What is ‘Healthy Me, Healthy Community’?
‘Healthy Me, Healthy Community’ is a 15-week social support program designed to support, encourage, and empower you to engage or re-engage with social connection and activities of your choosing.
If you’ve been feeling a bit down, lonely, lost, or isolated, this is the perfect program to get you back into doing what you love.
It’s all based on the ‘social prescribing’ approach. Think of it as a prescription for our social lives: a way of getting involved with things that have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing, such as volunteering, social groups, arts, cultural events and exercise.
Best of all, the program is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program and is delivered by Feros Care, free of charge for you!
Watch this video to learn how social prescribing works
Am I eligible for the program?
You may like to ask yourself…
- Do I want to feel more connected to my community?
- Would I like to meet new friends, participate in community activities, and learn new skills?
- Do I want to feel more confident?
- Would I be interested in volunteering and helping others?
If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, and you are 18 years of age and residing in the Port Macquarie region, this program could be the perfect fit for you.
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 does the program work?
Step One
Enquiry & eligibility
You can get in
touch with us directly to enquire about the program; or your General Practitioner (GP), aged care provider, service provider or health professional might refer you to us.
Once we’ve received your enquiry or referral we’ll contact you to check that you’re eligible for the program.
Step Two
Book appointment
If we think the program will be a good fit*, we’ll book an appointment for our Wellbeing Coach to visit you at a time that works for you.
*Don’t worry if the program is not quite right for you! We’ll refer to another program that best suits your needs.
Step Three
Create a What Matters to Me plan
The Wellbeing Coach will work with you to understand how you’re feeling and the things you could achieve – such as seeing friends and family, or getting back into activities you used to enjoy. Together, you will create a plan to get these things into your life.
Step Four
Ongoing support
Over 15 weeks, your Wellbeing Coach will continue to work with you, the community and organisations to support you to make the connections you need, until you’ve found your feet again.
Step Five
Review & set ongoing plan
At the end of the program, your Wellbeing Coach will help you see how far you have come and set a plan to keep going, with further links and support as required!
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.
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.
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.
Retiring after a long and fruitful career can be associated with feelings of loneliness, unfulfillment, and a lack of purpose. That’s where the Healthy Me, Healthy Community program can help.
How the ‘Healthy Me, Healthy Community’ trailblazing social wellness initiative has changed – and continues to change – Erika’s life.
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!
