SWAMS opened its new outreach clinic in

Busselton on Thursday, 9th March.Located at the Busselton Health Campus, the new clinic will operate from 10 am to 4 pm on Mondays and Thursdays, and include a Women’s Health Clinic on the last Thursday of every month.SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson met with clients on-site, including Busselton local Leslie “Mick” Councillor, who was the first patient to visit the new clinic.Mick has relied on

SWAMS’ transport team to attend appointments at SWAMS’ main clinic in Bunbury for many years.“I’m really pleased about the new clinic in Busselton, it’s a good thing and nice to have a clinic closer to home,” Mick said.Ms Nelson said the new clinic further cemented SWAMS’s vision to improve access to primary health care services for the Noongar community.“Being able to provide quality health care to our community is vital. It’s about building

capacity to our services, so our clients have more opportunities to access support,” Ms Nelson said.“We are proud that Busselton is our fourth outreach clinic located in the South West, including Brunswick Junction, Collie and Manjimup.“SWAMS is pleased the Busselton clinic will operate from the Busselton Health Campus, as this prime location means easier access to additional services for our clients, if needed.”Clients will have access

to GP’s, Aboriginal Health Workers and Indigenous Outreach Workers on-site, with referrals to other specialised SWAMS staff available. The clinic would not be possible without the support of the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and our partnership with GP Down South, for our chronic disease program. For appointments contact SWAMS on (08) 9726 6000 (anytime) or (08) 9753 6000 (Monday or Thursday).

Busselton clinic opensAt the opening of the new SWAMS outreach clinic located at the Busselton Health Campus, are (from left) Operations Manager Coastal Hospitals Jan Cook, SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson and Director of Nursing and Midwifery Marianne Slattery. COVER: SWAMS CEO Lesley Nelson with the first official client to visit the new Busselton outreach clinic, Leslie “Mick” Councillor.

Ingredients:• 600g rigatoni pasta• 50g butter• 50g plain flour• 600ml milk• 250g strong cheddar, grated• 2 x 160g cans tuna in spring water, drained• 330g can sweetcorn, drained• Large handful chopped parsley.Method:1. Preheat oven to 180C.2. Boil pasta for 2 minutes. 3. Sauce: melt butter in a saucepan and stir in flour. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually stir

milk into saucepan, this allows sauce to thicken into a white sauce. Remove from heat and place a handful of grated cheese and stir.3. Drain pasta, mix with white sauce, tuna, sweetcorn and parsley, then season with salt and pepper. Place pasta into baking dish and top with grated cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Tuna and pasta bake recipe

Building our capacityKaya wandju. Hello

and welcome to our latest edition of SWAMS News.It’s been such a busy time at SWAMS these past few months.A big highlight so far is the opening of our new outreach clinic located at the Busselton Health Campus.As you’ll read in our cover story, the Busselton clinic opened on 9th March and is SWAMS’ fourth outreach clinic in the

South West, the others being in Brunswick Junction, Collie and Manjimup. This is a

great example of how SWAMS is providing quality health care to our community. It’s

about building capacity to our services, so our clients have more opportunities to access support.SWAMS has some new faces on board, check out pages 6 and 7 for more information on our new Dietitian and also our Playgroup Leaders.We are now in the season of Djeran, meaning cooler weather and the end of our short-lived summer.

- Lesley Nelson

South West Aboriginal Medical Service CEO Lesley Nelson.

Calendar of eventsUntil 30 April

The City of Bunbury Cultural Exchange Photo Contest is open until April 30. Check out the Bunbury Sister and Friendship Cities Facebook page.

April 8-9LiveLighter Bunbury Show at Hay Park, from 9 am-8.30 pm. Free entry. For more info visit http://bunburyshow.com.au.

April 12Grandfamiies Day at the Bunbury Wildlife Park from 10 am. Hosted by the City of Bunbury, the event is a chance for families to celebrate the special connection between grandparents and grandchildren. Contact: (08) 9792 7000.

April 15-16Donnybrook Apple Festival at Egan Park, Reserve St, Donnybrook. Event times: Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday 10 am-3 pm. Contact: Richard 0428 524 066 or info@donnybrookapplefestival.com.

April 22Balingup Small Farm Field Day at Balingup

Sports Oval, Walter St, Balingup, from 9 am-4.30 pm. Contact: (08) 9764 1818 or admin@balingupsmallfarmfieldday.com.au.

