Doutta Galla Community Health
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Mission Statement

Doutta Galla provides high quality, culturally appropriate and accessible primary, community and mental health services with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in the cities of Melbourne and Moonee Valley.
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Self management

Doutta Galla has made a committment to provide self management support to clients living with long term health conditions.
"Increasing the effectiveness of adherence interventions (i.e. self-management support) may have a far greater impact on the health of the population than any improvement in specific medical treatments", World Health Organisation

Navigating self management

Staff at DGCH have made a committment to undertaking a workforce development strategy where staff are trained in self management support and behaviour change using motivational interviewing principles.

Self management involves the client with the chronic condition working in partnership with their carers and health professionals so that they can:

1. Know their condition
2. Negotiate a plan of care (care plan) and review/monitor the plan
3. Engage in activities that protect and promote health
4. Monitor and manage the symptoms and signs of the condition
5. Manage the impact of the condition on physical functioning ,emotions and interpersonal relationships.

Health care services provide support for self management by:

  • emphasising the client's central role in managing their health;
  • using effective self management support strategies that include assessment, goal setting,action planning, problem solving and follow up; and
  • organising internal and community resources to provide ongoing self management support to clients.

Motivational interviewing training

Motivational interviewing (MI) is now being used in a wide variety of health contexts, including chronic disease management and mental illness recovery models to tackle both mental and physical health problems. MI is specifically used to facilitate behaviour change. Studies have consistently shown that clients cannot be forced to follow a lifestyle that is decided by others. Client empowerment and self-management are therefore crucial to ensure that clients know they are still in control of their lives and are motivated to become engaged partners with their health care workers. Health behaviour is identified as an integral part of health care for chronic health conditions and Doutta Galla staff are being encouraged to develop skills that MOTIVATE.

Resources

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