Health Promotion

Central Coast Local Health District NSW

Health Promotion

Quick Meals for Kooris

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Quick Meals for Kooris is a ‘hands-on’ cooking program, developed to assist Aboriginal people prepare easy, low-cost family meals using available ingredients. Allowing time to cook, eat and share ideas and knowledge is an important part of this program.

Check out this short video to see how the Quick Meals for Kooris program has supported volunteers at San Remo Neighbourhood Centre. 

“I’ve used the training to show other people how to cook inexpensive meals.”

Lynne Clarke, volunteer, San Remo Neighbourhood Centre.

“What I love about the Quick Meals for Kooris is the recipes are simple and easy to make in your home, the ingredients are available in all shops and honestly some of the standard ingredients are in your cupboard today, right now.”

Kerry Groves, volunteer, San Remo Neighbourhood Centre

Quick Meals for Kooris is designed to be run by Aboriginal health workers or Aboriginal community members. This versatile program can be adapted to suit participant needs, resources and capacity of leaders. Program ‘leaders’ will not need extensive nutrition knowledge or food preparation skills as the Quick Meals for Kooris – Trainers Manual provides detailed guidance.  Recipes included in the program are in the Quick Meals for Kooris – At Home book. It is intended that all group participants are given a copy of this book. This book is also a stand-alone resource and can be provided to people who do not attend a program.




*NEW* Quick Meals for Kooris recipe videos

You can watch how to prepare four of the quick, easy and low-cost recipes from the Quick Meals for Kooris at Home book.

Watch the videos below and download the recipes and methods.

Thank you to Mitch Ella, Steve Ella, Tyra McEwen and Jenni McEwen for featuring in the videos.


Tell us what you think of these videos here!

Download the video recipes below:


Family Mince


Chicken Pasta


Vegetable Slice


Fruit Crumble

For more information, hard copy resources or support with nutrition training contact Lesley Marshall on (02) 4320 3691 or email [email protected].

School Gardens

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School Gardens

Having a garden can help your school to promote environmental and sustainable learning as well as encourage healthy eating and physical activity. It is a fun way to learn outside and provides students with a hands-on opportunity to prepare, eat and share the food they have grown.

Participation in a school garden program has been shown to help improve knowledge and confidence in relation to growing, preparing, cooking and eating a diverse range of fresh foods among Australian children.1

Can my school have a kitchen garden?

Any school can have some sort of garden or kitchen, regardless of their site, size, resources, gardening experience or classroom space.
How to start a Kitchen Garden


Kitchen gardening for sustainability


Patch to Plate is a free recipe book developed by the Central Coast Health Promotion Service that includes healthy and simple recipes that local teachers have made with their students using fresh ingredients from their own school gardens. Check out and download below to try these tasty recipes at school or at home.

You can also watch and share how to prepare four of our delicious recipes from the Patch to Plate book in the videos below!

Watch the videos below and download the recipes and methods.

Tell us what you think of these videos here!




Beetroot Hummus

Rice Paper Rolls

Fritters

Gozleme

Central Coast School Garden Interest Group

The Central Coast School Garden Interest Group (CCSGIG) aims to share ideas and connect Central Coast schools with an interest in school gardens and cooking. Healthy eating, encouraging physical activity and providing an interest for students rather than using small screen technology underpins the group’s philosophy.

The group meets twice each year, with a different school hosting the meeting and sharing its experiences. This year, we are considering new ways to connect as a group – if you have any suggestions, get in touch!

Join us on Facebook!

If you have a question for our team or would like information on the next workshop complete the form below.

1Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

World Breastfeeding Week art competition

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Every year, World Breastfeeding Week highlights the health and wellbeing benefits of breastfeeding for babies and their mothers.

Breastfeeding supports good nutrition, protection against infection, poverty reduction and food security.

This year, World Breastfeeding Week is focusing on the role of breastfeeding to protect the environment, its importance for both the planet and its people.

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week 2020 (1–7 August), the Central Coast Local Health District Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Reference Group is running a community art competition. There were some wonderful entries!

World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Community Art Competition Virtual Gallery

The following gallery is a presentation of the selected entries along with comments from the artists and judges.

And if you want to learn more about breastfeeding, why not check out these online webinar classes from the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

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Introducing Refresh @ Home




The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has changed our daily lives and routines. With large numbers working as best as they can from home and many parents having to navigate educating their children from home, Australians are learning to adapt to a unique new landscape.


