| Towong Shire provides healthy living and a comprehensive medical infrastructure to support the rural lifestyle. The expanding welfare needs of the area is achieved by Health Care professionals and Community Services working together.
Upper Murray Health and Community Services (Corryong) and Tallangatta Health Service work in a holistic manner to provide optimum care and service to the broader community.
Doctors enjoy the benefits of working in a rural environment and offering exceptional levels of care to patients. In addition, regional specialists located within close proximity at Albury/Wodonga are available to support GP’s and patient needs. Albury/Wodonga provides diagnostic services and state-of-the-art technology and experienced technical assistance when required.
Health Care Services in Walwa, Corryong and Tallangatta offer a range of acute hospital, aged care, community and home based support services.
Some of these include:
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 | Social Work Service | | Dietician | | Community Mental Health | | Dental Services | | Visiting Female GP | | Speech Therapy | | Diabetes Education | | Palliative Care | | Counselling Services | | Health and Fitness | | Community Nursing | | Youth Services | | Occupational Therapy | | Podiatry | | Women and Men's Health | | Physio
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| Hospitals | | Hospitals in Walwa, Corryong and Tallangatta offer quality aged care-nursing facilities in pleasant, relaxing environments that enable optimum care and individual attention for the aged.
The recently improved and developed aged care facilities across the Shire offer employment opportunities for healthcare professionals coupled with a quality rural lifestyle.
Why not check out the facilities at Walwa by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
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| Home and Community Care Services | | Are you growing older and worrying about being able to stay at home? Are you living with a disability? Are you caring for a family member or friend?
The Home and Community Care programs delivered by Tallangatta Health Service, Upper Murray Health and Community Services and Walwa Bush Nursing Centre offer a range of quality services designed to support you, or the person you care for, to stay active and independent and living at home for as long as possible. Their Active Service Model reflects international and national trends in moving to a more active ageing and person centred approach to care. This model of care is proven to help people stay more independent with a greater sense of wellbeing in their own home environments. If you would like to know more about how home and community care services in Towong Shire can support you to stay in your home please contact:
- Tallangatta Health Service - phone 02 60715 200 or visit www.tallangattahealthservice.com.au
- Upper Murray Health and Community Services (Corryong) - phone 02 6076 3200 or visit www.umhcs.vic.gov.au
- Walwa Bush Nursing Centre - phone 02 6037 1220 or visit www.walwa.com/wbnc/
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| Maternal Health and Child Care | | There are 5 Maternal Health Care Centres located across the Shire offering support to young families and a quality health referral system when required. Information in relation to these services are included in the 'Council Services' section of this website.
Corryong also has a Child Care Centre and Tallangatta has several home-based Day Care providers to cater for the increasing numbers of families relocating to the area.
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| Alternative Medicines | | There are several alternate care therapists located in the Towong Shire that offer a full range of alternate medicine disciplines some of these include, Bowen technique, Shiatsu, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Massage and Chiropractic Care.
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| Financial Counselling | | Click on the link at the bottom of this page for information on Financial Counselling services within the Shire
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| Fact File | | Fact File
General Practitioners 6
Hospitals 3
Maternal Health Centres 6
Family Day Care providers 4
Child Care Centre 1
Aged Care Facilities 3
Senior Citizens Centres 4
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| Immunisation | | Who is eligible for free pneumococcal vaccine?
Infants born from January 1, 2005 are eligible to receive free pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevenar) at 2, 4 and 6 months of age along with other vaccines scheduled at that time.
Children born from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004 are eligible for free pneumococcal vaccine through a catch-up program that will run in 2005. The number of doses required for catch-up vaccination varies depending on the age at which the first dose is given. Your child's immunisation provider will advise you how many doses your child needs.
Children in specific high risk groups require additional booster doses of vaccine, which are also provided free.
What does the vaccine protect against?
The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection against the most common strains responsible for most cases of pneumococcal disease in children in Australia.
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococcal disease is a potentially life-threatening group of infections that occur most frequently in children under two years of age and in people aged 65 years or over.
The potentially life-threatening forms of pneumococcal disease are meningitis (infection around the brain), septicaemia (blood poisoning) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs). In children, middle ear infection is the most common less serious form of pneumococcal disease.
How easy is it to catch pneumococcal disease?
The bacteria are spread in droplets shed from the mouth or nose through coughing, sneezing or contact with articles that have been contaminated with infected droplets. Pneumococcal disease can occur at any time of the year, although infections seem to be more common during winter and spring.
Is pneumococcal disease different to meningococcal disease
Yes. While both pneumococcal disease and meningococcal disease can cause infection around the brain and blood poisoning, the two diseases are caused by two different bacteria. Vaccination against meningococcal C disease will not protect your child from pneumococcal disease.
Are there side effects from receiving the vaccine?
There may be some swelling, redness and soreness at the injection site. A child may also have a low grade fever, be sleepy, restless or irritable. Uncommon side effects may include vomiting, decreased appetite or diarrhoea. Severe reactions are very rare. There is the extremely small chance that the vaccine, like any medication, could cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction.
Is it safe for my child to receive 3 injections at once?
The National Health and Medical Research Council has advised that it is safe and effective for children to receive three injections during the one visit. There is no evidence that administration of multiple vaccines at the same visit overloads a child's immune system. To minimise discomfort, two injections are given in the one limb, with the third injection administered in the opposite limb.
Where can I get more information?
Additional information is available from your immunisation provider, the Immunisation Infoline on 1800 671 811 or the Immunise Australia Program website at www.immunise.health.gov.au
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