Dr Kavita Lobo, BDC’s Clinical Director, said Dr Madden is a passionate champion for clinical quality and oral health.

“More than half a million Australians and New Zealanders trust us with their dental care each year. We are excited to have Dr Madden take up the role of Head Dentist and work with our clinical and practice teams as part of our ongoing commitment to clinical best practice, safety and continuous education,” said Dr Lobo.

Since Dr Madden first joined Bupa in 2019, the dental industry has experienced a significant number of changes.

“The biggest change has been the response to the global pandemic by way of the introduction of COVID-19 safety protocols in dental practices, which have changed how dental treatment is provided,” said Dr Madden.

“There are exciting times ahead in dentistry with huge advances in dental technology altering the way we care for our patients’ oral health; virtual consultations have become more commonplace along with advances in treatment planning technology and smart toothbrushes.”

“The constantly evolving nature of the industry is something that really excites me and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the role and help Bupa Dental make a positive impact on people’s oral health while also delivering rewarding career pathways for our people.”

As part of BDC’s commitment to clinical quality, we also have a Clinical Advisory Panel with representatives across our dental network. We look forward to announcing our 2021 Panel members shortly.

Media reference number: 20/115

Bupa Health Insurance Managing Director, Emily Amos, said this shows the significant impact of the pandemic on the mental wellbeing of Australians.

“Supporting the mental wellbeing of our community is a significant challenge to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with many Australians accessing mental healthcare for the first time,” Ms Amos said.  

“Customers have said they want more accessibility to mental health services and it is an important part of their products, especially for younger members.

“The addition of $200 more in mental health benefits^[1] will give customers coverage for almost three extra psychology or counselling sessions and we hope this helps ease the stress on our customers’ minds and hip-pockets in 2021.”

Ms Amos said Bupa is always looking to adapt its policies so they remain relevant to customers’ evolving needs, particularly over the past year where mental health has been a major focus.

“We’ve seen real innovation in how customers want to access mental health care. Our customers are now covered for digital mental health online courses while psychology has been the most used service since we made telehealth available in March last year,” Ms Amos said.

“Health insurers have an important role to play in Australia’s health response to COVID-19 by supporting customers to ensure they can get timely access to affordable health and wellbeing services when they need it most.”

Bupa also expanded its Mind Care Choices program which delivers mental health services as an outreach model of care that can be accessed at a clinic, in an individual’s own home or over the phone. 

“The health landscape has changed dramatically over the past year and we are committed to supporting our customers and adapting our products through the uncertainty of COVID-19 and into the future,” said Ms Amos.

How Bupa supported Australians’ mental health in 2020

• The Bupa Health Foundation recently donated more than $2 million in funding to projects supporting the mental health of young Australians. This has helped grow the My Circle digital platform, where young people can connect anonymously with their peers for online group counselling, and expand the Kids Helpline@School program to reach more primary schools across Australia.
• Provided male customers in Victoria free access to an online wellbeing hub, in partnership with Australian mental health solution provider Mindstar and digital innovator Go1, to assist them in the face of the growing mental health challenges triggered by the social and financial impacts of the state’s Stage 4 restrictions.
• Expanded cover to include claims for psychology and counselling delivered through telehealth (phone or Internet).
• Expanded Mind Care Choices out-of-hospital mental health program to Queensland customers
• Provided customers with access to Australia’s leading home fitness, wellness and nutrition program, 28 by Sam Wood, for three months at no cost.

^[1] The one-off $200 increase to mental health Extras limit is valid until 31 December 2021.

Media reference number: 20/114

To help us continue to protect the health and safety of our customers and employees, please do not visit our stores, clinics or aged care homes, if you:

• Have had contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19;
• Have arrived in Australia from overseas in the last 14 days; or
• Are feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat

Read more about the reopening measures in each of our businesses below:

Health Insurance and Optical and Hearing

We will reopen our temporarily closed Victorian Health Insurance and Optical and Hearing stores from Thursday 18 February with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

To help us protect the health and safety of our customers and employees, please do not visit our stores if you:

• Have had contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19;
• Have arrived in Australia from overseas in the last 14 days; or
• Are feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

Health Insurance customers who are unable to visit a Bupa Health Insurance store are encouraged to contact us on 134 135 or visit bupa.com.au for any enquiries.

Optical customers can also purchase our full range of contact lenses online, as well as selected sunglasses and prescription glasses. Visit our Bupa Optical website.

Dental

For our Bupa Dental patients, we’re open again and able to take appointments for all your dental care needs.

We continue to operate with safety measures to help minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure within our dental practices. These include:

• Standard infection control procedures to reduce the spread of any infection;
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all treatments such as standard level 2 surgical masks, protective eyewear and gloves;
• Strengthened cleaning procedures, including actively promoting the regular use of antibacterial hand sanitiser and surface wipes;
• Stringent personal hygiene measures for our people;
• Requesting patients reschedule their appointment if they are or have recently been unwell, or are experiencing any flu-like symptoms; and
• Touch-free temperature checks for our patients.

If you have an enquiry, please call your local Bupa Dental practice.

Bupa Medical Visa Services

We will reopen our Bupa Medical Visa Services’ Melbourne centres and regional Victorian partner clinics.

Our safety and physical distancing measures continue to ensure we can provide a safe and hygienic environment. Please visit the Home Affairs website for more information or your Visa Processing Officer.

Bupa Aged Care

From midnight tonight our Victorian care homes will open for limited visitation.

Visitors from the one household can now visit their loved one, once a day. Individual exemptions may be granted by each care home General Manager, on a case by case basis.

Our team will continue to closely monitor the health of our residents and screen all team members and visitors for high temperatures, prior to entry. All employees will continue to wear surgical masks and eye protection at all times while in the home.

UPDATED Friday 12 February 5:00pm

Health insurance, Optical and Hearing customers

Following the Victorian government’s decision to reintroduce five-day Stage 4 restrictions to Victoria, we will temporarily close all of our Health Insurance stores in Victoria until Thursday 18 February.

Health Insurance customers who are unable to visit a Bupa Health Insurance store are encouraged to contact us on 134 135 or visit bupa.com.au for any enquiries. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen an increase in customers calling contact centres. This is leading to short delays at times and we ask for your patience as we respond to customer queries.

A limited number of Optical and Hearing stores will remain open for urgent eye care and by appointment only, these are:

• Bourke St
• Werribee
• Camberwell

Customers with existing appointments up to Wednesday 17 February or with pending collections will be contacted to discuss their specific circumstances.

Customers can also purchase our full range of contact lenses online, as well as selected sunglasses and prescription glasses at our Bupa Optical website.

As the situation evolves, we will keep you updated if the list of open stores changes.

Aged care visitors

In line with new Victorian Government directions, and to help protect the health and safety of our residents and employees, we will temporarily close all our Victorian aged care homes to visitors from Saturday 13 February. There will be some compassionate exceptions, so we encourage people to check in with the care home directly to discuss their specific circumstances.

We know these restrictions can be difficult for our residents and their loved ones, and we are continuing to facilitate video and phone calls to make sure they can stay in touch during this challenging time. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and government advice and keep our residents and their families updated.

Bupa Medical Visa Services

We will temporarily close our Bupa Medical Visa Services’ Melbourne centres and regional Victorian partner clinics, from COB today Friday 12 February until at least Thursday 18 February

All bookings from Saturday 13 February until at least Wednesday 17 February (inclusive) will be cancelled, and will need to be rescheduled.

Customers who either require or have booked a visa medical examination, please refer to our Bupa Medical Visa Services website for the latest updates.

Dental customers

On advice from the Australian Dental Association Victorian branch, patients can only visit Bupa dental practices for limited emergency dental treatments from Saturday 13 December. If you have an appointment booked in the coming days or require emergency treatment, please speak to your practice directly.

UPDATED Monday 20 October 3:00pm

Reopening of Bupa Medical Visa Services in Victoria

Bupa Medical Visa Services’ two Melbourne centres, and our Victorian regional partner clinics, reopened on Monday 28 September

Please visit the Home Affairs website for more information or your Visa Processing Officer.

Victorian customers

From Monday 5 October we commenced a two-phased approach to reopening our Victorian Health Insurance retail stores.  

The first phase of Bupa's Victorian Health Insurance store reopenings will begin in Regional Victoria with three stores opening on Monday 5 October:

• Geelong
• Bendigo
• Ballarat 

Melbourne metropolitan retails stores will reopen on Thursday 5 November.

All of our Victorian Optical & Hearing stores in Victoria are open for appointments and walk-ins.

We continue to monitor the situation in line with Government and clinical advice. As the situation evolves, we will keep you updated if the list of open stores changes.

Customers outside Victoria

The majority of our Health Insurance stores, dental clinics and Optical & Hearing stores have re-opened with strict infection control measures.

To help us protect the health and safety of our customers and employees, please do not visit our stores, practices or care homes if you:

• Have had contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19;
• Have arrived in Australia from overseas in the last 14 days; or
• Are feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.

Read more about the measures we’re taking to help our customers in each of our businesses below.

Health Insurance

To ensure the safety of our customers and employees in our stores, we are implementing strict hygiene and social distancing measures. Updates on store openings and operating hours can be found here.

Customers who are unable to visit a Bupa Health Insurance store are encouraged to contact us on 134 135 or visit bupa.com.au for any enquiries.

Throughout the pandemic, we have seen an increase in customers calling contact centres. This is leading to short delays at times and we ask for your patience as we respond to customer queries.

We are also deferring the October 1 premium increase for customers on JobSeeker and JobKeeper for 6 months (read more here) and will be providing more than $50m in assistance for customers suffering financial hardship due to COVID-19 (read more here). All Bupa customers with a hospital policy will be covered for COVID-19 related claims, irrespective of the terms of that policy (read more here).

Aged Care

We are very mindful of the need to take every possible step to protect our aged care residents from COVID-19. We have strong infection control measures in place across all our care homes and have introduced rules in each state to help protect the safety of our residents and employees. Read the latest Bupa Aged Care updates here.

We also want to help our residents feel connected during this time. See how you and your family can get involved by sending letters and pictures to our residents here.

