ALLIED HEALTH FLOURISHES IN REGIONAL AND RURAL VICTORIA Gen Health Hamilton serves local community and rural outreach with range of allied health services
With
Jessica Fishburn,
Physiotherapist & Director
Gen Health Hamilton, Victoria
Carl Joyce,
Podiatrist & Director
Gen Health Hamilton, Victoria
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Hamilton, Victoria | April 2025
Genhealth Hamilton was established in 2015 in regional and rural Victoria. The practice offers a range of services including physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, exercise science, and group classes such as clinical reformer therapy and clinical Pilates in Hamilton, which has a population of around 10,000. The clinic also serves a wider community within 100 kilometre, reaching rural residents and local industries.
The clinic caters to both private-paying patients and compensable clients referred by GPs or government-funded programs like NDIS and WorkCover. They address various health concerns, particularly in women’s pelvic health, with the clinic being one of the few in the region that specialises in this area.
Genhealth’s mission is to strengthen the health of the local community through a collaborative approach, allowing patients to access multiple services in one location. The multidisciplinary team is notably young and dynamic, contributing a vibrant energy to their healthcare delivery. The clinic has successfully reached approximately 9,000 of the 10,000 people in the community, showcasing their commitment to improving health outcomes.
The founders, initially four young women, took the risk to realise their vision for allied healthcare, turning it into a successful and community-focused business.
Australian Health Journal spoke with two Directors about the practice, the staff and the community they serve.
Source: Written by AUDIENCED from transcript
Filming credit: The Social Connection
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HIGHLIGHTS Consumers and communities as agents of health care change and improvement
Policymakers, health administrators and clinicians must learn and embrace new ways to harness the transformative role consumers, community members and carers can play. Conversely, consumers and communities need support, capability and capacity to engage as equals in policy, research, program and service design. This is necessary if are to be less technocratic and realise the vision where all members of society can live the best life possible.
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Warning signs of substance abuse and addiction
Tara Hurster, is the CEO of The TARA Clinic and a psychologist who started working within the area of addiction in 2010. The TARA clinic, short for Therapeutic Addiction Recovery Assistance, recently started offering online programs to overcome and recover from addiction.
Tara spoke with Australian Health Journal about the early warning signs of anxiety and stress in health staff and executives, including irritability, changes in sleep patterns and diet leading to more serious mental health decline. These behaviours and symptoms increase the risk of substance abuse that could take the form of excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and drug use, porn, sex and gambling.
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Getting the conversation going on the connection between oral health and chronic conditions
Dr. Carol Tran is an Oral Health Therapist and co-founder of Oral Health Home, an organisation focused on innovative, prevention-oriented oral health education and outreach. She is a Past President of Dental Hygienists Association of Australia (DHAA) and currently is the Scientific Program Chair, for upcoming congress in October 2025, for the newly formed Oral Health Association of Australia (OHAA).
