The Kimberley Region of Western Australia
Educational Tour
1-5 April 2019
At the beginning of April this year, Annette Terranova, Geoff Thomas and Pearl Chan from Unicare Health visited Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Wyndham – four towns in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. As part of Unicare Health’s support for WA Country Health and regional healthcare partners, the team provided valuable equipment-related education sessions at hospitals, residential aged care facilities and even joined local allied health partners on community appointments to consult on patient transfer and disability equipment solutions.
“Our tour of the Kimberley to support WA Country Health with education and equipment support would not have been as successful without the eager participation and hospitality of our partners in the region. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the following organizations, including your residents, clients and patients, for your warm hospitality and friendship during our travels.”
- Broome Hospital
- Kununurra District Hospital
- Wyndham District Hospital
- Juniper Numbala Nunga
- Juniper Gerdewoonem
- Juniper Marlgu Village
- Kimberley Aged and Community Services
- Life Without Barriers
Read more about Unicare Health’s tour of the Kimberley below.
The Kimberley
The Kimberley is an area of approximately 423,000 square kilometres, which is twice the size of Victoria and three times the size of England. Located in the north western corner of Australia, The Kimberley is one of the world’s largest yet most uninhabited wilderness areas.
The Kimberley boasts spectacular gorges, waterfalls and cave systems, lush rainforests and an astonishing variety of wildlife. The population is characterised by a demographic set that includes approximately 50% Indigenous people and a young workforce capitalising on regional opportunities.
In 2011, the estimated population of the Kimberley was 34,794. The population is fairly evenly distributed, with only three towns having populations in excess of 2,000: Broome (12,766), Derby (3,261) and Kununurra (4,573).
Educational Tour
Annette Terranova, Geoff Thomas and Pearl Chan from Unicare Health visited Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Wyndham – four towns in the Kimberley in the week following 1 April 2019. The team provided valuable equipment-related education sessions at hospitals, residential aged care facilities and even joined local allied health partners on community appointments to consult on patient transfer and disability equipment solutions.
During hospital and aged care site visits, healthcare professionals were taught how to be intelligent about using existing equipment in their workplace and how to improvise equipment use to suit different patient needs in light of being remotely disadvantaged in terms of equipment variety, funding and selection of functional equipment.
Nursing and maintenance staff were taught how to program pumps on pressure care mattresses, check for non-functioning air cells and what the different functions meant. Care staff were also taught to be intelligent about using equipment features, and given pointers such as lowering the bed when hoisting patients in slings (instead of lifting the patient over the bed) to prevent shearing wounds.
Unicare Health’s clinical educator Annette also taught therapists and clinical staff to consider the elements of the region when prescribing products for clients. A gel-based pressure care cushion for example would not suit a community client who is often on the move in the outdoor heat and humidity.
As market leaders in the delivery of Pressure Care education in Western Australia, seminars were also organized in Broome and Kununurra to spread the awareness of Pressure Injuries amongst health care professionals.
Pressure injuries are the 3rd most costly health condition behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. They are preventable causes of pain, suffering and loss of life.
Annette delivered Pressure Care education and shared best practices in Pressure Injury Prevention and Management with healthcare staff to empower them with knowledge and skills necessary to improve patient outcomes.
Annette’s recent participation in the National Pressure Advisory Panel (NPUAP) 2019 Annual Conference in America, National Aged Care Symposium in Brisbane, 20th Annual Meeting of European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel in Rome and Wounds Australian National Conference provided her a wealth of new knowledge and updated clinical practices to share with healthcare partners in the region.
A highlight of the trip included a visit to Juniper Gerdewoonem in Kununurra, a new 40 bed residential aged care facility, purpose built to provide quality aged care in the region. Unicare Health was the preferred aged care equipment provider for this project when it was completed last year and it was a very rewarding experience to be able to visit again to see how the selection of equipment provided by Unicare Health contributed to the ease of provision of high level resident care, wellness, reablement and safety. New care staff were also impressed by the innovative functionalities of the Wissner Bosserhoff aged care beds installed at this facility that encourages safe and independent bed mobility, falls prevention, continence management and pressure care.
Read more about the Unicare Health’s – Juniper Gerdewoonem project.
Thank you
“Our tour of the Kimberley to support WA Country Health with education and equipment support would not have been as successful without the eager participation and hospitality of our partners in the region. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the following organizations, including your residents, clients and patients, for your warm hospitality and friendship during our travels.”
Broome Hospital
Derby Hospital
Kununurra District Hospital
Wyndham District Hospital
Juniper Numbala Nunga
Juniper Gerdewoonem
Juniper Marlgu Village
Kimberley Aged and Community Services
Life Without Barriers
Unicare Health is going to the Pilbara on the week following 17 June 2019
Connect with us on our upcoming tour to support hospitals, aged care and community providers with education in the Pilbara. We will be visiting Karratha and other major population centres.
As market leaders, it is our corporate social responsibility to ensure that our business produces an overall positive impact and to contribute towards a sustainable healthcare system in Australia.
We conduct complimentary educational sessions to empower you and your staff with the skills necessary to deliver safe and responsible patient care.
Get in touch with us today so that we can tailor complimentary equipment-related educational programs to suit your workplace.
Posted on 24 Apr 2019