Dental

For our Bupa Dental patients, we’re open and able to take appointments for all your dental care needs.

We have introduced a number of safety measures to help minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure within our dental practices. These include:

• Standard infection control procedures to reduce the spread of any infection;
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all treatments such as standard level 2 surgical masks, protective eyewear and gloves;
• Strengthened cleaning procedures, including actively promoting the regular use of antibacterial hand sanitiser and surface wipes;
• Stringent personal hygiene measures for our people;
• Requesting patients reschedule their appointment if they are or have recently been unwell, or are experiencing any flu-like symptoms; and
• Touch-free temperature checks for our patients.

If you have an enquiry, please call your local Bupa Dental practice.

Optical & Hearing

For our Bupa Optical & Hearing customers, our stores are open again across all states.

We have increased our cleaning and hygiene measures to help ensure all of our open stores are safe for you and our team, including:

• Hand sanitiser;
• 1.5 metre physical distancing;
• Limited customers in store; and
• Increased cleaning.

Find out more about our locations here. Customers can also purchase our full range of contact lenses online, as well as selected sunglasses and prescription glasses. Visit our Bupa Optical website.

Where can I find out the latest Government information?

The Australian Government’s Department of Health and the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Health are the best places to get the latest information on the coronavirus, and information on testing.

Media reference number: 20/073

Bupa Optical & Hearing Director Guneet Sawhney noted this initiative as a step-forward in Bupa’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.

“We used close to 100,000 laminated cardboard bags in our stores last year that could not be recycled, so taking action to find a sustainable solution was critical.

“This change to FSC paper ensures our new bags for optical purchases are made using sourced responsibly materials and sustainable business practices.

“There were 100,000 reasons for us to make this change. Moving to recyclable bags might seem like a small change, but it can have a significant impact on the environment,” said Guneet.

Bupa Optical also participates in a convenient recycling program for contact lenses, where customers can bring in their old disposable contact lenses and packaging to be recycled in-store.

For more information on Bupa’s commitment to making a positive and sustainable difference for our people, customers, communities and the environment visit here.

Media reference number: 20/113

Importantly, customers accessing the disaster relief package will still have access to all the benefits of their health insurance during this time.

Bupa Managing Director of Health Insurance, Emily Amos, said she hopes this premium relief will go towards easing some of the worries that many people are feeling at this time.

“Our hearts go out to those who have been impacted by these devastating fires and our immediate thoughts and focus are on the safety and care of our customers, our people and all those living in the affected region,” Ms Amos said.

“Every bushfire-affected household has its own story and unique financial situation, that’s why we are offering customers the choice of relief packages to help support them through the challenging period ahead.”

Approximately 5,000 Bupa Health Insurance members live in Wooroloo, Perth Hills and surrounding areas where more than 80 homes have been destroyed along with about 11,000 hectares of land.

“The people of WA have a strong sense of community which we see first-hand every day in our health insurance stores, optical stores and our dental practices. We are both humbled and inspired by the community’s response as well as the bravery shown by local firefighters,” Ms Amos said.

Customers can apply for the bushfire relief package through to 31 May 2021 and are encouraged to contact Bupa on 134 135 or bupabushfirerelief@bupa.com.au to discuss their options and how they can access support.

^[1] To gain one of the above offers, customers must have been a Bupa member on 1 February 2021 and apply by 31 May 2021, providing us with evidence of the Australian Government Bushfire Disaster Recovery Payment issued from the Department of Human Services. Customers will need to apply for their premium relief with us by 31 May 2021 and they will receive the premium relief based on their level of cover on 1 February 2021.

Media reference number: 20/112

^[1] To gain one of the above offers, customers must have been a Bupa member on 1 February 2021 and apply by 31 May 2021, providing us with evidence of the Australian Government Bushfire Disaster Recovery Payment issued from the Department of Human Services. Customers will need to apply for their premium relief with us by 31 May 2021 and they will receive the premium relief based on their level of cover on 1 February 2021.

Accreditation applies for three years and was awarded by independent assessors Quality Improvement Performance (QIP), an Australian Government-approved agency.

Amy Cockshutt, Interim Director BDC, acknowledged the efforts and continued commitment demonstrated by dental practice teams.

“BDC would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team members for all you do every day to keep our patients safe and healthy,” said Amy.

Health services, including the provision of dental services, is highly regulated and accreditation against Australia’s NSQHS Standards is one of many safeguards the BDC meets in order to maintain high standards in dentistry.

More than half a million patients place their trust in a BDC practice every year. Founded in 2007 as part of a growing network of experienced clinicians, the business became a part of Bupa in 2013, further assisting Bupa to help people to live longer, healthier, happier lives.

“The COVID-19 pandemic certainly changed the way children learnt, socialised and entertained themselves with many exposed to screens for many hours a day learning, socialising or relaxing in front of the TV.

“Parents who suspect their child has developed a vision impairment or is experiencing a deterioration of an existing condition should visit an optometrist ahead of the start of Term 1. Something as simple as a pair of glasses or contacts can make a significant and immediate difference to a child’s day to day life and give them the best chance at succeeding at school,” said Karen.

Research suggests one in five Australian children have an undetected vision problem^[1] with many experiencing short-sightedness which can be caused and exacerbated by prolonged screen time, along with reduced time spent playing outdoors.^[2]

It is recommended that all children have their eyes tested before they start school for the first time, this will ensure that there are no underlying issues that may affect a child’s learning. Annual eye-tests are recommended thereafter (or as advised by your eyecare practitioner) to track any changes or emerging problems.

“Unlike many physical conditions, vision impairments can be difficult for a parent to identify, however there are some tell-tale signs a parent can take note of, such as squinting, watery eyes or just general tiredness and an inability to concentrate properly.

“In most cases, these problems can be diagnosed in a matter of minutes with a simple eye test. If glasses or contact lenses are required, they are available in a range of different styles and prices with many children’s glasses options available with no out of pocket costs for Bupa health insurance customers^[3]. The most important thing is not to wait,” said Karen.

Visit your local Bupa Optical store to book an eye test or visit here.

^[1] https://www.optometry.org.au/advocacy_government/us-ahead-of-australia-in-commitment-to-childrens-eye-health/

^[2] https://goodvisionforlife.com.au/2020/05/07/screen-time-versus-green-time-looking-after-your-kids-eyes-during-covid-19/

^[3] Children glasses with safety lens and any frame up to $249 on applicable Extras policies.

Dr Zoe Wainer, Bupa’s Director of Clinical Governance says older Australians are more at risk for various reasons, which can include having a chronic medical condition and taking medication that may interfere with their body's ability to regulate their temperature.

“Anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, but elderly people have a particularly high-risk profile and should be extra vigilant with the help of their family, carers and friends.”

Prevention is the best way to manage heat-related illness, by:

• Staying hydrated - drink plenty of water or other cool, non-alcoholic fluids, though people who are on limited fluids or diuretic medication (fluid tablets) should check with their doctor
• Staying cool - stay out of the sun as much as you can, and keep air circulating around you (e.g. with a fan or air conditioner).
• Taking it easy – rest up, don’t do too much physical activity especially outdoors, and try to keep any activity to cooler parts of the day
• Using sun protection if you do go outdoors - follow ‘Slip, Slop, Slap' guidelines with lightweight clothes, using sunscreen for exposed skin, and wearing a hat and sunglasses.

For elderly Australians and those caring for older people or young children (who are also at a higher-risk), if symptoms of heat stress are detected the first step is to move the person to a cooler, less humid environment.

“Some obvious signs of heat distress are light-headedness, confusion and general weakness. If not attended to, heat stress can lead to heatstroke which is a medical emergency that requires urgent attention,” said Dr Wainer.

Heatstroke is characterised by paleness, sweating, rapid heart rate, muscle cramps (usually in the abdomen, arms or legs), headache, nausea and vomiting along with dizziness or fainting.

Follow the first aid measures^[2] below in the event that the following signs & symptoms and consult a doctor and/or emergency services when required.

Light-headedness/dizziness and fainting 

• Get the person to a cool area and lay them down.
• If fully conscious and no signs of heatstroke, increase fluid intake.

Heat exhaustion 

• Get the person to a cool area and lay them down.
• Remove outer clothing.
• Wet skin with cool water or wet cloths.
• Increase fluid intake if they’re fully conscious and show no signs of heat stroke.
• Seek medical advice.

Heat stroke

• Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
• Get the person to a cool, shady area and lay them down while you're waiting for emergency medical help.
• Remove clothing and wet skin with water, fanning continuously.
• Do not give the person fluids to drink.
• Position an unconscious person on their side and clear their airway.
• If medical attention is delayed, seek further instructions from ambulance or hospital emergency staff.

“When temperatures drop, it’s important people don’t let their guard down as the UV index can remain extreme, even in mild conditions.

“In addition, if you notice any suspicious, new or changing spots on your body that may have been caused by the sun, don’t hesitate to get them checked… it could literally save your life,” said Dr Wainer.

^[1] Australia State of the Environment 2016.

 ^[2] Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel – Heat stress and heat-related illness.

Media reference number: 20/110

The majority of our NSW care homes have now re-opened to visitors with some restrictions still in place to help protect the health and safety of our residents and employees.

Please check our COVID Safe Plan website for the latest visitor arrangements at each home, and contact the care home directly for any questions or to arrange a visit.

UPDATE Wednesday 30 December 2020

Until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 January all residential aged care facilities in the Greater Sydney area (including Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong City Council) must exclude visitors.

Based on this directive and their location, the following Bupa homes will be closed to visitors other than essential workers or due to exceptional circumstances, including palliative care.

• Ashbury
• Ashfield
• Bankstown
• Bateau Bay
• Baulkham Hills
• Bexley
• Clemton Park
• Dural
• Greenacre
• Maroubra
• Mosman
• North Rocks
• Queens Park
• Roseville
• Seaforth
• St Ives
• Sutherland
• Willoughby

Until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 January 2021 no visitors from Greater Sydney are permitted to visit residents in regional residential aged care facilities.

The following list of homes can continue to accept visitors from regional NSW only, providing they have not visited the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Central Coast areas in the past 14 days.

