Strokes are Australia's second single greatest killer, with over 60,000 strokes occurring each year. National Stroke Week encourages the community to get involved, raise money and support the national campaign. For more information click here. How do you know if someone is having a stroke – think FAST: The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions: Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped? Arms - [...]

All adults can get a booster if it’s been 6 months or longer since their last COVID-19 booster or confirmed infection (whichever is most recent) for additional protection against severe illness from COVID. This is particularly recommended for people at higher risk of severe illness, including: everyone 65 years and over everyone 18 years and over with medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs. Children and young people aged 5 to 17 years can get a booster dose if: they have a health condition that [...]

While the majority of Australians support organ and tissue donation, only around one in three (36%) are registered to be a donor. Can you donate 1 minute to register as a donor? Organ, eye and tissue donation saves lives, restores health and improves the quality of life for thousands of Australians each year. Right now, there are 1,800 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and thousands more whose lives could be transformed through organ or tissue donation. To find out more, click here.

Doctors and staff at Stirling Central Health Clinic are encouraging patients who have not had their 5th Booster for COVID-19 as yet to book into the clinics now! Click here for a Pfizer Booster and here for a Moderna Booster now! This is because the latest statistics show that only 38.1% of people in Australia over the age of 65 years have had a COVID-19 booster. This percentage decreases in younger age groups too. The virus remains prevalent in our society evidenced by the fact [...]

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel cancer claims the lives of 103 Australians every week (5,354 people a year) - but it's one of the most treatable types of cancer when detected early. While the risk of bowel cancer increases significantly with age, the disease doesn't discriminate, affecting people of all ages.   300 Australians will be diagnosed with bowel cancer this week (15,610 people a year). For more information, click here. If you have any concerns about your bowel health, book an appointment [...]

Flu Vaccinations Available Now! Since the opening of international borders, there has been a resurgence of influenza in the community! This is expected to continue in 2023. Doctors at Stirling Central Health Clinic encourage people to book in now for their annual vaccination to prevent influenza and its complications. Annual influenza vaccination should occur from April onwards to provide protection for the peak of the influenza season, which is generally from June to September in most parts of Australia. For more information, click here To [...]

Kidney Health Week – 21st – 27th May 2023 Kidney Health Week aims to raise awareness about kidney disease in Australia. Kidney disease is the 10th most common cause of death in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 50 people die from kidney related disease every day. Kidney disease can be a serious condition in which the kidney loses part or all of its function. Kidney dysfunction can lead to a build-up of waste water which remains in the body. A consequence [...]

World Hand Hygiene Day – May 5th According to the World Health Organisation, hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when performed at the right moments during health care delivery. We need to accelerate implementation of the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and increase investments to close gaps in infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene. All doctors and staff at Stirling Central Health Clinic maintain their education and skills in Hand Hygiene on an annual basis as a strategy in the prevention of [...]

Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) The Australian Government is monitoring the unfolding situation in Australia concerning the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). It has been declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.   Japanese encephalitis is spread through bites from mosquitos, which become infected through biting infected pigs and waterbirds.   Free JEV vaccination is available for the following eligible groups: people aged 2 months and older who have a primary residence in an eligible postcode below AND spend at least 4 hours per day outdoors most days [...]

New COVID-19 testing requirements for people travelling from China to Australia If you’re travelling by plane to Australia from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, on or after 5 January 2023, the Australian Government requires you to undertake a COVID-19 test in the 48 hours before your scheduled departure date.   You should be ready to show evidence of your negative test result when boarding your flight in China. You may also need to show this evidence again when you arrive in Australia.   For [...]

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! Around 1,550 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia each year, with more than two-thirds at an advanced stage. Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is all about helping people get tested earlier to prevent this as well as providing support to patients and families.   There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, so all women need to be aware of the symptoms. The most commonly reported symptoms for ovarian cancer are:   Increased abdominal size or persistent [...]

International Day of People with Disability – December 3rd 2022 The Australian Government has been supporting International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) since 1996 and provides funds to promote and raise awareness of the day and support activities around Australia. This includes encouraging individuals, schools, community groups, businesses and organisations to get involved and hold events on, or around, 3 December. The IDPwD program aligns with key action areas under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31. This includes improving community awareness by recognising the positive contribution people [...]

Travelling can take a significant toll on the body, leaving it susceptible to a wide variety of potential illnesses. It’s important to seek out travel health advice and the relevant vaccines prior to travelling, to make sure you don’t catch an unwanted bug while abroad. Our doctors can give you all the advice you need before travelling overseas, to avoid coming back with a nasty illness. It’s important to get the right advice before travelling, because it’s not always just about getting the right vaccinations. [...]

Are you jetting off for the holiday season? Wearing a mask. Wearing a mask is a good idea when you travel and can help protect you and those around you. To use a mask properly you should: wash or sanitise your hands before putting it on or taking it off make sure it covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin avoid touching the front of your mask while wearing or removing it keep it in place – don't hang it around your neck [...]

Meet our Speech Pathologist - Rebecca Cowling, BSpPath Rebecca Cowling is a certified practicing speech pathologist and has been in private practice in the Adelaide Hills and Murraylands since 2007. Rebecca provides a speech pathology service for children specializing in school age and adolescents and can assess, diagnose and provide therapy for a wide range of communication difficulties, including: Speech delays and disorders Language delays and disorders Literacy difficulties Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) Tongue thrust swallow and feeding Rebecca is a Medicare provider and [...]

Movember - From 30 Moustaches to 5 million From humble beginnings, the Movember movement has grown into a truly global one. Men die on average 4.5 years before women. The charity promotes men’s health with a number of specific projects focussing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. There are many ways that you can help the cause. For more information click here

Pollen season is in full swing For one in five Adelaide residents with hay fever and/or asthma, pollen season can be a time for sneezing, itchy eyes and shortness of breath, which can escalate into a serious health risk. To help, Asthma Australia has kicked off the seasonal Pollen Count for Adelaide, reporting the past 24 hours of grass pollen levels at 11am daily on this webpage asthma.org.au/pollen-monitoring/. The Pollen Count provides valuable information from which you can make informed decisions about your condition. The best [...]

Odd Socks Day – Friday 7th October 2022           Odd Socks Day is an initiative of GROW – Mental Wellbeing Programs which aims to reduce the stigma of mental ill-health and raise awareness of this serious issue, while having some fun. One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience mental ill-health in any year. By wearing a pair of Odd Socks you’re on your way to starting the conversation about mental wellbeing. For more information, click here.

Meet Julia Trigg, Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), Accredited Practicing Nutritionist Julia completed a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2008 and a Bachelor of Science in 2004. She has over 12 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors of health care. Julia has consulted from Stirling Central Health Clinic since 2010 and also works as Senior Dietitian at The Royal Adelaide Hospital where she specialises in critical care and gastrointestinal nutrition. Julia is experienced in delivering specific and tailored individualised dietary advice for a [...]