Referrals for prevention programs
Prevention programs: eligibility, evidence and information
Stepping On
Stepping On is a FREE falls prevention program designed to build knowledge, strength and confidence to help participants stay active and independent. Group sessions run for two hours a week for seven weeks with a refresher session after one month.
Eligibility Criteria
People aged 65 years and over or Aboriginal people aged 45 years and over who have had a fall, or have a fear of falling.
This program is not suitable for people with memory problems, progressive neurological disorders and people who are totally dependent on a walking frame.
Evidence
This is an evidence-based program proven to reduce falls by 31% in the community.
Key aspects of the program were based on evidence that falls can be prevented by improving lower limb strength and balance, environmental and behavioral home safety, and regular medication reviews, as well as emerging evidence of the importance of regular visual screening and making adaptations for low vision. The program focuses on cognitive-behavioral learning in a small-group environment.
How to refer
If you have a patient over 65 who may benefit from Stepping On, please discuss the program with them and provide them with the Stepping On Brochure. Patients can self-register or you can register for them by calling 1800 255 774.
For printed copies of the brochure, please email NNSWLHD-SteppingOn@health.nsw.gov.au
Locations
Stepping On is offered in several locations across Northern NSW.
Healthy and Active for Life Online (HALO)
HALO is a FREE 10 week healthy lifestyle program delivered online. The program includes two online home exercise programs that can be accessed for 12 months, weekly phone support from trained phone coaches, and weekly online learning modules focused on healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
Eligibility Criteria
People aged 60 years and older or Aboriginal people 45 years or older who are not already participating in an exercise program and want to start exercising, eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Participants need to have a computer or tablet and access to the internet.
Evidence
Older adults who are physically active:
- have lower rates of all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer, a higher level of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and a healthier body mass and composition;
- have a biomarker profile that is more favourable for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and the enhancement of bone health, and
- have higher levels of functional health, a lower risk of falling, and better cognitive function.
Maintaining functional status is an important part of active ageing and reducing age-related morbidity – it facilitates independent living, improves quality of life and reduces health care costs.
How to refer
Clients should register on the Active and Healthy website.
Each 10 week program begins at the start of the school term.
Resources
Exercise classes
To find an exercise program to improve strength and balance visit the NSW Health Active and Healthy website, where you can search for classes by location.
Please note, the CHEGS program has now ceased, but many of the fitness providers continue to offer classes that are listed on the NSW Active and Healthy site.
Get Healthy
Free confidential phone coaching service offering 10 coaching calls over 6 months.
Includes information, motivation and support to set personal healthy lifestyle goals from university qualified health coaches.
Eligibility Criteria
>16 years
Lives in NSW, QLD or SA
Evidence
Participants who completed the 6-month coaching program reported significant improvements including:
- An average weight loss of 3.8kg
- An average loss of 5.1cm off their waist
- An increase in the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed daily
- A decrease in the amount of take away meals consumed per week
- A decrease in the amount of sweetened drinks consumed daily, such as soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices
- An increase in physical activity levels
Visit the Get Healthy Publications and Research page for more information.
How to refer to Get Healthy
Complete the online Health Care Provider Referral Form to register your patient. For offline options visit the Get Healthy 'How to refer' page.
Referring multiple participants? Try the Health Professional Group Referral Form
Clients can self-refer by calling 1300 806 258 or by visiting gethealthynsw.com.au
Get Healthy in Pregnancy
Free confidential phone coaching service offering 10 coaching calls over 6 months.
Helps pregnant women maintain a healthy weight and reduce alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
Eligibility Criteria
>16 years
Lives in NSW, QLD or SA
Pregnant
Evidence
Participants who completed the 6-month coaching program reported significant improvements including:
- An average weight loss of 3.8kg
- An average loss of 5.1cm off their waist
- An increase in the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed daily
- A decrease in the amount of take away meals consumed per week
- A decrease in the amount of sweetened drinks consumed daily, such as soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices
- An increase in physical activity levels
Retention of participants is greater when referred by a GP or health professional.
How to refer to Get Healthy
Complete the online Health Care Provider Referral Form to register your patient. For offline options visit the Get Healthy 'How to refer' page.
Referring multiple participants? Try the Health Professional Group Referral Form
Clients can self-refer by calling 1300 806 258 or by visiting gethealthynsw.com.au
Resources
GP referral process for Get Healthy in Pregnancy – talking to your client about gestational weight gain
Aboriginal Get Healthy
Culturally tailored free confidential phone coaching service offering 13 coaching calls over 6 months.