• Armidale
• Ballina
• Banora Point
• Berry
• Eden
• Griffith
• Kempsey
• Pottsville
• Tamworth
• Tumut
• Waratah

All permitted visitors must provide accurate information when making a booking and comply with all entry screening protocols. Visitors must sanitise their hands on entry, wear a mask throughout their visit, maintain a social distance of 1.5m at all times and comply with any directions from our registered nurses.

For those NSW homes listed outside of the Greater Sydney area, visits will be limited to two people from one household for up to an hour per day.

After a thorough assessment, and with a personalised care plan in place, patients in the BPCCP will be able to have palliative care nurses, doctors and other specialist health professionals visit their home to manage their care, with out-of-hours support available 24/7.

Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance, Emily Amos, said this new service will enhance the limited privately funded palliative care service options available to those nearing the end of their lives.

“By offering a flexible model of palliative care, customers have the option of spending their final days surrounded by family and the familiar comforts of their home while receiving palliative care services from a range of specialist healthcare professionals.

“Our aging population means that in the next 25 years or so, the number of Australians who die each year is predicted to double, so playing our part in enhancing the available end-of-life care options is imperative,” said Ms Amos.

The BPCCP first launched in Brisbane in 2016 and has since expanded to Adelaide and Sydney. Outcomes from the first 4 years of the program show that the service has enabled more than 90% of patients to die in their place of choice (at hospital or at home), with more than 90% of patients and carers surveyed also reporting they were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their experience of the program. The findings of the Bupa program were published in the Internal Medicine Journal in 2019^[1].

“Feedback and outcomes from the Bupa Palliative Care Choices Program roll out so far have been extremely positive and we are pleased we can now support customers and their families across Melbourne with personalised and compassionate palliative care at home.

“We have also further enhanced the BPCCP by incorporating Bupa’s partnership with Violet (formerly LifeCircle). Violet will train HSS palliative care staff and will also provide additional direct support to Bupa families and carers from a trained guide who has experience with end-of-life care.

“We want to give our customers as much choice as possible in where and how they want to be cared for, which is why we continue to offer alternative models and settings of care, and invest in a range of other out-of-hospital treatment programs such as chemotherapy at home and rehabilitation at home,” said Ms Amos.

For more information on the Bupa Palliative Care Choices program and where it operates click here.

^[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/imj.14615

Media reference number: 20/108

To help people save on their festive shopping while encouraging healthier habits, Bupa customers can collect three points for every dollar spent on fresh fruit and vegetables and Macro Wholefoods Market products at Woolworths for the first 60 days after linking their Everyday Rewards account^[2]. These extra points can be redeemed for instant savings on future shops. Bupa customers will also be able to take advantage of a range of exclusive offers throughout the year.

Emily Amos, Managing Director of Health Insurance at Bupa said customers have banked millions of extra Everyday Rewards points since the partnership launched in September.

“We know that during stressful times, people’s diets can suffer as they lose the motivation to cook or shop for healthy ingredients. For this reason, we are proud of the role we are playing in encouraging healthy eating during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

“With COVID-19 restrictions easing across the country, we hope these savings can help our customers create festive meals for their families and ensure they are stocked up with essential summer supplies. It is so important we are able to come together and celebrate at the end of a challenging year,” Ms Amos said.

Research suggests the pandemic has reinforced the public’s focus on fresh, healthy eating with more than 40 per cent of Australians cooking more in 2020​​^[3], a habit that can lead to healthier eating.

For those looking for ways to keep healthy over the festive season, Bupa nutritionist Jenny Boss has shared her top 5 healthy eating and cooking tips:

1. Eat before the party. If you arrive hungry, you’re far more likely to overeat on party food. Before you leave home have a small snack that combines healthy carbs with protein, such as apple slices with peanut butter or cottage cheese on wholegrain crackers.

1. Keep fruit and veg within easy reach. Surrounded by tempting leftovers? Make the healthy option a no-brainer by storing a container of chopped, colourful fruit and veg at eye level in your fridge.

1. Don’t quench your thirst with alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it will dehydrate you. Stay hydrated if you’re drinking by alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, such as sparkling water with fresh fruit or a squeeze of lemon juice.

1. Have a platter strategy. Finger food can make it hard to keep track of what you’re eating, so opt for unsalted nuts and seeds, veggie sticks with hummus, and wholegrain crackers and cheese.

1. Celebrate without guilt. Christmas Day isn’t the time to worry too much about what or how much you’re eating. After a challenging year, it’s a day to celebrate with the foods you love and the people close to you.

For more information on the offer visit here.

Media reference number: 20/106

^[1] https://www.retail.org.au/post/2020-christmas-retail-sales-set-to-grow-2-8-to-54-3-billion

^[2] Only domestic Bupa health insurance policyholders (excluding Ambulance Only) who reside in Australia are eligible for this offer

^[3] IPSOS. Woolworths Food & Health Survey. 2020

This includes the development of a suicide prevention app LifeBuoy, which has been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts among young people, while increasing feelings of general wellbeing

“Mental health is a major issue among young people, particularly due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research has shown that mental health has worsened for around 75 per cent of young people during this time. We know that they are very comfortable using technology, so ultimately, I’d like to see technology being used to facilitate positive change in the mental health of young people,” Dr Han said.

“This award will allow me to further some of my early stage ideas that I might not have otherwise been able to progress. I’m super excited and honoured to be named the Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher of the Year.”

Professor Samuel Harvey, Director of Discovery at the Black Dog Institute said awards like these provide much-needed community recognition and support to young researchers which help encourage them to continue their research and set their career path.

“Jin is a rising star here at the Black Dog Institute, with her research tackling some of the biggest mental health issues we are facing as a society. More young people than ever are reporting depression and anxiety symptoms. While many see technology as part of the problem, what makes Jin stand out is that she wants to harness that technology to find solutions,” Professor Harvey said.

The Bupa Health Foundation has named an additional four award finalists and five Commendations resulting in a total investment of $50,000 into Australia’s brightest health and medical researchers, building on our overall investment of more than $2 million this year.

Bupa Director of Clinical Governance, Dr Zoe Wainer said while this has been a challenging year in funding for the research sector, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of swift and targeted responses to health problems, and the need to support innovations in this field.

“The calibre of this year’s 110 nominees was incredibly high and is a testament to the health and medical research talent we have in Australia. Our finalists span across a range of important health research areas and have shown exceptional talent, dedication and persistence in their research careers, while ensuring their research leads to tangible improvements in health of the Australian community,” Dr Wainer said.

“We are yet to see the full mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and new innovations such as Dr Han’s LifeBuoy app will be critical in helping to support many young Australians through this difficult period,” she added.

This year’s Bupa Emerging Health Researcher finalists, who will each receive a $5,000 grant are:

• Dr Amanda Gwee from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute for her work in improving the use of antibiotics to treat serious infections in Australian Children.
• Dr Alice Grady from the University of Newcastle for her research into preventing childhood obesity.
• Dr Eduardo Albornoz Balmaceda from the University of Queensland who is identifying new drug therapies for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
• Dr Alexandra Jones from The George Institute for Global Health for her work informing best-practice policy action to improve food environments which impact the health of the community.

Dr Calos Garcia Esperon from John Hunter Hospital, Dr Jake Linadon from Deakin University, Dr Kiah Evans from Telethon Institute, Dr Lana McClements from University of Technology and Dr Joyce Siette from Macquarie University all received Commendations and will receive a $1,000 grant each.

For more information on the finalists, visit here.

Dr Jin Han of the Black Dog Institute was named the 2020 Emerging Health Researcher winner and will receive a $25,000 grant .

Five nominees also received Commendations and a $1,000 grant each: Dr Calos Garcia Esperon from John Hunter Hospital, Dr Jake Linadon from Deakin University, Dr Kiah Evans from Telethon Institute, Dr Lana McClements from University of Technology and Dr Joyce Siette from Macquarie University.

Dr Alexandra Jones – The George Institute for Global Health

Regulating food environments to improve community health.

Dr Alexandra Jones combines an innovative mix of law and science to strategically influence food policy in Australia and overseas. With two in three adults, and one in four children classified as overweight or obese, Dr Jones’ focus on improving Australians’ diets is more important than ever.

“Obesity has tripled over the past 30 years as our food environment has changed. We’re now surrounded by unhealthy processed foods that are high in salt, sugar and harmful fats, making it really hard to make good food choices,” Dr Jones said.

“I think that law is a powerful tool to improve public health. Changes to the way food is labelled, priced, marketed and sold – all of these things together could help to improve Australians’ diets. I want to show that regulators and lawyers, not only doctors and dietitians, can reduce health risks and save lives.”

Professor Bruce Neal said Dr Jones’ expertise lies in her ability to translate her academic work to influence tangible change.

“During her PhD she found time to serve on the government’s Technical Advisory Group for the Health Star Rating labelling system, she submitted endless reports, she got groups of people together to pitch ideas to the review committee. What she did really changed what has happened with the Health Star Rating system over the past few years,” Professor Neale said.

Dr Alice Grady – The University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District’s Population Health Unit.

Developing scalable programs delivered in childcare settings to prevent childhood obesity.

Dr Alice Grady works with childcare services to co-design healthy eating and physical activity initiatives to reduce the potential for childhood obesity. Her research uses digital technologies and existing infrastructure to ensure the programs are scalable and can reach as many children as possible.

“Childhood obesity is one of Australia’s biggest problems. Poor dietary and physical activity habits developed in childhood track into adulthood and can lead to a number of chronic diseases, resulting in poor social, psychological and economic outcomes,” Dr Grady said.

“My research looks to create healthy environments for children. By creating healthy habits in childhood, it helps children to lead healthy lives and can prolong their life expectancy.”

Associate Professor Serene Yoong who nominated Dr Grady for the award said Dr the care she shows for the quality of her research and for the people she works with helps her to deliver programs that have meaningful impact.

“Dr Grady is meticulous and thoughtful about the impact of the programs and solutions she develops. She works closely with the childcare services, children and parents who will be impacted by her work to ensure her research isn’t just academic but has real world benefits,” Professor Yoong said.