From April 27SWAMS’ free weekly walking group will meet Thursdays at 9.15 am at the Bricknell Shell, Bunbury. Contact: (08) 9791 1166.

29 AprilHarvey Show at Showgrounds, from 9 am-9 pm. Contact: 0410 411 865 or info@harveyshow.com.au.

Throughout MayWomen’s Wellness events will be held throughout May in various South West locations. These events are aimed at promoting cervical cancer awareness. Contact SWAMS on (08) 9791 1166.

May 13Groovin The Moo, at Hay Park, from 10 am- 11 pm. Contact: moo@gtm.net.au.

For more info please call (08) 9791 1116.

Medical student Surabhi Gupta paints a snake on Jermane Hart’s arm as part of a clinic held at SWAMS recently.

Attending a recent Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at SWAMS are sisters (from left) Havana, Ja-Melia and baby Jaycee Hill.

Also attending the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic held at SWAMS recently are (from left) Colin and Lara Watson.

Tirone Quartermain has his ears checked by Professor Harvey Coates, as his cousin Frank watches, at a recent SWAMS Clinic.

Catching up at a recent SWAMS meeting are (from left) CEO Lesley Nelson, Board Member Lera Bennell, Dr. Sandra Eades (Baker Institute), Francine Eades (Curtin University) Board member Ernie Hill and Clinical Director Terry Kneale.

Kaylene Gray and her daughter Jacinta Percival attend the new SWAMS Busselton outreach clinic.

SWAMS’ new dietitian Fiona Collins

describes health like a jigsaw puzzle.“Yours may be a1000 or 1500 piece puzzle. Nutrition (and food) may contribute a few or many pieces,” she said.“It’s about contributing and linking into all other aspects of a person’s life to achieve their definition of health, which is different to anyone else’s – you are unique.”Since starting with SWAMS in January this year, Fiona is enjoying her role in helping clients make healthier choices.Fiona’s top 5 health tips:1. Move more: be active.

2. Try a different colour veggie: have you ever roasted cauliflower? Or eaten purple carrots?3. Changes to your eating need to be sustainable, tasty, achievable: Diets and restrictive eating habits lead to failure.

4. Think of achieving a healthy body weight as losing body fat: Too much yellow ‘stuff ’ coating your major organs (heart, lungs, pancreas, liver etc.) is liken to wearing a lead coat. 5. Consult a health

professional for guidance: If unsure about what you read on nutrition and health, especially on social media, ask an expert.Two handy resources: Healthy eating quiz: http://healthyeatingquiz.com.au/ and App Foodswitch: www.bupa.com.au/health-and-wellness/tools-and-apps/mobile-apps/foodswitch-appFiona is available between 10 am-1 pm every Tuesday. To make an appointment with Fiona, contact the SWAMS Clinic on (08) 9726 6000 or drop in at Unit 5/55 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury.

Dietitian joins SWAMS

SWAMS Dietitian Fiona Collins is available for appointments every Tuesday at the clinic.

SWAMS’ playgroup program has two new

faces at the helm.Replacing long-time Playgroup Leader Tammy McGrath recently, Gwen Gray is a familiar face at SWAMS, having previously been a Board Member.Gwen is passionate about education.“I believe our kids will have better opportunities in life with a strong education and are able to make life choices with skills learned at school,” Gwen said. “I am looking forward to contributing towards closing the gap for

education and making our school readiness playgroup programs stronger.“It’s been an amazing start to playgroup, busy and exciting getting to meet so many community members who support playgroup.”Christine joined the team in March and is looking forward to her new role.“I’m keen to meet all the children and their parents, and build relationships with them,” she said.“I’m passionate about being able to create learning activities with Gwen and getting involved with the parents in the community.”

New playgroup leadersSWAMS has new faces leading its playgroup program (from left), Christine Humphries and Gwen Gray, who have already hit the ground running with three playgroups.

MAKING health lifestyle changes

has been the focus of the Kaaradiny Yoka Healthy Lifestyle Program.The eight-week program for women, aims to increase their knowledge of the importance of healthy

eating and physical activity, as a means of maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing the risk of chronic disease. The program is a collaboration between SWAMS and the South West Women’s Health Information

Centre (SWWHIC). It includes weekly sessions covering goal setting, nutrition

and cooking, physical activity, gardening, self-care, education and guest speakers.

Women’s group focus on healthy lifestyle changes

The Kaaradiny Yoka’s eight-week Healthy Lifestyle Program has been a big hit for the SWAMS women’s group.