Includes motivation and support Aboriginal people to set personal healthy lifestyle goals.
Eligibility Criteria
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Evidence
Program made significant improvements including:
- average weight loss of 3.3kg
- average decrease in waist circumference of 6.2cm
- average decrease in BMI of 1.2 units
- increases in the number of moderate physical activity sessions
- increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and decreases in the consumption of takeaway meals.
Aboriginal participants who completed the 6-month coaching program made improvements to their chronic disease risk profile, with 60.8% (62) of participants losing more than 2.5% of their initial baseline body weight.
How to refer to Get Healthy
Complete the online Health Care Provider Referral Form to register your patient. For offline options visit the Get Healthy 'How to refer' page.
Referring multiple participants? Try the Health Professional Group Referral Form
Clients can self-refer by calling 1300 806 258 or by visiting gethealthynsw.com.au
Go4Fun
Secondary prevention healthy lifestyle program.
Free, 10 week program (2 hour weekly sessions after school).
Focuses on healthy eating habits, overall health, fitness and self-esteem.
Eligibility Criteria
7-13 years
Above a healthy weight
Lives in NSW
Can be accompanied by parent or carer to each session
Evidence
Reflects NHMRC guidelines for the treatment of childhood obesity.
Children who complete the program achieve:
- A decrease in BMI of 0.5kg/m2
- A decrease in waist circumference of 1.2cm
- Improved self-esteem
- Increase in vegetable, fruit and water consumption
- Increase in physical activity per week
How to refer
Via practice software:
- MedicalDirector (look for ‘Referral form- Go4Fun’ in the ‘supplied’ section)
- Best Practice (search ‘Go4Fun referral form’)
- Health Pathways (search ‘Go4Fun’)
Resources
Aboriginal Go4Fun
A culturally adapted version of Go4Fun for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families
Eligibility Criteria
7-13 years
Above a healthy weight
Lives in NSW
Can be accompanied by parent or carer to each session
Evidence
Reflects NHMRC guidelines for the treatment of childhood obesity.
Children who complete the program achieve:
- A decrease in BMI of 0.5kg/m2
- A decrease in waist circumference of 1.2cm
- Improved self-esteem
- Increase in vegetable, fruit and water consumption
- Increase in physical activity per week
How to refer
Via practice software:
- MedicalDirector (look for ‘Referral form- Go4Fun’ in the ‘supplied’ section)
- Best Practice (search ‘Go4Fun referral form’)
- Health Pathways (search ‘Go4Fun’)
Go4Fun Online
An online option for those unable to attend face to face programs. Includes online activities, resource packs and phone-based health coaching.
Eligibility Criteria
7-13 years
Above a healthy weight
Lives in NSW
Can be accompanied by parent or carer to each session
Evidence
Reflects NHMRC guidelines for the treatment of childhood obesity.
Children who complete the program achieve:
- A decrease in BMI of 0.5kg/m2
- A decrease in waist circumference of 1.2cm
- Improved self-esteem
- Increase in vegetable, fruit and water consumption
- Increase in physical activity per week
How to refer
Via practice software:
- MedicalDirector (look for ‘Referral form- Go4Fun’ in the ‘supplied’ section)
- Best Practice (search ‘Go4Fun referral form’)
- Health Pathways (search ‘Go4Fun’)
Four steps for helping patients quit tobacco and nicotine
ASK: Ask every patient if they have used tobacco recently:
· Prompt patients by asking if they have used tobacco mixed with cannabis or nicotine in a vape.
· Ask the patient if they are using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), these patients will also need NRT during their stay.
RECORD: Record your patients smoking history in their patient file. You can use the wording below to set up a pre-completed note that you can then access by simply pressing ‘co’. Adjust the notes as needed. The pre-completed notes are:
· Counselled for nicotine dependence.
· Offered and explained the correct usage of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) accepted/declined.
· Offered referral to Quitline clinic – accepted/declined.
· Requested Medical Team to Chart so 3 day supply on discharge will occur as per SFHC PD 2015_003.
· Risks of leaving ward to smoke explained and advised of SFHC PD 2015_003.
· Patient left ward to smoke against medical advice.
PROVIDE NRT: Patients who are nicotine dependant are much more comfortable, less aggressive, and more likely to stay on ward when provided with enough NRT.
· Arrange NRT by charting in e-meds.