Dr Amanda Gwee – Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Leading trials to inform the correct use of antibiotics in babies.

Dr Amanda Gwee’s research will have a lasting impact on the health of Australian children with new antibiotic dosing guidelines developed through her research already being used in hospitals across Australia and overseas.

“There’s not a lot of information about how we should use antibiotics in children compared to adults. It’s an area we really need to improve on to strengthen our workforce. I’m proud of the fact my research has already changed practice and that I’ve been able to bring other people on who are interested in this research topic,” Dr Gwee said.

“It’s hard to be an early career researcher… it’s a highly competitive field with lots of talented people. This has made me even more committed to building on my research in the future.

Professor Nigel Curtis who nominated Dr Gwee for the Award said “The work that Dr Gwee is doing will really make a difference to the health of the community and provide better outcomes for children with infections.”

Dr Eduardo Albornoz– The University of Queensland

Identifying new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

With more than 200,000 Australians currently living with a neurological condition, Dr Eduardo Albornoz’s research looks at how these diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, are triggered and aims to find new ways to treat them.

“Sadly, there is no treatment to stop the progression of neurological diseases, only treatments to ease the symptoms. The therapies we’re proposing will be able to stop inflammatory disease progression and with human trial validation, improve the quality of life for many Australians,” Dr Albornoz said.

Professor Trent Woodruff, who nominated Dr Albornoz for the award, said his hard work and dedication sets him apart from others in his field.

“Eduardo is really driven by the research he conducts. He works hard in the laboratory and is focused in his vision to progress these new treatments to human trials. It’s really important we encourage early career researchers like Eduardo to help support their medical discoveries.”

Launching the hybrid store in Wagga Wagga highlights Bupa’s commitment to having a strong presence in regional centres.

The new store was officially opened by City of Wagga Wagga Mayor Cr Greg Conkey OAM while a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and musical performance was delivered by Wiradjuri Elder Auntie Kath Withers and the Wiradjuri Community Connections Aboriginal Corporation.

Bupa Optical & Hearing Director, Guneet Sawhney said the advanced customer experience of the combined store format was a win for convenience.

“Bringing this concept to Wagga Wagga enables us to provide the community with added convenience and an improved level of service and care.

“Delivering a seamless customer experience has been at the heart of the development of this store and our team members have been extremely enthusiastic about a new model of service. We are confident that it will be very popular with the local community,” Guneet said.

Bupa Health Insurance Retail Director, Chris Carroll, said the new store reinforced Bupa’s commitment to the Wagga community.

“We want to make health insurance a more personalised, simple and relevant experience for our customers. This store gives customers more choice in how we can help; for many people the convenience of the internet or the phone will be preferred but for those in Wagga who want to talk to someone in person, we’re here,” Chris said.

The Bupa Health Insurance and Bupa Optical & Hearing store in Wagga Wagga is located at 155 Baylis St, Wagga Wagga.

Media reference number: 20/104

COVID-19 has accelerated the delivery and take-up of telehealth which was originally estimated to become a fixture of the Australian healthcare system in 2030^[1].

Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance Emily Amos said the company decided to fund telehealth services for popular Extras such as physiotherapy and psychology during the early stages of COVID-19. Since March 2020, Bupa has funded over 21,000 consultations delivered via telephone and videoconferencing valued at over $1 million in benefits.

“Initially the decision was about making sure customers could continue to access healthcare uninterrupted during lockdown periods. However, we were the first health insurer to acknowledge that there was no turning back, telehealth was popular and it was here to stay,” Ms Amos said.

“The Federal Government’s announcement on telehealth represents a significant step forward in listening to the market and placing patient experiences at the centre of healthcare reform.”

During recent years, Bupa has expanded its out-of-hospital treatment coverage for new and innovative models of care related to common treatments such as rehabilitation, chemotherapy and mental health. The provision of services at home helped deliver more positive patient experiences with the same clinical outcomes.

“Just like a mobile phone is no longer something you only make calls with, 2020 has shown us that a home can be a hub for far more than just family life. It can be an office, a classroom, a gym and significantly, a place to receive healthcare.

“Leveraging the flexibility that comes with remote healthcare is vital for attracting tech-savvy young Australians to private health insurance who have grown up using apps and smartphones for everything from ordering food to dating,” Ms Amos said.

To further enhance flexibility in healthcare and reduce unnecessary costs, Ms Amos called for greater collaboration between health insurers, government, hospitals and health professionals.

“The only way we can help customers to claim on more flexible, personalised, home and community-based healthcare options delivered outside of expensive hospital settings is through clever reform that looks beyond the rules and practices developed last century.

“New reforms that give people more choice of where and how they receive healthcare will enable us to expand our home treatment coverage even further, keep premiums down and put the customer back in charge of their own health,” said Ms Amos.

^[1] https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/doorstop-interview-on-27-november-2020

Media reference number: 20/103

The pieces can be paintings, drawings or collages with each piece of children’s artwork chosen will be collated by Beci into the ‘Colour Melbourne - An expression of what kids love most about our city’ installation that will be displayed in Melbourne’s CBD.

Bupa and Kids Helpline invite parents, teachers and children to submit their original artwork via this link until December 6.

Tracy Adams, CEO of yourtown which operates Kids Helpline, said art can be a wonderful coping mechanism for children and a great way to reignite positive feelings and fond memories.

“The personal nature of art can help children express their thoughts and feelings in a different way. Art also promotes mindfulness which means it’s a great way to cope with change and for children, being able to make sense of the ‘new normal’ post lockdown,” Tracy said.

“When Bupa approached us with the idea we were thrilled with the concept. Encouraging kids to think about what they love most about Melbourne and translating those positive feelings into something tangible like art and being able to see their creation on a huge city window – it’s a unique way to celebrate their hometown after a challenging year."

Melbourne artist Beci Orpin believes art helps children express their creativity and feelings.

“The way that kids see things is so special. There’s a lot that immediately springs to mind when you think of kids and Melbourne; tram rides, big parks to run around in, hot jam doughnuts from the market. I’m expecting that we will see some highly creative and heartfelt submissions that will delight us all,” Beci said.

“I can’t wait to receive their artwork and start to create a piece that really brings to life what kids feel and love most about this city.”

Bupa People Director Kate Dee, said the project was part of the Let’s Melbourne Again initiative, and Bupa as a founding partner, recognised the importance of supporting the return of people to Melbourne’s CBD.

“As a proud Melbourne employer with a strong people and customer base in the city, we wanted to do something really unique and lasting to help inject that colour and life back into the CBD.

“Melbourne is arguably the cultural capital of Australia, and art such a quintessential part of the city. Many of our team are parents who have been working from home, so with Beci’s vision we can create something pretty special for kids to visit that will also give our team a colourful welcome back to the office next year,” said Kate.

The ‘Colour Melbourne - An expression of what kids love most about our city’ installation will be on display at 33 Exhibition Street Melbourne from early December and remain in place over the summer for children and their families to visit and enjoy.

Why is it important to have a COVID-19 vaccine?

The aim of a vaccine is to stimulate our immune systems to defend us against a disease. Equipping our immune systems against COVID-19 should help us to either not develop COVID-19 in the first place, or have the ability to fight the disease better if we get it so that we experience less serious effects.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine be effective?

If a COVID-19 vaccine passes the effectiveness criteria of various medicine authorities around the world and is approved for sale, it will likely have been shown to make a notable difference in reducing or preventing illness due to COVID-19.

However, we’re not sure yet how long immunity to COVID-19 from a vaccine might last, and immunity after vaccination can differ between age groups, biological sex, ethnic backgrounds, and other individual factors. So there are still questions that need to be answered from published, peer-reviewed results of current trials of vaccine candidates.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine be safe?

Vaccines go through a stringent process to ensure they are safe including being trialled on thousands of people to make sure they’re generally safe and effective for healthy people, and to uncover possible adverse effects before they go to market. They also must be approved by regulatory authorities such as Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration or New Zealand’s Medsafe. So you can rest assured that vaccines approved in Australia and New Zealand, including the annual flu vaccine, are generally safe for that reason.

When are we likely to see a COVID-19 vaccine available?

Despite all the stories in the media around a vaccine being just months away, at the moment it’s still unclear when a successful vaccine will be ready for general use. There are serious contenders in the race to develop an effective, safe vaccine, which is truly amazing – this process normally takes up to 10 years from early development to manufacture! But with a lot of effort and funding, the process has been accelerated to try and produce a vaccine as soon as possible without compromising on safety.

We will know more in the coming weeks and months about when a vaccine is approved for public use.

Which vaccines will be available in Australia and New Zealand if successful?

The Australian Government has currently invested in four candidate vaccines which use a range of technologies. Diversifying the investment among advanced candidates is a way to increase the likelihood of having a safe and effective vaccine to distribute as soon as possible.

The four vaccines are from:

• University of Oxford/AstraZeneca
• University of Queensland/CSL
• Novavax
• Pfizer/BioNTech

The Australian Government has also joined the international COVAX Facility to open up the possibility of access to a suite of other potential COVID-19 vaccines.

The New Zealand Government has also expressed interest in participating in the COVAX Facility and has set aside funding to enter into similar advance purchasing arrangements with vaccine developers.

Who will get the vaccine?

To stop the pandemic, most of the world’s population will eventually need to be immunised with an effective, safe vaccine. Experts estimate that 50-80% of the population needs to be immune to the virus to stop it spreading easily.

But this is an enormous logistical challenge. Millions, even billions, of doses of the vaccine will need to be made, which must then be transported securely around the world, often at very low temperatures. All this takes time, so supply is likely to be limited, particularly when the vaccine is first made available on the market.

The good news is that governments and health organisations around the world recognise that it’s especially important to immunise high-risk groups first, and they generally agree that these include: healthcare workers (including those working in aged care), people with chronic medical conditions (which generally includes older people), people with a disability, and people in work required for continuing functioning of society (e.g. teachers).

This targeted strategy should help prevent those most vulnerable from getting seriously ill, while we work to achieve high enough levels of immunity across the community to keep most people as safe as we can.

