Golden Plains Shire Council advises that the childhood immunisation service delivered by City of Ballarat in the Shire is changing.
Due to staff shortages and low attendance in some areas of the Shire, the contracted service will be reduced from four to two monthly immunisation sessions for the remainder of 2022.
Throughout this year, there have been significant staff shortages across the health sector which have impacted the delivery of the childhood immunisation service in Golden Plains Shire, resulting in the cancellation of a number of sessions. To ensure the continuity of childhood immunisation services for the rest of 2022, Council has worked with City of Ballarat to update the service schedule with new locations, days and times, including an additional session in the north and centre of the Shire in November.
Following low attendance in Bannockburn throughout 2022 and the availability of bulk-billing options in the south of the shire, the childhood immunisation service will no longer be available at the Bannockburn Family Services Centre. The service will continue in the north and centre of the Shire, with clinics at Rokewood and the new location of Smythesdale, a change from the previous offering at Linton and Haddon.
Childhood immunisations will be available from 10 to 10.30am at Rokewood Community Health Centre, 57 Ferrars Street, and from 11.30am to 12.15pm at The Well, 19 Heales Street Smythesdale on:
- Thursday 8 September
- Thursday 6 October
- Thursday 10 November
- Thursday 8 December
All sessions are drop-in, with no bookings required. Parents are reminded to please bring their Medicare Card and the child's Health Record Book to the session.
The change to childhood immunisation services does not impact Council’s Maternal Child Health service, which runs across the whole Shire and provides a free and confidential family health and wellbeing, child development and parenting service for families with children from birth to school age.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble says Council is pleased to be able to continue offering childhood immunisations for families in Golden Plains Shire.
Delivering the childhood immunisation service in Golden Plains has been challenging over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now staff shortages with our contracted provider, City of Ballarat.
Council is delighted to have a revised service for 2022 that will meet the needs of our Golden Plains’ families and ensure we, in partnership with City of Ballarat, provide a more reliable service for the remainder of the year.
Council is currently planning the for the delivery of the service in 2023 and beyond, and is looking forward to providing an update for families across the Shire later this year.