BCHS Quality of care 2024 digital - Flipbook - Page 9
New initiatives
Karl connects with
his calming influence
Bendigo Library saw the beginning of a new chapter with the placement of
BCHS’ community connections project worker, Karl Quast, to assist staff,
patrons and disadvantaged community members.
Providing support, training and mentoring for library staff, Karl received
positive feedback with the majority saying he brought a calming influence,
making their jobs more manageable and giving them more confidence
to work with patrons who have high needs. On average, Karl engaged
with 14 people from the community a day, mostly supporting patrons
who experience homelessness, mental health problems, substance abuse
issues, disability and ill physical health. His work led to less emergency
room presentations and ambulance callouts.
Karl has...
•
Facilitated 32 group
wellbeing sessions for
Bendigo Library staff.
•
Developed and delivered
three training sessions for
45 Goldfields Library staff,
with more training sessions
in the works.
Snapshot of just some of the outcomes
“Karl provided some practical
and useful tips around de-escalating
situations and working with people
from trauma-informed backgrounds.
He is very grounded in his approach and
promoted people-centred language
and unconditional positive regard
in ways that seemed doable in our
everyday work. He’s such an asset!”
•
Ten people supported to attend primary health services
for ongoing support (both at BCHS and externally),
screening and treatment for acute and chronic illnesses
such as schizophrenia, hepatitis C and Type 1 diabetes.
•
One pregnant woman supported to receive maternal
health care.
•
Nine people supported to see a dentist for acute and
chronic issues with three people now on the waitlist to
receive dentures.
•
Six people supported to obtain birth certificates.
9