Will life return to ‘normal’ once we have a vaccine?

It’s really hard to know if we will return to life as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if and when we have approved, safe COVID-19 vaccines, reaching appropriate levels of immunity in the community will also depend on how many people are able to get access to the vaccine and how many get vaccinated.

So in the meantime, don’t forget to keep up all the other measures we know help to keep the numbers of new COVID-19 infections low – wash your hands regularly, maintain physical distancing, avoid crowded places if you can, wear a mask especially when you can’t physically distance, stay home if you’re sick, and get tested if you have flu-like symptoms.

Media reference number: 20/102

While Australia is currently in a much better position than many others when it comes to COVID-19 infection rates, we are acutely aware that the threat remains and could strike at any time.

With many of our aged care residents being particularly vulnerable to the virus, our priority is to look after their health, safety and wellbeing.

Throughout the year, as we have learned more about this virus, we have adapted our COVID-planning to ensure we have a clear framework that does everything possible to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents and employees.

We have now implemented our COVID Safe Plan, which has been developed by our clinical experts and provides a clear blueprint to guide our care homes through this period.

Alongside our COVID Safe Plan, we’re also aware of the importance in maintaining our focus on supporting residents’ mental wellbeing. That’s why we have increased our focus on wellbeing programs and lifestyle activities within our homes, as well as finding new ways to connect residents with their loved ones via video calls and our private Facebook groups.

When community transmission rates of COVID-19 increase so does the risk of exposure to our residents and our teams. The COVID Safe Plan covers four phases for individual care homes based on their risk level:

• COVID-normal: COVID-19 transmission rates are low within the community, and there are no known infections linked to a care home.
  • Increased infection prevention and control measures, with visitors and workers welcome into our homes following strict visitation and health protocols.
  • There may be exceptions to individual care homes in this phase where the risk of community transmission is higher.
• Precautionary monitoring: Someone who has attended the home has had exposure to a potential case of COVID-19 (a close contact).
  • Visitation paused, increased infection control measures and residents’ health monitored regularly for any signs of infection.
• Outbreak: A positive COVID-19 case has been confirmed within the home. This could be a resident, employee or visitor.
  • Work closely with the relevant government departments to contain the spread of infection within the home.
  • This includes regular testing and clinical monitoring, increased use of Personal Protective Equipment, cohorting of employees and residents, and deep cleans of the home.
• Enhanced surveillance: Once an outbreak has been cleared within a home, in line with the relevant Public Health Unit.
  • Stricter infection control measures are gradually reduced in line with government advice as the home moves back towards COVID-normal. Additional monitoring of residents’ health remains.

More detail on the COVID-Safe Plan, and the current status of each of our care homes, can be found at www.bupaagedcare.com.au/covidsafeplan.

Bupa’s Technology team also developed solutions that enabled the servicing of customers across Apple Business Chat, Interactive Voice Response, WhatsApp and 2Way SMS. These tools gave busy customers the ability to communicate with a real person wherever they choose and enjoy the same level of expertise and options they would receive over the phone or in-store. 

Bupa ANZ Chief Information Officer, Sami Yalavac said these achievements were made possible as a result of ongoing investments into remote digital technologies that predate the pandemic.

“This proactive approach to innovation meant we were able to rapidly support our people and customers at a time when they needed it the most,” said Sami.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Technology team also developed a dedicated aged care app and have 250 COVID-safe iPads ready to be used for aged care residents to connect with their families when in-person visitations were interrupted.

Uncovering new working efficiencies has also been a major focus for Sami’s team who continue to leverage automation and artificial intelligence technologies. This includes the development of an ‘Overseas Student Health Cover enrolment bot’ which has autonomously processed 22,900 new overseas student enrolments during and outside of business hours since October 2019.

“We have taken significant strides forward in 2020 amidst challenging circumstances and I am truly proud of how my team has collaborated, innovated and rallied around our purpose of helping our customers live longer, happier, healthier lives,” said Sami.

Media reference number: 20/101

Our South Australian aged care homes have re-opened to visitors, with additional health and safety screening in place. Anyone who wishes to visit a loved one should contact the home directly to book in a time.

Update Tuesday 24 November:

Following the easing of South Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions, all Bupa health insurance, optical and hearing stores have now reopened including our dental practices.

Update Friday 20 November:

South Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions will now be eased from 11:59pm Saturday 21 November. Our health insurance, Optical and Hearing stores will reopen on Monday 23 November.

Update Wednesday 18 November:

South Australia will introduce new COVID-19 restrictions, lasting for at least six days from 11:59pm Wednesday 18 November to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

As always the health and wellbeing of our customers, residents and employees and the wider community is our priority, and in line with the Government restrictions, there will be some temporary changes to Bupa operations in South Australia.

Health Insurance:

From 5pm Wednesday 19 November, we will temporarily close all of our South Australian health insurance stores for 6 days.

With these stores temporarily closed, we encourage South Australian customers to visit bupa.com.au, the myBupa app or contact us on 134 135 for any enquiries. During this time, we may see more customers calling contact centres as a result of these closures which may lead to short delays at times, we ask for your patience as we respond to customer queries.

Non-emergency Extras services have also been temporarily closed in South Australia, however customers can continue to access and claim on treatments delivered over the telephone or video conferencing for psychology, physiotherapy, speech therapy, counselling, dietetics, occupational therapy, midwifery and exercise physiology.

Dental:

Due to level 5 dental restrictions, all SA Bupa dental practices are currently closed. Patients with acute dental concerns should contact emergency care centres.

For any questions, please contact your relevant dental clinic.

Optical and Hearing:

In line with the South Australian Government announcements, all our South Australian Optical and Hearing stores are temporarily closed but will reopen on Monday 23 November.

Any customers seeking urgent eye and ear care in the interim should attend their local Emergency Department.

Aged Care:

As a precaution, Bupa’s five South Australian-based aged care homes closed to visitors and non-essential contractors from Monday afternoon. Non-essential external trips for residents have also been postponed.

To help protect the health and safety of our residents, all employees are wearing masks, and will continue to comply with strict health disclosure rules, including quarantining if they have attended any high-risk locations as identified by SA Health.

Our care home teams are keeping up with daily activities for residents, facilitating video calls and sharing regular updates with relatives to help keep residents and their loved ones connected during this time.

Visa Medical Services:

We have one Bupa Medical Services Clinic in Adelaide that will remain open, unless otherwise directed by the government. If the clinic is directed to close, we will be in contact with customers directly.

We will continue to share information with our customers and community as the situation evolves. For more information on the COVID-19 situation in South Australia, and the broader restrictions, visit the SA Health website.

Data from health insurer Bupa reveals this is the first time Victoria has reached this mark since COVID-19 elective surgery restrictions commenced nationally in March at which point eligibility checks dropped by approximately 60 per cent.

Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance, Emily Amos said this was a significant sign that community confidence had been re-established in Victoria following the easing of restrictions and a strong rebound in other states earlier in the year.

Ms Amos said Victorian elective surgeries resumed in mid-September with a sharp increase in bookings, but it was only as the broader community reopened and confidence returned that surgery queries eclipsed last year’s levels.

“We know there have been some members of the community who may have chosen to stay away from hospitals while COVID remained active, even once elective surgery resumed,” Ms Amos said.

“It’s encouraging to see that community confidence is coming back and people are comfortable heading back to their doctors and into hospitals to have their operations.

“Any surgery impacted by the elective surgery bans arising from COVID was only ever going to be delayed rather than cancelled. We recognised this and have kept funds aside to cover this delay in procedures,” Ms Amos said.

Bupa claims data has also revealed the average benefit paid for many procedures such as knee and hip replacements is higher than 2019, reinforcing the longer-term trend of healthcare costs growing at a higher rate than health insurance premiums.

Ms Amos said that the latest APRA health insurance data shows the priority must remain keeping care accessible and affordable against a backdrop of an uncertain economic environment and a public system that is seeing wait lists blow out to over 1.5 years for common elective procedures.

“During the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, we worked hard to keep as many people insured as possible. A major part of this was deferring premium increases by 12 months for around 40,000 Bupa customers on the Government’s JobKeeper or JobSeeker programs.

“While premium support has helped slow the rate of discontinuances in the industry, it does not address long-term affordability issues. Now more than ever, all players in the private health system need to work together to ensure that patients aren’t left holding a bigger bill, whether that be a direct bill or higher insurance premiums for the same amount of cover.

“This means greater collaboration amongst stakeholders such as government, private hospitals, doctors and medical device companies to minimise waste while ensuring customers are at the centre of all reform efforts. As funders of health care, health insurers have the strongest incentive to keep customers well and deliver optimal patient outcomes,” Ms Amos said.

Media reference number: 20/100

^[1] According to Bupa eligibility check statistics.

Dr Young, who has developed a range of innovative online behavioural weight loss programs for men, said winning the award has opened up many doors for him over the past year.

“It was an absolute life changer, and couldn’t have come at a better time for me. The Fellowship that funded my work was coming towards the end and I was looking for a pathway into academia – which is not always an easy thing.

“Having the recognition of the Emerging Health Researcher Award not only gave me exposure in the sector, but also gave me the confidence to progress in my career,” Dr Young said.

At first, Dr Young was hesitant to apply for the Award, but his nominator, Professor Philip Morgan, saw the potential and progressed with the nomination.

“Professor Morgan could see how well my work aligned to the Award which recognises contributions of health researchers to improving the health and wellbeing of the community and I’m so glad he convinced me to accept the nomination.”

Within a few months of winning the Award, Dr Young secured a permanent academic position at the University of Newcastle, meaning he could settle in his hometown with his young family and continue to work in the field that he loves and that continues to make a difference to men’s health.

This month, Dr Young has also been named among 40 AMP Foundation “Tomorrow Makers” for 2020, receiving another grant to help further his research.

 “What I love about working in this field is that we’re really making a difference. This year, people have been stuck at home and we’ve found many aren’t doing as much physical exercise and aren’t eating as well as they usually would. The physical and mental health aspects are completely intertwined.

