Bendigo Community Health Services bids farewell to CEO Kim Sykes today.
Kim has spent 8.5 years overseeing the organisation.
She returns to Melbourne to live closer to her adult children and begins her next exciting challenge with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Foundation on Monday.
New strategic directions, a $2.9 million kidzspace hub and the establishment of quality refugee settlement services in Bendigo sit among the many memories and highlights of Kim’s time with Bendigo Community Health Services.
But when it comes to what make her most proud the answer is quickfire … staff.
“We have such a dedicated team at Bendigo Community Health Services who are passionate about supporting the people they work with and making their lives better. Every day brings a new highlight for me in what the staff are achieving to make both BCHS and their community better. It’s been a privilege for me to be part of their work and the achievements made through their expertise and dedication. They are the strength of BCHS,” Kim said.
The set of Strategic Directions developed three years ago with the Board of Directors that focuses Bendigo Community Health Services on seriously tackling disadvantage forms a big part of the legacy Kim leaves.
It was considered the greatest change taken on by the organisation in 40 years.
The Strategic Directions were set after extensive research of programs making a difference across the world, a consultation process with staff at all levels and the Bendigo Community Health Services board who have committed the organisation to their achievement.
“Our current Strategic Directions focus the organisation to concentrate on early years, early intervention and the prevention of entrenched disadvantage by interrupting that cycle of disadvantage which is seen in too many areas of Bendigo,” Kim said.
“This new direction required a review of all the services we deliver and a commitment by our staff to implement this change. We have made enormous progress in supporting individuals and families who live with disadvantage. If we can change their lives even a little that is such a positive thing for the community.”
Central to the focus on early years was a new $2.9 kidzspace hub at Kangaroo Flat which opened on April 7 in 2017.
“The kidzspace hub ensures our staff can deliver the best care possible to children and families needing our support and that’s very satisfying for everyone,” Kim said.
“Not only have we created a modern facility for our consumers to attend but it’s become the hub for us to provide ‘wrap around’ services we need to give them the best care. And that’s not only the services we provide but it’s actually a child services hub out there now with the Raphael Centre, a kinder with a high proportion of special needs children and the City of Greater Bendigo child and maternal health services all in the one area.
“We would like to do more as the number of children and families needing support is growing and I know our staff and the board will continue to advocate for greater capacity.”
A Deloitte’s Australia report showing the Karen community was worth $67 million to Bendigo over the past 10 years comes as no surprise to a CEO who has overseen the establishment of many programs and services that have allowed refugees to thrive in their new home.
“We have worked really hard to build settlement services that support refugees making a new home in our city and it’s so rewarding to see Karen, Afghan and now South Sudanese communities adding so much to the rich culture of our city today,” Kim said.
“It’s a privilege for us to support these communities firstly to settle and then ongoing through our health, wellbeing and support services.
“The dollar value of this settlement services work was highlighted by the Deloitte’s Australia report but how do you put a value on the many lives this work has changed – it’s wonderful.”
Alcohol and other drugs services is another area which Kim says highlights both the good work of Bendigo Community Health Services and the dedication of its staff.
“The continued development of our alcohol and other drugs services has been really rewarding, especially through a time in the past few years where changes to the way the system was delivered proved quite challenging for our staff.
“Our AOD services are doing some great work in Bendigo and the new CEO will oversee some really exciting changes in the way we support the community which will be absolutely fantastic.”
The establishment of headspace Bendigo was an early highlight.
“It’s been inspiring to see headspace flourish in Bendigo. It makes an enormous difference to the lives of so many young people; their quality of life and the futures before them.
“It’s very heartening to see the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announce this week that funding for headspace was secure through to 2023.”
Fork In The Road is the most recent highlight.
“With Fork In The Road we are already seeing some real difference being made by providing a safe and supportive environment that allows people to get together. Combine with that some real engagement success being generated by a partnership with the Department of Justice and this could be something quite special in the years ahead.”
Kim says the very strong budget position that BCHS now enjoys is a credit to all.
“While our strength is the work we do and the difference that makes in the community, we can’t do it without a strong budget,” she says.
Kim leaves Bendigo thankful for the opportunity, the people she’s met as CEO and the like-minded organisations she’s worked alongside.
“There have been wonderful people I have met through the CEO role with Bendigo Community Health Services.
“Then there’s the great agencies we have partnered with on so many projects who just like us are working hard with limited resources to make a real difference to the people they care for. Bendigo is home to many great agencies and many great individuals and working with and alongside them has been a great experience.”
Now it’s time for a new life in Melbourne
“Returning to my children in Melbourne was always my long-term plan. I start my new role with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation on Monday and I’m greatly looking forward to that.
“I will miss community health and the many wonderful Bendigonians – but I know the incoming CEO will take BCHS to even greater things.”
Footnote: New Bendigo Community Health Services CEO Gerard Jose takes up the role in February.