To help you during this time, we’ve relaunched our Refresh – Kids & Families page to become Refresh @ Home. Here you’ll find a collection of our resources, as well as information and advice on a number of topics, from exercising at home, to cooking healthy meals, activities and games.


Please continue to check this page for further updates.


Last updated: 3 April 2020


Activities and games

Home exercise

Healthy eating

Home safety


The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has changed our daily lives and routines. With large numbers working as best as they can from home and many parents having to navigate educating their children from home, Australians are learning to adapt to a unique new landscape.


To help you during this time, we’ve relaunched our Refresh – Kids & Families page to become Refresh @ Home. Here you’ll find a collection of our resources, as well as information and advice on a number of topics, from exercising at home, to cooking healthy meals, activities and games.


Please continue to check this page for further updates.


Activities and games


With kids at home, families will need plenty of games and activities to keep them occupied. Fear not, we’ve got you covered with a number of resources to help keep you and your family both active and entertained.



Q4FAP logo


    

  • Our 
Get Active Today tool has some ideas on simple games and activities you can play to support the development of children ages four to eight.
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  • The Healthy Kids website has some great backyard physical activities for under-fives.
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  • Click on our Healthy Graphic below for instructions on how to build a fort. Feel free to download the image and share on your social media channels, in your newsletter or on your website.
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  • While it might not be possible to cut out screen time while learning and working from home, it’s important to take a break and cut back while you can. Click on our Healthy Graphic below for a simple yet fun drawing activity. Feel free to download the image and share on your social media channels, in your newsletter or on your website.
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Home exercise


Exercise is more important now than ever before – both to support our physical health and mental health.


With gymnasiums closed under current restrictions, many of us will be looking at converting our living rooms and gardens into exercise spaces. Here are some great exercise routines to ensure we continue to give our body and mind the work out it needs.


    

  • NSW Health’s Make Healthy Normal website has some simple exercises to do from home or outdoors. You can view and download a range of workouts, from beginner, low-intensity and high-intensity workouts. Check out its TV Workout below.
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  • Exercise & Sports Science Australia has developed an Exercise Right at Home landing page with links to various home workouts and advice.
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  • For those who wish to cycle for exercise or transport (if necessary), Bicycle NSW has provided updates and resources to support its community during the COVID-19 situation.
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Healthy eating


Planning your shop to ensure you have an adequate supply of healthy foods is top of everyone’s minds right now. Preparing and cooking meals as a family is also a great way to spend time in the house. Below you’ll find recipes and information on nutritious meals so you can be prepared when you need to grab some supplies.


    

  • The Dietitians Association of Australia’s advice on planning your pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic has a handy list of foods you should consider buying in the event of needing to self-isolate, as well as some helpful recipes.
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  • Click on our Healthy Graphic below – which promotes cooking and eating together as a family – for instructions on how to make gozleme. Feel free to download the image and share on your social media channels, in your newsletter or on your website.
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Family eating dinner


    

  • The LiveLighter program has a number of healthy recipes and meal plans to download, including 12-week plans and family meal plans.
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  • NSW Health’s Get Healthy in Pregnancy program has loads of great advice and information to help you eat healthy and remain active during pregnancy. Click on the image below to take you through to its web page.
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  • Our 
Patch to Plate recipe book contains a collection of tasty and healthy recipes from high schools on the Central Coast, curated by our Central Coast School Garden Interest Group.
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  • If you’re stuck inside, the good news is you won’t be short of the only drink you need to keep you and your children hydrated and healthy – water. Check out this infographic that includes information on sugary drinks and tips to help your child drink more water.
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  • Our Thirsty? Choose Water! research program is all about promoting the benefits of making water your drink of choice. Naturally then, we love this hard-hitting advertising campaign from the Rethink Sugary Drink initiative. The ad demonstrates just how much sugar you consume when you drink sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks and sports drinks. Watch the ad below and see for yourself.
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Home safety


While we spend much more time in the home than usual, home safety awareness becomes even more important.


Sunday 5 April is April Falls Day. Originally initiated by Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service to promote falls prevention and to raise awareness with community members, patients, carers and staff, the day has become a fixture in the NSW health calendar and now includes all of April (Falls Month).


The following resources contain advice and information on how you can stay safe in the home this April Falls, along with some fun games too.



E-cigarettes


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Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices that produce a vapour which is breathed in. The process is similar to smoking, except you don’t have to burn the tobacco.


E-cigarettes are often promoted as a healthier option, but this may not be the case. Many e-cigarettes still contain nicotine as well as other potentially harmful chemicals such as ammonia that are breathed into your lungs and very quickly absorbed into your body. Smokers inhale so much and so frequently that we just don’t know what the impacts of these chemicals will be. However, we do know e-cigarettes containing nicotine are addictive, just like tobacco.