“I think online programs that are effective and engaging for men are going to be a really important area, not just during the pandemic, but even as we get back to some sense of normality. Our service offers a low intensity option, to give men a foot in the door to start improving their health,” Dr Young added.

Now, Dr Young plans to work with digital and online experts to help deliver the services at scale to men across Australia. And his words of advice for other young researchers interested in the Award?

“If you’re considering it, and you think the work you do is valuable for the health of Australians – you have to go for it. Talk to someone who might be interested in nominating you and get started. Don’t be concerned if you’ve missed out on previous grants – this might just be the right fit for you.”

Bupa Health Foundation’s Emerging Researcher of the Year Award submissions now open:

Submissions for the Bupa Health Foundation’s Emerging Researcher of the Year Award are now open until 9am Wednesday 11 November. Select finalists will receive a prize of $5,000 while the winner will be awarded a total of $25,000 to further their career in research.

Kate Dee, People Director, Bupa A&NZ, said ‘a people-first approach’ has underpinned Bupa’s commitment to ensuring the wellbeing and work satisfaction of 22,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand.

“Around the world, the response from our People teams to the impact of COVID-19 on customers, employees and communities has been incredible.

“Being part of a global network has been extremely beneficial as it enabled us to share ideas across borders for navigating this challenging period and supporting our people personally and professionally,” said Kate.

To support its people during COVID-19, Bupa has implemented a Mental Health Recovery Action Plan. Based on employee data and feedback, the Plan addresses the unique mental health impacts associated with the pandemic. It has also led to the development of a variety of flexible resources available to employees in the workplace and those working from home.

This has included the development of the Mindfulness Academy, a 6-week program where Bupa employees are provided with weekly information about mindfulness and access to guided meditations to incorporate mindfulness into their lives. Bupa also offers its employees in Australia and New Zealand with confidential and free to use mental health consultations.

In the community, Bupa has supported IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia). The Bupa Health Foundation also donated more than $2 million in funding to projects adressing the mental health of young Australians. This has helped grow the Kids Helpline My Circle digital platform, where young people can connect with their peers for online group counselling, and expand the Kids Helpline@School program.

“I would like to thank our people for their dedication to making Bupa a great place to work across Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

“While 2020 has presented significant challenges, we continue to see a strong bond between employees and an unwavering commitment to delivering on our purpose of helping customers live longer, healthier, happier lives,” said Kate.

Media reference number: 20/099

Bupa’s Acting Director of Customer Growth, Adrian Kemp said it's great to interact with customers face-to-face in stores around Australia and to see so many Bupa employees back at their usual work.

“While temporary closures have interrupted our ability to support people in-store at different times, we viewed these interruptions as opportunities to innovate and reimagine customer service.

“With a focus on career development and boosting our customer service capabilities across all touchpoints, we upskilled our most of our staff with three or four new digital capabilities. This allowed us to work flexibly and meet customers changing needs,” said Mr Kemp.

Retail staff during the April and August lockdowns were redeployed into a range of new positions including hardship processing roles with over 38,000 direct conversations taking place and digital messaging where over 100,000 conversations have taken place over iMessage and WhatsApp.

“With so many Australians working from home, we saw more people take advantage of digital messaging which enabled them to avoid commuting to retail stores and potentially being put on-hold when calling our contact-centre.

“By meeting our customers where they are, we have been able to help customers through what has been an extremely challenging period while also increasing satisfaction levels,” said Mr Kemp.

In order to speed up service times in retail stores outside of Victoria, Bupa has also developed a ‘Virtual Consultant’ solution that has seen Victorian retail staff serve customers face-to-face in-store via video chat.

What began as a trial in one South Australian store with a single Bupa consultant has since grown into a team of 10 that provide virtual support into stores across SA, WA and Queensland where in-store traffic has bounced back strongly.

“When it comes to the in-store experience, engaging with the customer and reading their reactions is really important as staff can pick up on concerns or misunderstandings and provide reassurance where needed through reading subtle facial expressions.

“To date, the response has been extremely positive with many customers noting that it was just like speaking to a physical person... This is a great example of how we have adapted, innovated and laid the foundations for the future over the past 6 months,” says Mr Kemp.

The first phase of Bupa’s Victorian store reopenings began on Monday 5 October with its stores in Regional Victoria (Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat). All remaining Victorian retail stores, including a new Swanston Store (195 Swanston St), will reopen on Thursday 5 November. Bupa’s Sunshine store will not reopen with local customers encouraged to visit Highpoint for all their health insurance needs.

All Bupa health services including dental, optometry and audiology are currently open with additional safety measure in place.

As government restrictions ease in metropolitan Melbourne, Bupa is also pleased to announce its support for the ‘Let’s Melbourne Again’ campaign as a Founding Partner. ‘Let’s Melbourne Again’ is an initiative led by a group of passionate organisations who are working together to rebuild confidence, creativity and hope in the city of Melbourne through a range of offers and activations.

Media reference number: 20/098

In addition to the continued health threat posed by COVID-19, there has been an underlying strain felt by the dental profession in such customer-facing, caring roles.

Here’s a psychologist’s top five tips and resources for dentists to identify, treat and prevent signs of fatigue before they lead to burn out and impact mental health.

1. Manage anxiety by finding ways to share it

For dentists, more often than not, patients are attending because they know that they have to and can be anxious, often managing fear around painful treatments in the past, or even nervous about cost.

Naturally, this can impact the enjoyment of a dentist’s day as they work to soothe and allay those fears, whilst also managing many other responsibilities. For many dentists, the care for patients begins well in advance of taking a look at their teeth.

“It’s natural to sometimes feel emotionally drained, or unable to switch off at the end of a demanding working day, which makes your own self-care crucial,” says Bupa psychologist Chanel Nesci.

“It’s important on these days to spend time acknowledging your own thoughts and needs, to help you manage the time and effort you put in to helping your patients feel calm and comfortable.”

Ms Nesci recommends regularly checking in on yourself and your team and trying to incorporate a debriefing session after any particularly difficult days or interactions. This helps both you and the team to clarify what has happened, assists in continuous learning and can highlight any need for support.

2. If you need support or someone to talk to, try the Dental Practitioner Support line

This service is the first national 24/7 telephone and online service available for dental practitioners and is completely anonymous. You can also use this service if you’re worried about the mental health of a colleague and not sure what to do.

Proactively reaching out for help can make a big difference to how we feel. Find out more here: https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/News/2020-07-06-Support-for-dental-practitioners-is-here.aspx

3. Pace yourself and carve out mini moments in time

Not only are dentists juggling patient emotions whilst performing tricky procedures – they do this while managing a high volume of patients and keeping to schedule.

While it can be tempting to keep a brisk pace with back-to-back appointments, it’s also helpful to carve out dedicated time in the day to give yourself some time for yourself, to eat, switch off, or do something you enjoy, even if this is brief. These breaks can be crucial to relieving physical tension in the body as well as emotional tension.

“It can be as simple as setting reminders in your phone or reminding each other as a team to take stretching breaks,” says Ms Nesci. “These mini-resets can help you recognise where you’re holding physical tensions and can also prompt you to actively try to let go of other things worrying you or on your mind.”

Practicing mindfulness, even if only briefly for five minutes, has been found to increase focus and productivity.

4. Connect with colleagues to swap stories and tips

It is also helpful to reach out for advice or a chat, to see how others in similar roles manage the busy days and swapping tips can be invaluable.

“Connecting with your colleagues and talking openly with one another at work can be incredibly beneficial for your own wellbeing, especially as our colleagues are often the people who truly understand our work-related experiences and can empathise with these,” says Ms Nesci.

Head to the Mental Block Facebook support group which is run by dentists for dentists and is a safe place to discuss stress with other dentists.

5. Create positive outcomes

Finally, practicing gratitude, especially in a busy role that is often challenging, can help us remember what we appreciate about the work that we do and why it’s important to us.

This is likely to be different for everyone, so take the time to identify and acknowledge the things about your role and work that you are grateful for. Thinking about why we pursued our careers in the first place can be a great place to start!

Practicing gratitude is a healthy habit that helps to build and maintain a positive frame of mind, strengthen and support relationships and enable us to maintain a mindset that can better help us to cope with the challenges we face throughout our lives.

Bupa is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our dental professionals and have a range of resources available to support you. Keep an eye out for these in our internal newsletters or ask your leader how to access them.

The care home was determined not to let the restrictions stop residents from having some fun with their own Bupa Show.

The event held all the usual Best in Show categories including Arts, Handmade Craft, Floral Arts, Handiwork and Cake Decorating.

Good Start Early Learning Centre, the Tamworth Men’s Shed and Hillvue Public School all submitted entries, along with entries from residents, their relatives and employees.

Tim Whyte, Bupa Tamworth General Manager, said the day was a lot of fun for residents and the care home team.

“Many of our residents have been attending the show and entering different categories for years. We didn’t want that to stop just because of COVID-19,” he said.

Mr Whyte thanked those in the community who are supporting the event through donations or by submitting entries.

“We’re so grateful to all the community groups and organisations that have jumped onboard to help make this day special. Whether it’s participating in the Best in Show categories or donating prizes, it all helps to make a memorable event for our residents,” Mr Whyte said.

“It’s been a difficult year for our residents, but we’ve been working hard to make sure we’re constantly finding new ways to keep spirits up through our lifestyle activities.”

Brooke, a ‘Kids Helpline @ School’ facilitator said there’s no doubt 2020 has been a difficult year for a lot of people - adults, as well as kids and teenagers.

“The uncertainty the pandemic has created may lead to a rise in emotions for some people. It’s normal to feel a range of emotions associated with all the challenges and changes 2020 has brought.

“Young people might notice they are reacting in ways that are different from how they usually would,” said Brooke.

Brooke says there are three main areas of the brain:

1. The frontal lobe – the “smart brain” – this handles decision making and manages tricky emotions
2. The amygdala – the “emotional brain” – where our basic, core emotions come from
3. The brainstem – the “survival brain” – this looks after your heartbeat, movement, and all thing vital to your survival”

When our everyday emotions are under control, all parts of the brain are working well together. But when big emotions appear – like fear or anxiety or stress – our emotional and survival brains take over and our smart brain switches off. The result is we don’t make thoughtful decisions and just act on impulse.

