Victorian Department of Health

I knew it, I knew you 😭😭...

Australia is currently seeing its largest outbreak of diphtheria on record.

Diphtheria can cause serious skin and throat infections.

Diphtheria is not a new or common disease in Australia. It’s been around for a long time, and there is a vaccine to prevent it.

So, should you be worried about diphtheria?

The short answer = For most people, the risk is low and vaccination remains our best protection.

The long answer = Most cases have been in the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia, and there are some cases in South Australia and Queensland. However, Victoria is stepping up our response to this outbreak by providing free vaccines for people who may travel to a high-risk area. .If you are unsure whether your vaccinations are up to date or if you are eligible for a free booster vaccine, please check with your GP, Aboriginal Medical Service, pharmacy or local health clinic.

To find out more information visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4uV4xGg

Things your toddler cried about this week:

- You peeled their banana wrong
- You gave them juice when they asked for juice
- You used the wrong blue cup
- The vacuum was on (they turned it on)
- They were told to stop eating sand
- You put their shoes on
- You took their shoes off
- They got their flu vaccine

.. and only one of these will still matter after tomorrow.

Back in 1949, parenting support looked very different.

When the O’Connell Family Centre in Canterbury opened in 1949, the baby boom was underway, family life was changing fast, expectations on mothers were extremely high, and many were navigating early parenthood without the support that did not yet widely exist.

Founded by Sister Maude O’Connell, the O’Connell Family Centre recognised something deeply important. Supporting parents was essential to children’s health. Care focused on providing supportive services for new parents and providing reassurance and practical help when it mattered most.

Today, that same understanding lives on through Early Parenting Centres across Victoria.

Families with children from birth to four years can access free, nurse led early parenting support, including help with sleep and settling, feeding, parent-child attachment, understanding child behaviours, and family health and wellbeing.

What began at the O’Connell Family Centre continues today through Early Parenting Centres across Victoria.

To find out more about the Victorian Early Parenting Centres service network visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4cIUYU0

Do you know which Urgent Care Service to use? Lucky there’s a family guy to help guide you through. ⬇️

Not every health concern needs an emergency department. In Victoria, when it’s urgent you have free options that are fast and easy to access.

Here's your quick guide:

Not urgent: See your GP or community health service for day-to-day and ongoing care.
If it’s urgent but not life-threatening and you can't wait for a GP:

• Nurse-on-Call: free 24/7 phone advice from a registered nurse on 1300 60 60 24 (Peter might call when he falls over and isn’t sure how deep the cut is)

• Urgent Care Clinic: walk in with no appointment needed, open 7 days early to late across 38 clinics in Victoria (would’ve been suitable for that time Peter hurt his knee)

• Virtual Emergency Department: free video call with an emergency doctor or nurse, available 24/7 (Louis getting on a video call when Stewie breaks out in hives)

Life-threatening emergency: Call 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately.

Urgent Care Services are open to everyone.
Save this post so you know exactly where to go when it matters most.

Ahead of flu season, we asked Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, a paediatric infectious diseases physician: “What does the flu look like for some kids?”

For some families, it’s just a rough week. For others, it can mean hospital.

“Many people think of the flu as mild, a runny nose, feeling a bit off. But we see a different reality every winter.”

“What we see… is that young children can become quite unwell.
Even those with healthy immune systems can end up in intensive care and have complications.”

That’s why vaccination matters, not just for your child, but for the people around them too. It helps protect families, classrooms and communities so kids can spend more time at school, kinder and doing the things they love this winter.

“The flu strains and the virus change every year. So, what we're doing every year is we're giving ourselves a booster to make sure that we are going to prevent ourselves from getting overly unwell and ending up in hospital.”

In Victoria, the flu vaccine is free for children aged 6 months to under 5 years when delivered by a GP, local council immunisation service or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Children aged 5 years and over can also get vaccinated through these providers, as well as participating pharmacies (standard fees may apply, so it’s best to call ahead to check costs).

Don’t wait for the flu to hit.
Protect them, and your community.

For more information, visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4tzyWZ8

Ferrari has unveiled its new electric sedan, the Ferrari “Luce”. Sporting a N95 respirator mask, this prevention diva has become the internet’s most expensive addition to flu season awareness.

While Ferrari continues to dominate headlines, as a health department, we are here to remind you that influenza doesn't care what you drive.

Flu prevention remains unchanged:

• Face masks help reduce flu transmission, especially in indoor or crowded settings

• Flu vaccine recommended for those 6 months+

• Hand hygiene remains effective in reducing the spread of influenza

• People at higher risk of serious illness should seek medical advice early if flu-like symptoms develop

So remember, stay FULYS1CK with vibes not with the flu (AKA take flu prevention measures like Luce) xx⚡😷

Three people in separate incidents have recently required emergency care because they experienced he**in overdose after using what they thought was co***ne.

He**in is an opioid that can produce life-threatening toxic effects – especially if you don’t usually use opioids

Signs of opioid overdose may include slow breathing, being difficult to wake up and tiny pupils.

Naloxone can reverse opioid overdose and is safe to use even if opioids are not present. Free naloxone is available at participating pharmacies, needle and syringe programs and Mental Health & Wellbeing Locals, as well as the Victorian Pill Testing Service and the Medically Supervised Injecting Room.

If you experience toxic drug effects, or are present when someone has an unexpected reaction, seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero (000).

Learn more about this Alert, precautions that can be taken, and where to access support services: https://go.vic.gov.au/4dEZylw

The only thing we wish there was more of in Off Campus is...Vitamin D.

You know, sources like salmon, eggs and some milks & cereals (and the good ol’ sun).

While our Briar U boys like Garrett Graham and Dean Di Laurentis look like they get some rays between hockey seasons, it's working harder for them than they know. Vitamin D is actually a hormone that controls calcium levels in the blood, needed for strong bones, muscles and overall health.

Sources of vitamin D include:

• UV exposure (We’ll elaborate in the comments*)
• Foods - even off campus, nutrition matters
• Regular physical activity - the Briar hockey team (and some other teams) already has this one covered
• Vitamin D supplements - think of it like the Tucker who is making sure everyone gets the right balance of nutrition.

So, if you've been bingeing Off Campus instead of stepping outside (no judgement), it's worth remembering that Victorians in winter can struggle to get enough vitamin D through sun exposure alone, so it might be time to check your levels.

Rumour has it Justin Bieber at Coachella said, “cervical screening is hot”.

Regular cervical screening is your best protection against cervical cancer. If you’re aged 25 to 74 and have a cervix, and have ever been sexually active, you need a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years, even if you’ve had the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. You can even opt to do it from the comfort of your home!