West Gippsland Healthcare Group is calling on all children and young people to take part in a competition to celebrate Children’s Week 2023 this month.

Children’s Week runs from 21 to 29 October and celebrates children’s rights to access healthcare.

West Gippsland Healthcare Group is an accredited child safe organisation.

As an organisation providing services to children and young people, West Gippsland Healthcare Group is required to meet the Victorian Child Safe Standards and National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

West Gippsland Healthcare Group works closely with the Australian Childhood Foundation to be assessed against these standards and continue to be the only healthcare provider in Australia to be accredited as a child safe organisation

West Gippsland Healthcare Group wants to hear about children and young people’s experience with a healthcare worker.

Children and young people can draw us a picture, write a sentence or a short paragraph about their visit if they have been to a hospital, seen a dentist, visited a doctor, been cared for by a nurse or had an appointment with an Allied Health staff member.

The best entry in each of these age groups will win a $50 age-appropriate gift voucher. The age groups include preschool age, primary school age and secondary school age.

For our entry form and more information, email childsafe@wghg.com.au or visit www.wghg.com.au/patient-information/children-and-young-people/

Entries close on 27 October 2023 and will be judged by our Youth Representative Group.

During Children’s Week 2023, we are also calling for more young people aged 12 to 17 to join our Youth Representative Group.

West Gippsland Healthcare Group Acting Director of People and Culture Leanne Coupland is encouraging any young people who are interested in volunteering to put their hand up and join our Youth Representative Group.

“Our youth volunteers play an important part in helping us deliver our vision of improving the health and wellbeing of our community,” she said.

“Volunteering with us is a great way to give back to your community, make new friends and even add to your skillset.

“Our Youth Representative Group has contributed to some big projects here at West Gippsland Healthcare Group.

‘The team gave feedback to a team of assessors as we weer undertaking the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards accreditation, review our child safe newsletter prior to its distribution and have their say on our Children and Young Peron’s Plan.

At West Gippsland Healthcare Group, our volunteers need to attend an interview, take part in orientation as required, and abide by our Code of Conduct.

To apply, visit www.wghg.com.au/about-us/volunteering/ and complete an online application form.

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