Primary & Community Care Services (PCCS) was thrilled to meet with Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Emma McBride, this week to showcase our amazing programs.
Ms McBride was excited to see our social prescribing program in action, joining clients at our Chill Chef session to take in the aromas of their delicious lunch.
“It was a great opportunity to observe and be part of the cooking class, to witness the great work they’re doing and to see how much benefit is gained by the people who are participating,” said Ms McBride.
The Chill Chef group designed by PCCS, the Australian leader in social prescribing, is a 10-week program for NDIS participants to build capacity around self-sufficiency in the kitchen and to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. At the same time, the group also builds confidence and engagement in social settings, reducing isolation and increasing social inclusion.
Chill Chef is one of several activity groups PCCS facilitates across Sydney and the Gold Coast. Others include art, equine and social groups to build social connections for people experiencing ill mental health, long term injury or disability.
“Australia’s Leader in Social Prescribing”
Ms McBride, who has worked as a pharmacist specialising in mental health, said: “It’s great to see what PCCS is doing and to meet with some of the clinicians that PCCS is working with, in particular the social workers and occupational therapists.”
Dr J.R. Baker with Ms Emma McBride MP
PCCS CEO, Dr J.R. Baker thanked Ms McBride for her keen interest in the developing area of social prescribing.
“For State and Government funded services, we’ve demonstrated reductions in hospital admissions, reduced utilisation of Medicare type funded services and improvements in self-rated health and health management.
“We are achieving great success supporting people with a range of complex health, social and emotional wellbeing issues. Ultimately, the people we work with take greater control of their own health and wellbeing and experience improvements in physical wellbeing, social and emotional wellbeing and quality of life.”
