The Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
The Greater Shepparton Healthy Child Co-Design project, launched in May this year, is building momentum and continuing to focus on exploring ways we can better connect our multicultural communities to our maternal and child health system.
Maternal-child health appointments are the first point of contact our community has with the healthcare system following a child’s birth and after leaving the hospital. The ten age and stage visits present a wonderful opportunity to build connections with families, support mothers and their babies in meeting critical milestones and provide support for families.
The Greater Shepparton Healthy Child Co-Design project is connecting with local parents and caregivers from both the Afghan and Congolese communities to join our co-design advisory committee. An expression of interest is being shared among these communities, and we welcome anyone who may be interested in sharing their lived experience to reach out.
We are looking for 24 people from the Afghan and Congolese community to join the Community Advisory Group to help identify:
- Maternal and child health needs of the community;
- Barriers experienced when accessing maternal and child health services; and
- What would help the community to have better access to maternal and child health services.
With knowledgeable co-design facilitator Nancy Nuñez from The Groupwork Centre leading our co-design days, we look forward to local community members sharing their experiences and engaging in rich storytelling around their maternal-child healthcare. Interpreters, catering and childcare will also be provided for the community members during these sessions.
More information, including in-language information regarding the Community Advisory Group, can be found on the Major Projects page on the GSF website, www.greatershepparton.foundation
Expressions of interest close Friday, September 13. To submit your expression of interest, email Katie Thorp at katie@greatershepparton.foundation. Alternatively, if you know of anyone who may be interested and requires language support, they can speak to a translator — (Swahili) Shakilla on 0470 269 028 or (Dari) Muzhgan on 0449 584 367.
We are thrilled to see this community-led project progress with thanks to our partner, Greater Shepparton City Council, and due to the support of funding partners the Pratt Foundation and Perpetual’s Impact Philanthropy program.
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer