Blue Ribbon honours for Rudi

BARWON Health’s StaffCare Manager Dr Rudi Gasser has been awarded the Geelong Kokoda Youth Program’s Blue Ribbon Community Award for his medical work with the youth program.

Run by Victoria Police, the Geelong Kokoda Youth Program has been operating for the past five years and gives at-risk teens the opportunity to share a life-changing experience through positive interaction with role models in the community.

Each year, 14 youths from local schools are selected to take part in the 10-month program.

So far, 61 young people have completed the program with a 100 per cent success rate, which means they have gone on to return to school, gain employment, further higher education or alternative education settings.

Dr Gasser’s involvement in the program is to provide comprehensive travel health support, starting with health checks to determine medical fitness to undertake the strenuous trek.

Barwon Health, through StaffCare, provides all the travel health vaccinations, malaria tablets, and emergency drugs, medications for common ailments, first aid equipment, dressings and bandaging materials.

Dr Gasser also provides medical advice for any problems hindering the preparation for the big trip.

Leading Senior Constable Andy Brittain, a Youth Resource Officer at Geelong Police Station, said Rudi deserved the award.

“Rudi has gone far beyond what most people would consider the role of a doctor does.

“He has taken a very active and genuine interest in the at-risk young people, even being able to recall their name when spoken about.”

Barwon Health chief of workforce and culture Perry Muncaster said Rudi embodied Barwon Health’s values.

“Rudi regularly goes above and beyond in everything he does and this award is a fitting recognition for him.”

The award was presented on December 8 at the annual Geelong Kokoda Youth Program breakfast.