Smoking e-cigarettes is not recommended as a means to quit tobacco smoking. If you are trying to quit smoking, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a better choice. NRT is designed to gradually release nicotine into your body to help relieve symptoms you may get when you are trying to quit. However, NRT avoids the surge of nicotine that enhances addiction. It’s that surge of nicotine from a cigarette or an e-cigarette that provides the reward and keeps you addicted. NRT avoids this, while buffering withdrawal symptoms.


Quitting smoking can improve your quality of life by having a positive impact on your physical health. What’s more, research shows that, after the nicotine withdrawal has been overcome, there are substantial long-lasting improvements to your mental health with reduced levels of anxiety and depression. Swapping to e-cigarettes won’t give you the same result.


If you would like help to quit, or you would like to refer someone to get help, call the Quitline on 13 7848, or talk to your health professional.




E-cigarettes – the top 5 issues




1. Availability and take-up is increasing


In countries like the USA where e-cigarettes are very easy to buy, young people have been taking them up at an alarming rate. In 2014, e-cigarette use tripled among high school students compared to the previous year. Even more alarmingly, there was no downward trend in tobacco use.


2. They are a gateway to smoking tobacco and other drugs


Studies around the world (such as these from the USA, Canada and Germany) have found high school students who have never smoked, but start using e-cigarettes, are much more likely to end up smoking tobacco.


3. No one can be sure they’re safe


E-cigarettes have the potential to be addictive, which means people are at risk of exposure to large amounts of nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals. Some of these chemicals are not in tobacco smoke, so it is unknown what long-term health consequences they will have. However, evidence is growing, and some studies have linked them to issues such as blood pressure, heart rate and arterial stiffness. Both the Australian Government and World Health Organization have recently issued warnings on the health implications of inhaling harmful toxics in e-cigarettes.


4. They don’t help people quit


When e-cigarettes were first available, it was thought they could be used to help smokers cut down and eventually quit smoking tobacco. Since then, more evidence has come to light. E-cigarettes aren’t any more effective at helping people quit. Worse, they often result in smokers using both e-cigarettes and tobacco.


5. They are not regulated in many countries


Even though restrictions on tobacco advertising and product placement have been in place for many years, e-cigarettes are not as tightly governed… yet. Like tobacco companies before them, e-cigarettes have snuck their way into Hollywood movies because it’s a tried and tested way of getting people to smoke.


NSW Health has been careful in regulating the use of e-cigarettes. Click here to read more about the regulations in place.


Refresh @ Home


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Welcome to Refresh @ Home




The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has changed the daily lives and routines of people living and working on the Central Coast.


To help you during this time, we’ve relaunched our Refresh – Kids & Families page to become Refresh @ Home. Here you’ll find a collection of our resources, as well as information and advice on a number of topics, from exercising at home, to cooking healthy meals, mental health support, activities and games.


Please continue to check this page for further updates. You’ll find new updates are now marked *NEW* so you can quickly spot them. You can also subscribe to our new Refresh @ Home newsletter to stay updated about new resources and information added to this page.


Last updated: 27 November 2020


Activities and Games

Exercise

Healthy Eating

Older Adults

Alcohol Reduction


Activities and Games


Looking for games and activities to keep the kids occupied? Fear not, we’ve got you covered with a number of resources and programs to help keep you and your family both active and entertained.


    

  • Our Magic Lunchbox storybook has been brought to life through animated storytelling. The story, written by Central Coast author Angela Barrett, supports children aged 4–6 years to understand everyday healthy food choices and “the magic made, when you put good food inside.” Watch a reading of the story below. You can also download more Magic Lunchbox resources and a copy of the book here.
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  • *NEW* We’ve created a series of videos of our Family ACTIVation games. Family ACTIVation is a fun-packed resource to help parents and carers of 5–12-year-olds get active with their children. It’s full of quick and easy games to play at home, in the park, or wherever. Games that reinforce the fundamental movement skills like throwing, catching, hopping and skipping… the same movement skills being learnt at school. Why not try our Throw Golf game by watching the video below. You can download the Family ACTIVation resource pack and watch the full set of videos here.
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  • With the summer months on the way, it’s important we practice good sun protection habits. The Cancer Institute has released a suite of interactive skin cancer prevention resources for NSW schools. Its Sun and UV at School classroom resources are curriculum-aligned, flexible, and easy for teachers to use, and will assist students to make healthy, safe and proactive choices about sun protection, reducing their risk of skin cancer into the future. They have also produced the below video, which provides advice on how to enjoy the outdoors safely.
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  • Keep your kids entertained with Jack’s FUNtastic Day. Written by Central Coast author Angela Barrett, Jack’s FUNtastic Day is a story for 3–6-year-olds about a boy named Jack who leaves his screen behind for a day to embark on a fun-finding expedition. Click the image below to take you directly to the story or here to a page with related activity books for pre-school and primary school aged-children.
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Jacks-Funtastic-Day-Cover