But there are ways to help calm our brain and encourage our smart brain to switch back on. We can use strategies like exercise and deep breathing to calm the survival brain, while journaling, talking and help-seeking can help calm the emotional brain. This enables the smart brain to get to work and think through our actions and decisions.

“At Kids Helpline, we emphasise the importance of caring for yourself – reaching out for support to trusted friends and family, as well as caring for the body and brain.

“If you’re a parent, one of the best things you can do is role model to your children and show them how you care for yourself,” said Brooke.

Kids Helpline’s top tips to help kids and young adults manage stress and anxiety.

• Having a routine – setting aside regular times for going to bed, waking and activity time can help lower anxiety and worry, adding some structure and certainty to the day.

• Mindfulness activities – such as mindful colouring, deep breathing exercises or meditation.

• Journaling – getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

• Movement and exercise – these are a great way to engage the body and encourage the helpful ‘feel good’ hormones, like endorphins, to flow.

• Worry jars – write down your worries and put them in the worry jar, then come up with some ways you can manage those worries in the future or even let them go.

• ‘Help-seeking’ and connecting with people – even a little bit of support can make a big difference. Reach out to the trusted supports and people in your world. Talk things through with them, share what is going on. This helps remind us all that we’re not alone, and that there are people who care for us and who are on our side.

• Engaging the five senses – why not try the ‘ 5,4,3,2,1’ strategy: go through each sense and find something to focus on – something you can smell; imagining a taste or flavour you like; what can you see in the room around you; what can you hear and what can you feel?

• Visualisation exercises – engaging the imagination and the ‘smart brain’ to calm emotions and the body.

Another great idea is for parents and their children to create self-care toolboxes together. This could be a bucket or box of different things that your child will find helpful, for example, a stress ball, slime, bubbles, or a candle to smell. Your child can then reach for their toolbox when they need it.

You can read more about this topic on the Kids Helpline website:

• Coping strategies for teens
• Managing anxiety
• Self-care

Media reference number: 20/098

Guneet Sawhney, Director Bupa Optical & Hearing, praised the long history of Greenfield’s and said the acquisition of these two stores highlights Bupa’s commitment to expand our services in Queensland.

“Greenfield’s first opened in 1915 and has been servicing the optical needs of the Townsville community for more than 100 years. Our aim is to continue to service the community under the name and support them through Bupa’s product range, service offerings and value proposition.

“So please welcome Greenfield’s Optical Centre – part of Bupa.”

Bupa Optical & Hearing now has 12 stores in Queensland, offering our members and customers access to our great range and services in more places. Visit bupaoptical.com.au to find the opening details of your local Bupa Optical & Hearing store and to book an appointment.

The online panel features:

• Bupa ANZ CEO, Hisham El-Ansary
• Microsoft Australia Managing Director, Steven Worrall
• Movember Director of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention, Dr Zac Seidler
• Woolworths Group General Manager of Safety, Health & Wellbeing, Brian Long
• Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds Foundation CEO, Lachlan Benson

Even at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health problems had been found to be at least twice as prevalent as in non-pandemic circumstances^[1]. This means there has never been a more important time for leaders to focus on solutions that support employees and the wider Australian community, as we continue to live through this uncertain period.

Mindstar CEO and Man Chat series host Aaron Williams said the group came together with the common goal of providing some extra hope, practical tips and honest insights for Aussies who are feeling stressed during this challenging time.

“The health, financial and social uncertainties brought about by COVID-19 have been dramatic with millions of Australians feeling exhausted, stressed and anxious at home and at work.

“Having these high-profile Australian leaders take the time to come together, be honest and vulnerable about their own challenges and those of their team members sets a wonderful example to the broader public about the importance of maintaining and prioritising mental fitness,” said Mr Williams.

Bupa Australia & New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Hisham El-Ansary said promoting mental health resilience comes with displaying genuine care and empathy to all our people.

“It’s important to demonstrate vulnerability as a leader by having open conversations on how you’re feeling. Being authentic helps build trust and creates a psychologically safe environment for your people.

“I hope this willingness to have real conversations about mental health, like what I experienced on the Leaders Panel, will be an enduring feature of the way we live long after the pandemic is over,” said Mr El-Ansary.

Click here for further information on mental health resources.

^[1] https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/mental-health-people-australia-first-month-covid-19-restrictions-national-survey

Media reference number: 20/097

With household and government budgets under unprecedented pressure, and public hospital wait lists set to blow-out as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, affordable private health care has never been more important.

We look forward to working with the Government on a number of announcements from the Budget; initiatives designed to help attract young people to health insurance and to provide greater flexibility on what insurers can cover for treatment out of hospital. These are welcome steps in the right direction to address some key issues facing customers and our industry.

Bupa understands the cost of living pressures our customers are experiencing and appreciate the commitment for further reforms to address affordability. We do not want health insurance premiums to cost one dollar more than necessary. But the reality is, premiums are driven directly by increasing costs in the health sector – partly driven by our ageing population and medical advances, but also by waste, avoidable costs, and the fact that some players in the sector are more willing to lean into the affordability challenge than others.

The only way we can bring increases in premiums down and deliver value to our customers is through genuine reform that takes out cost for customers and keeps health insurance accessible for young people. We look forward to working closely with the Government over the coming eight months on the reform program and new initiatives.

Media reference number: 20/096

It is a disease without a cure, but it is entirely preventable.

The Endgame Strategy, brings together experience, knowledge and evidence in a comprehensive long-term strategic plan to end RHD in Australia by 2031.

Bupa has been a proud END RHD Charter signatory since 2018 when we launched our updated Reconciliation Action Plan with a renewed focus on working towards health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

To demonstrate our commitment to ending RHD Bupa committed close to half a million dollars to support a community-led program in three high-risk remote communities in the Northern Territory aimed at developing culturally appropriate strategies to treat and prevent the disease. Community-based programs, such as this one, are identified as a priority action area in the Endgame Strategy.

World-leading RHD expert and senior author of the Endgame Strategy, Telethon Kids Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, said the strategy’s release marked the first time a comprehensive evidence base had been developed showing how eliminating RHD across Australia could be done.

“With the release of this Endgame Strategy we now have the blueprint outlining exactly what needs to happen to both prevent new cases and improve the quality of life for those already living with the disease,” Professor Carapetis said.

“RHD is rare among non-Indigenous people, yet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have some of the highest rates of the disease in the world. This is a disease that is usually only seen in developing countries and its persistence in Australia is an ongoing injustice,” he said.

Dr Zoe Wainer, Bupa’s Director of Clinical Governance praised END RHD’s work which will allow many in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to live longer and healthier lives.

“While this disease may not be a well-known one, it can have a lasting and devastating impact on many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. But most importantly, it is preventable.

No Bupa Edithvale team members or residents have tested positive to COVID-19 for well over a month. There are currently no active cases within the care home.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Bupa Edithvale has been officially closed since Thursday 17 September.

UPDATE Thursday 24 September 4:00pm

After two months of tireless work and dedication from employees at Bupa Edithvale, the COVID-19 outbreak is now officially closed.

Lexie Dennis, General Manager Bupa Edithvale, reflected on how the home has come out the other side of the outbreak.

“This is like nothing we’ve ever seen before in aged care. You can’t underestimate the importance of being prepared when you face into something like this. We’ve been lucky to have the broader support of other departments and medical experts within Bupa, as well as the state and federal departments, and the Frankston and Rosebud hospitals. It’s really something you can’t manage alone,” Lexie said.

While the outbreak has been tough on residents and their loved ones, Lexie was impressed by the resilience and strength residents showed throughout the process.

“Our residents have been through so much in their lifetimes, that when it came to COVID-19, they really took it in their stride. It was obviously disruptive and they needed more support from staff than during regular times, but on the whole, they adapted really well.

“I have a great team who has been able to meet the needs of our residents and support them throughout. Other staff who came into our home to help during the outbreak all stepped up and took on our work ethic to make sure we kept the level of care high for our residents,” Lexie added.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the care home has had to find new ways to keep residents connected with their families and friends.

While it was unusual to residents at first, video calls are now a regular part of their days and something that Lexie thinks will stick around long after COVID restrictions are lifted.

“It’s not always easy for families who live far away to come in and visit their loved one, but now residents are used to seeing them on the screen, I think it will make it easier for them to stay in touch no matter where they live.

“We also set up a Facebook group earlier in the year where we share pictures and videos from the home for relatives to see. It’s been a great way to keep relatives updated quickly and show them all the fun activities we’ve still been able to run in the home during the lockdown,” Lexie said.

While the outbreak has been a mammoth challenge, Lexie believes the whole experience has brought the Bupa Edithvale community together more than ever before.

“We’ve all been through this same trauma and I think it’s brought us closer together. Our team is really focused on being there for our residents and each other. We’ve mourned for those we’ve lost, but there’s also a common feeling that we’ve made it through this together.

“We’ve also built a closer relationship with relatives and the broader Edithvale community. Their support has been amazing. We’ve received care packages that are dropped off with a note simply signed from ‘the Edithvale community’ to let us know they’re thinking of us.”

Now, as the home returns to a sense of normality, they turn their minds to acknowledging and respecting the events they have been through. Lexie hopes to commission a piece of art or sculpture from a local artist to commemorate the residents who have passed away and the effects the outbreak has had on the home.

“From the bottom of our hearts, I just want to thank everyone near and far who have supported us in any form along the way. We couldn’t have done this alone. To have family support, resident support and the support of the wider Bupa community has been the key to us getting through this,” Lexie added.

UPDATE Friday 4 September 3:00pm

Bupa Edithvale received welcome news from the Department of Health yesterday, advising that the care home has now been de-escalated to the ‘active surveillance’ stage.

This means residents can now move more freely around the home and take part in group recreational activities.

The team continues to monitor residents’ health closely and remains diligent in their use of personal protective equipment.

We thank our employees, residents and their loved ones for their unwavering support and patience throughout the outbreak.

UPDATE Friday 21 August 2:00pm

Since our last update, unfortunately a further five residents and four employees have tested positive to COVID-19.

