Outreach - A Rewarding Feeling
by Jessica Jobling
Outreach can be defined as the act of reaching out to communities who may not otherwise receive such services. When you Google the word outreach, an array of images comes up, all with one common element … an extending hand. While this definition and image are certainly fitting, the purpose of outreach, for me, goes a bit deeper.
When I reflect back, I realise that outreach is instilled in us Mallee kids from birth. Living in the small country town of Lalbert meant we were always travelling for sport, education, healthcare, and our hobbies. A typical week for my family could involve a school sports carnival in Sea Lake, Saturday netball in Manangatang, Osteo appointments in Berriwillock, and school in Swan Hill. Essentially, travelling for services and activities not available in my own local town. While I love to travel our country roads, travelling to these activities would equate to about ten hours a week. Ten hours I would love to spend with family and friends.
Coming from a farming background, I understand the dawn-to-dusk working day. The mere impossibility of an exhausted, aching farmer attending a health appointment out of town, as this would mean the tractor stops for 2 hours while they travel - not going to happen :) I know these farmers need to be seen by a practitioner, but they “just can't get to Swan Hill this week… or until it rains!”
I know that busy mums are organised in respect of school hours, making sure everything is achieved between 9:30 am and 3 pm. I recognise that travelling to Mildura or Swan Hill for a healthcare appointment can mean a whole day out of the house - precious time if you ask any mum. I see the mums who have ignored their own pains due to prioritising everyone else in the family and the impossible juggle of organising their kids' hobbies and appointments over the week.
Our team understands that time is precious for busy families. We understand that not having to spend two hours in a car for an Osteo appointment means two hours they can spend with their families, working, or enjoying life. This is what outreach means for us. Extending that hand out to families, to hard-working farmers, to mums, and everyone in-between, so that they can receive care they may not normally make time for.
Servicing these towns is truly rewarding, not only for our patients but for our team. For me, visiting Wycheproof, Sea Lake, Manangatang, and Robinvale is a lot more than just treating.
For me, outreach is the opportunity for crop inspections and chatting about rainfall over the month. Outreach is treating the family who provided me with my first job. Outreach is visiting Wycheproof, the town my dad would drive me to, making me run the world's smallest mountain, for cross-country practice. Outreach is attending the local bakery or cafe for a pie and vanilla slice. Outreach is listening to indigenous stories and learning about local landmarks. Outreach is educating yourself on different kinds of farming; (rice, stone fruits, grapes, and almonds). Outreach is chatting about local footy, netball, and hockey results. Outreach is treating four members of the same family in one day. Outreach is treating a mate's grandparents. Outreach is treating a 12-year-old who is preparing for cross-country at St Arnaud (the same hills myself and Louise ran a long time ago).
Outreach is meaningful. The act of extending a hand to those who need us is rewarding. The conversations we have, the roads we get to travel, and the people we get to meet are nothing less than an amazing opportunity.
- Jess