· NRT can be nurse initiated but must be charted by the medical team to be prn (available as required).
· Charting by the medical team will enable the patient to access at least 3 days of NRT on discharge, increasing their chance of staying smoke free.
· Remember that many patients don’t use NRT correctly and you may need to counsel them on proper use. For training in NRT contact stephen.gammack@health.nsw.gov.au.
· We have a great range of NRT factsheets (see 'Resources' at the bottom of this page)
DOCUMENT IN DISCHARGE NOTES: Give your patient the best chance of remaining smoke free by discharging them with:
· three days of NRT as discharge medication
· a referral to follow up support, use the Quitline electronic referral
Smoking waivers should not be used and staff should not take smokers outside or off of the premises to smoke.
Using smoking waivers could create liability for staff and NSWLHD. If a smoker leaves the hospital premises against medical advice to smoke, this should be recorded in the patient notes using the pre-completed note: ‘Risk of leaving ward to smoke explained and advised of SFHC PD 2015_003. Patient left ward to smoke against medical advice’. Remember, the Health Promotion Clinical Engagement Team is here to help you to help patients be smoke free. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Clinical Engagement team lead stephen.gammack@health.nsw.gov.au.
Resources
NSW Quitline
Free, confidential telephone service providing customised assistance to help become smoke free.
Eligibility Criteria
Lives in NSW
Evidence
Evidence suggests that Quitlines are an effective population health approach to smoking cessation (assist with motivation for quit attempts; and cessation).
How to refer
Refer your patients to NSW Quitline by visiting the referrals page on the Quitline website and completing the electronic referral form
Resources
Aboriginal Quitline
Culturally-sensitive, free and confidential telephone service providing customised assistance to become smoke free.
Eligibility Criteria
Lives in NSW
Evidence
Evidence suggests that Quitlines are an effective population health approach for smoking cessation (assist with motivation for quit attempts; and cessation).
How to refer
Refer your patients to NSW Quitline by visiting the referrals page on the Quitline website and completing the electronic referral form
Resources
Fuss Free Mealtimes
Fuss Free Mealtimes addresses fussy eating behaviours in young children. Webinars and resources are available for clinicians and parents. Fuss Free Mealtimes provides consistent, evidence-based strategies and resources that support children to have positive mealtime experiences and healthy relationships with food.
Printable resources for parents or carers:
- Fuss Free Mealtimes Poster
- Fuss Free Mealtimes Parent Handout
- Fuss Free Mealtimes Parent Handout (Aboriginal)
- What Stage is your Baby at? (Starting Solids and Family Foods Parent Handout)
- Flyer for Parent Webinars
Webinars for clinicians:
Smoking and Pregnancy
Information for pregnant women who smoke
Practical advice on how to quit smoking for pregnant women
Practical advice on staying smoke free in pregnancy and beyond
Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke
Second-hand smoke refers to smoke from a person’s cigarette, pipe or cigar. It is also known as passive smoke, environmental smoke and involuntary smoke. Second-hand smoke has adverse impacts on infants and children.
Printable Factsheet on second-hand smoke
Referral information and NRT
Information on how to refer patients to smoking cessation services and Nicotine Replacement Therapy can be found on this page under 'Nicotine dependent cessation services and resources'.
Get Healthy in Pregnancy
Get Healthy in Pregnancy is a free service for all pregnant women in NSW. Professional phone-based health coaches support participants to develop motivation and tools to stay healthy during the journey from pregnancy to birth and beyond.
Personalised coaching can support pregnant women to:
- Eat well and keep active
- Stay within a healthy weight range during pregnancy
- Return to a healthy weight after birth
Clinicians can refer patients to the service in one of 3 ways:
- when prompted on eMaternity
- through the online form
- through the group referral form (PDF) – clinicians can refer up to 4 patients at a time using this form
Download free resources:
Healthy eating resources and recipes
Our delicious meal, snack and lunchbox recipes are dietician developed and support healthy, affordable family eating. Recipes are printable, can be filtered for theme and are updated regularly.
Our locally developed healthy eating resources include lunchbox resources, subscription to Let’s Look at Lunches newsletters and links to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating.
6 out of 10 Australians cannot act on health information.
Make yourself understood using the strategies outlined in the Health Literacy Handbook, or contact the health literacy team to book a health literacy workshop.
Northern NSW LHD values the health and wellbeing of its employees and is excited to partner with Fitness Passport to offer a low cost, flexible corporate gym and pool membership program to eligible employees and their family members. Find out more.