    

  • To get your kids fitter, healthier and happier, why not try our next Go4Fun Online program? Go4Fun Online is a free 10-week program for families with children between 7–13 years old. Parents and children view weekly online sessions where they learn tips and tricks for healthy eating and keeping fit. Families also receive weekly personalised phone support from a Go4Fun coach at a time convenient for them, as well as email and text message support to keep them on track. The next program begins in January, so get signed up now.
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  • Our 
Get Active Today tool has some ideas on simple games and activities you can play to support the development of children ages 4–8.
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  • Kids Health has compiled a helpful page with a number of play ideas for children, including indoor and outdoor games and educational and sensory activities.
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  • Reducing screen time can be a challenge. Watch this video full of handy tips to help your family sit less and move more. Check out NSW Health’s screen time page for more guidance and tips.
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Exercise


Exercise is more important now than ever before – both to support our physical health and mental health. Here are some great ways to exercise, covering all ages and abilities, to ensure we continue to give our body and mind the work out it needs.


    

  • NSW Health’s Get Healthy at Work program has developed a Being Healthy While Working From Home guide with lots of information – from physical activity, to healthy eating and mental health advice.
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  • On the subject of mental health, NSW Government has produced a factsheet with advice on how to look after your mental health during COVID-19.
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  • *NEW* The Department of Education School Sport Unit and The Arts Unit have produced a range of videos called [email protected] to teach kids a range of fundamental and sport-specific skills using items found at home in their living rooms, in a fun and engaging way. Watch the video on dancing below, aimed at children ages 3–6, and check out the rest of the episodes here.
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  • NSW Health’s Make Healthy Normal website has some simple exercises to do from home or outdoors. You can view and download a range of workouts, from beginner, low-intensity and high-intensity workouts.
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  • The NSW Institute of Sport has put together a High Performance at Home page containing a selection of videos by some of Australia’s top athletes to help us exercise at home, including improving your running technique and full body 30-minute workouts. Check out its 15-minute full body workout for beginners or daily flexibility routine for working from home.
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  • As many of us begin to think about returning to our places of work as restrictions lift, why not consider active transport to work. Central Coast Health Promotion runs a Go Active 2 Work Day every third Wednesday of the month, with monthly gatherings in William Street, Gosford. To join the Go Active 2 Work community, receive a welcome pack and updates, visit our Go Active 2 Work page.
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Healthy Eating


Spending more time at home is a great opportunity to cook fresh and healthy meals every day. Avoid the temptation to snack and starting experimenting in the kitchen. And if you’re not sure what to prepare, don’t worry, we’ve listed a number of resources with helpful recipes and advice to ensure you eat healthily at home.


    

  • *NEW* Patch to Plate is a recipe book boasting a collection of tasty and healthy recipes from primary schools on the Central Coast, curated by our Central Coast School Garden Interest Group. Now, not only can you download the recipe book, but you can also watch a series of videos showing how to prepare and cook the meals. Check out the video below demonstrating how to make pea and haloumi fritters.
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  • *NEW* Check out our new series of recipe videos based on our Quick Meals for Kooris cooking program. Quick Meals for Kooris assists Aboriginal people to prepare easy, low-cost family meals using available ingredients. You can find out more about the program here, and below watch a video on how to prepare and cook Hawaiian chicken pasta.
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  • *NEW* Our Make Their Meals Count resource aims to help parents and carers prepare healthy meals for children aged 4–8 years. The recipes are basic everyday meals, and are easy to make with ingredients that are inexpensive and readily available. TO further support you, we’ve develop a number of the recipes from Make Their Meals Count into a video series. Below you can watch a video to cook fish cakes with charred corn and zucchini salad, and you can check out the full set of recipes and videos here.
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  • *NEW* We’ve launched a new Thirsty? Choose Water! website that has loads of great resources and tips to help you and your family drink more water. Download fact sheets, check out mythbusters, use our sugary drink calculator and download our awesome new Aqua Sprint game, available for free on the App and Google Play stores. Click on the image below, which features our new Thirsty? Choose Water! character, to visit the new site, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
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  • The Heart Foundation has put together a fantastic page full of ideas on how to make healthier meals at home. It includes heart healthy recipes, healthy cooking methods and food swaps, meal planning on a budget, and more.
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  • Want to help improve your diet and stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic? NSW Health’s Get Healthy program is a free telephone-based information and coaching service that sets personalised healthy lifestyle goals on health eating, becoming more activity, achieving a healthy weight, reducing alcohol intake and achieving healthy weight gain in pregnancy. Watch the video below for more information.
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  • NSW Health’s guide to healthy eating while working from home contains recipes, advice on grocery shopping and other tips ans tricks to eat healthier.
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  • Nutrition and dietetics experts at the University of Newcastle have launched the website No Money No Time. It aims to improve the eating habits of young Australians and includes quick, cheap, easy and healthy recipes. You can even take its Healthy Eating Quiz and get a personalised report on your eating habits along with recipe suggestions and ideas based on the information you provide.
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Older Adults


