, and/or Head to Health by visiting their website or via phone 1800 595 212.
How much does the program cost?
It’s free of charge to participants in the Port Macquarie region.
Costs associated with participating in social groups, community or physical activities and services of your choosing are your responsibility.
This program is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program, and delivered by Feros Care.
How could this program help me?
At Feros Care, we are all about helping people live healthier, happier and better-connected lives, and that’s what this program is here to do.
What is social prescribing?
Social prescribing is a proven, non-clinical prevention and early intervention approach to combatting the mental and physical effects of loneliness and poor social health.
Watch this video to learn how social prescribing works
Good news stories
Explore uplifting stories of people who’ve found happiness, growth, and positive experiences through Healthy Me, Healthy Community.
Social prescribing helps Jill start living again
With a hearty laugh overflowing with optimism, it’s hard to imagine 69-year-old Jill ever feeling down. It wasn’t long ago, however, during an endless wait for a heart transplant, she faced a choice – to remain stuck in a rut or start living. With courage (and a self-directed kick in the rear), she enrolled in Feros Care’s Healthy Me, Healthy Community (HMHC) program.
Now, she’s making each day count instead of counting down the days.
Jim’s Confidence Boost Brings a New Lease on Life
Moving into residential aged care posed a significant lifestyle adjustment for 78-year-old James (Jim) Woodford. When he heard about the Healthy Me, Healthy Community (HMHC) program, Jim was keen to find out more information so he could establish how this free 15-week social wellbeing program could help him build connections within his local community.
Let’s get started
To find out more about the Healthy Me, Healthy Community program, fill out the form below and our friendly team will get in touch.
Helpful Resources
We’ve created some helpful social prescribing resources to provide some more information and to help you share the benefits of social prescribing with your community!
