Inaugural Health Festival coming to Geelong

HEALTH care providers, businesses and advocates are locked in for the inaugural Health Festival of Geelong later this month.

The event is an opportunity for community members to learn how to navigate the health care system and providers will be able to gain a deeper understanding of local resources.

Health Festival organiser Dr Jenny Huang said many people did not know where to begin when it comes to sourcing information.

“It’s just trying to increase everyone’s knowledge about the provisions in the area and how to access them and have more direct personal conversations rather than trying to figure out whether it’s a good fit though the internet.”

Health providers attending the festival range from women’s health and fertility through to metal health, orthopaedic education and many more.

Presentations will also be given on social education, how to use the brain with ADHD, pelvic health, moving the mind and food education.

“Another thing I would like to bring forward to conversation and normalise so that people can talk about these things that have been taboo, subjects of pelvic pain, long COVID and some complex invisible illnesses,” Dr Huang said.

She said the event is something she’s always wanted to do for the local community and hopes people will gain a deeper understanding of health care providers in the region who are keen to help.

“Often I hear from my patients that they just feel so isolated in knowing who is there to help,” Dr Huang said.

“This is for the community, we as clinicians are only rewarded and don’t feel burnt out when we know we’re actually helping the patients, the community, if it’s just one-sided it’s not helpful.”

The festival will run from 1pm until 4pm at the Geelong West Town Hall on July 20.

For more information, including the full program, head to geelongaustralia.com.au