There are a number of tailored resources for older adults that can help them stay active, healthy, connected and safe at home.


Active and Healthy


    

  • If you’re 60 or older, you can get Healthy and Active for Life thanks to a FREE new 10-week online program from NSW Health. You will receive weekly online exercise videos to do at your own pace, healthy eating and lifestyle tips, as well as telephone support from a trained coach at a time that suits you. And all from the comfort of your own home. The next program starts on Monday 25 January 2021, although registrations close on Friday 15 January. To register or for more information, visit the website or call our Health Promotion team on 4320 9700.
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  • NSW Government has produced factsheets to support seniors in staying healthy and staying connected at home that include some handy and practical tips.
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  • Over 70? Do the 7! Click the thumbnail below to download and print a poster with advice on how to stay COVID safe.
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  • Our nutrition booklet for older adults and their carers, Eating Well, includes heaps of advice from nutritionists to help you eat the foods you need to maintain weight, muscle strength, bone strength and independence.
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  • NSW Health’s Active and Healthy at Home booklet includes practical tips and information for older adults to stay active, healthy, and connected at home, and includes available services for the elderly. You may also wish to download and print this Active and Healthy at Home flyer, which has some handy tips you can keep close by.
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  • Developed by physiotherapists across Australia, Safe Exercise at Home is a simple-to-navigate website with helpful information and exercises.
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  • The Exercise at Home section on NSW Health’s Active and Healthy website has heaps of simple exercises to improve balance and strength, along with images and videos to demonstrate.
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Falls Prevention


While we spend much more time at home than usual, home safety awareness, such as avoiding fall risks and hazards, becomes even more important.


The following resources contain advice and information on how you can stay safe in the home, along with some fun games too.



Alcohol Reduction


As we all come to terms with the challenges presented by COVID-19, it’s important we avoid potentially harmful coping strategies such as excess alcohol consumption.


There are a number of health impacts caused by drinking too much alcohol, which you can read more about in the Alcohol section of this website.


There are some helpful resources out there to support you if you’re struggling during the COVID-19 situation.


    

  • Want to drink less? Changing your drinking habits is easier with someone in your corner. Did you know you can get support over the phone from your own FREE health coach through NSW Health’s Get Healthy Service? Coaches are friendly and trained to help you change your drinking habits. They will give you practical tools and support you, without judgement, helping you to set achievable goals, make a plan (starting with small steps), and overcome barriers that stand in your way. They will work as a team with you and celebrate your successes with you. To sign up, call 1300 806 258 or click on the image below and complete the simple online form. And if you want to find out more about the dedicated service for pregnant women, click here.
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  • Want to know more about how alcohol impacts your health? Check out Get Healthy at Work’s Alcohol and your Health factsheet. It includes tips on low-risk drinking, information for women pregnant or breastfeeding, advice for men, as well as a number of support and treatment services.
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  • NSW Health has produced a handy document with tips to reduce your alcohol consumption while working from home. There’s also a version for employers too.
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  • Check out this page on Your Room – a joint initiative by NSW Health and St Vincent’s Alcohol and Drug Information Service – which has information, advice, a risk assessment tool and helplines to support you.
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  • The Alcohol and Drug Foundation has a Coping with Coronavirus page that contains a range of helpful links with advice on a number of topics, from relapse and withdrawal, to resources and support services.
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  • The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) has created an online resource with tips, strategies and information on how to limit alcohol use, and groups you can turn to if you need support.
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