We are in close contact with our residents’ loved ones to keep them updated on the situation, and we continue to work closely with health authorities.

While it continues to be an extremely challenging time at the care home, we are grateful to our team, residents and their relatives for their ongoing patience and support as we do everything possible to fight this virus.

UPDATE Wednesday 12 August 11:00am:

Our latest test results have shown that unfortunately ten more residents and two more employees from our Edithvale aged care home have tested positive to COVID-19.

We continue to work closely with health authorities from both the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to manage the situation.

We again thank our dedicated employees, our residents and their families, and the Edithvale community for their support and understanding.

UPDATE Sunday 9 August 10:00am:

We have received the sad news that four more of our team have tested positive to COVID-19. They are isolated away from the care home in their family homes, and we are supporting them in their recovery.

We thank the relatives of our residents who have been supportive towards our efforts, and to both the Commonwealth Department of Health and the Victorian Public Health Unit who have been working constructively with us during this difficult time.

UPDATE August 7 6:00pm:

Following additional testing, we have received results that show a further five residents have tested positive to COVID-19. Two more of our team members have also tested positive to COVID-19.

Several residents are being cared for within the home’s own dedicated COVID-19 Care Unit, while other residents are being treated in hospital. Affected staff have entered self-isolation and we are keeping in close contact with them to ensure they’re properly supported.

We have now set up five separate zones within the home that are completely isolated from each other. Staff assigned to each of these zones include a registered nurse, personal carers and a cleaner.

The Commonwealth Department of Health and the Victorian DHHS are supportive of our measures.

We thank our staff for their dedicated efforts, and our residents, their families, and the Edithvale community for their messages of support during this most difficult period.

UPDATE Friday 7 August 3:30pm:

In addition to our daily communications with relatives, Suzanne Dvorak, Managing Director Bupa Aged Care Australia, held a teleconference with the relatives of Bupa Edithvale residents earlier this week and followed up with a letter today. Read her letter below:

Dear Relatives and Friends,

It has been a difficult few weeks for those that call Bupa Edithvale home. I acknowledge how tough it has been for our residents, for our team and for you, the relatives and friends who support our residents and team every day.

Notwithstanding our best efforts, the dreaded coronavirus has inserted itself in our care home. We have been working closely with both the Commonwealth and the Victorian government health departments, as we are in this battle together to eliminate this virus from our home and minimise its impact as best we can.

Despite these efforts, we have sadly lost three of our much-loved residents since the coronavirus entered our home. These residents were transferred to hospital prior to their passing, and they were COVID-19 positive. While we believe their pre-existing or unrelated conditions most likely contributed to their passing, we don’t look past the sadness of their passing at this time.

Our thoughts go out to all of their families during this very difficult time. We have contacted their loved ones to send our condolences and will stay in contact with them to provide any assistance they may need.

As many of you would know, following the communications that we have sent and the teleconference that we held on Monday 3 August, the situation is currently quite serious in our home. We are doing everything we can to protect your loved ones and ensure that they are safe. You have my personal guarantee that we will not stop working to protect your loved ones and our team. This is a battle that we are determined to win.

I thank you for trusting us to care for your loved ones. We take this responsibility very seriously.

Kind Regards,

Suzanne Dvorak
Managing Director
Bupa Aged Care

UPDATE Thursday 6 August 10:00am:

We are sad to confirm that following the receipt of the latest results, unfortunately a further five residents and four staff members at Bupa Edithvale have tested positive to COVID-19.

Affected residents are being cared for either in hospital or in the home’s dedicated COVID Care Unit, away from other residents. The conditions of all residents in the home are being closely monitored by care staff.

Residents who are currently COVID-19 negative were tested again yesterday, and there will be more testing in the home today for staff.

Employees who test positive immediately enter self-isolation and we are in regular contact with all impacted employees to offer our support. Employees who receive positive test results will not return to the home for at least two weeks.

Communities within the home have been physically separated from one another as part of our Outbreak Management Plan and residents are undergoing clinical observations twice daily.

Staff members are wearing PPE at all times during their shifts, as they have been for several weeks, including gowns when administering close care to residents. All staff are temperature screened on arrival at the home, and deep cleaning of all hard surfaces has been arranged, along with increased frequency of cleaning shifts.

The team members at Bupa Edithvale have been working tirelessly to care for their residents under extremely difficult circumstances. We are proud of the way they have embraced the challenge and the care and dedication they show to our residents and to each other.

While all our Victorian care homes have been temporarily closed to visitors since Wednesday 8 July, Bupa is ensuring residents can continue to communicate with their loved ones through virtual means.

We’re in regular contact with relatives of our residents to keep them informed and we thank them for their ongoing support and good wishes.

UPDATE Monday 3 August 10.00am:

Since our most recent update, we have received further test results and unfortunately a further ten residents and three employees from our Edithvale home have tested positive.

Most of these residents have been taken to hospital, with some remaining in the home in our dedicated COVID-19 Care Unit, well separated from all other residents.

We are in continual contact with our residents’ families and their GPs to ensure they are involved in any decisions about their care.

Any employees who test positive immediately enter self-isolation and will not return to the home for at least two weeks, and once a series of negative test results have been received. We remain in close contact with these team members to ensure they’re properly supported.

We are still waiting on some test results and will update our relatives accordingly.

We thank our dedicated employees, our residents and their families, and the Edithvale community for their support and understanding.

UPDATE Monday 27 July, 12pm:

We have now received all the second round COVID-19 test results at Bupa Edithvale and can confirm that unfortunately a further six residents and three employees have tested positive.

We are in contact with the residents’ families and their GPs to ensure they are involved in any decisions about their care. As a result of these discussions, all COVID-19 positive residents are being transferred to hospital.

Two of the employees who tested positive have been self-isolating since Monday 20 July and we are in contact with all impacted employees to offer our support. Employees who receive positive test results will not return to the home for at least two weeks.

People can often test negative to COVID-19 in the very early stages of infection, which is why this second round of testing has been so important to pick up these additional cases. We expect a third round of testing will be organised shortly, as per the Public Health Unit’s process.

UPDATE Wednesday 22 July, 11am

We have now received test results for all Edithvale residents. Unfortunately, a further two residents have tested positive to COVID-19.

The two residents remain in our care at the home. We are in close contact with their families and GP to ensure they are receiving the right level of care.

The resident who tested positive on Monday remains in hospital.

We have received the majority of employee test results, and so far, they are all negative.

A second round of testing for residents and employees will occur later this week.

We’re in regular contact with all relatives of the home and we thank them for their ongoing support and well wishes.

Watch this video to learn more on Bupa’s COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan.

UPDATE Tuesday 21 July, 1:00pm

We are saddened to update that a resident at Bupa Edithvale has tested positive to COVID-19.

They began to display symptoms on Sunday morning and were transferred to hospital where they were tested and received their positive result the next day.

We are offering our support to the resident and their close friends within our care at Bupa Edithvale.

We have now received most resident and employee test results and are pleased that all others received so far are negative. We are still waiting on some test results for residents and employees. We continue to monitor the health of our residents closely.

The two team members who previously tested positive continue to self-isolate, and will not return to work for at least three weeks from the date of their positive tests, and on further advice from the public health unit.

This is an extremely difficult situation for the resident, their family and friends. We appreciate everyone respecting their privacy during this time.

UPDATE Sunday 19 July

Three team members at Bupa Edithvale and Sunshine care homes record positive COVID-19 tests

One contractor and one employee at Bupa’s Edithvale (VIC) aged care home, and one employee at Bupa Sunshine (VIC) care home have recorded positive COVID-19 tests.

• The Edithvale contractor’s last shift was on Thursday 16 July. They were not showing symptoms at the beginning of their shift, but developed a temperature and left early to get tested. It is not known where they contracted the virus from.

• The Edithvale employee had not worked at the care home for over a week when they received their positive test on Saturday 18 July. They were tested as a close contact of a positive case not connected to our care home, and have not displayed any symptoms. At this stage, we do not believe these two cases in Edithvale are connected.

• The Sunshine employee last worked at the home on Sunday 12 July and they did not have any symptoms at the time. Other members of their household were informed on Tuesday 14 July that they’d tested positive, and the Bupa staff member was notified of their positive result late on Wednesday 15 July.

Bupa continues to maintain contact with the three team members to offer support. All are now in self-isolation.

Bupa’s Outbreak Management Plan:

Bupa immediately activated its COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan at both homes and is working closely with the Department of Health & Human Services to minimise the risk of other potential infections in the homes.

All residents at Bupa Sunshine have returned negative tests. We are awaiting some staff test results.

All staff and residents at Edithvale will undergo COVID-19 testing today, Sunday 19 July.

We continue to closely monitor the health of all residents and staff at both homes.

Communities within each home have been physically isolated from one another as per our Outbreak Management Plan and residents are undergoing clinical observations twice daily.

Staff are wearing PPE at all times during their shifts, as they have been for several weeks, including gowns when administering close care to residents. All staff are temperature screened on arrival at the home, and deep cleaning of all hard surfaces has been arranged, along with increased frequency of cleaning shifts.

Staying in touch with residents’ loved ones

We are in regular contact with the relatives of both homes to keep them informed and to offer support.

While all our Victorian care homes have been temporarily closed to visitors since Wednesday 8 July, Bupa will ensure residents can continue to communicate with their loved ones through virtual means.

We thank our employees, residents and their families community for their support and understanding during this challenging time.

For more information on Bupa Sunshine, click here.

For more information on COVID-19 and Bupa Aged Care, click here.

Dementia affects close to 500,000 Australians, many of whom continue to lead active and healthy lives. Keeping up with activities they enjoy is one way people living with dementia can help maintain their quality of life.

In some cases, this is using skills they already had such as regular household chores, and in others, it’s finding creative activities to help relax the mind. That’s exactly what Maurice and Betty at Bupa Windsor have found in their creative outlets.

Maurice Wild

Maurice is Bupa Windsor’s resident artist and often acts as a spokesperson for the care home’s other residents.

In his time at Bupa Windsor, Maurice has started participating in local community painting classes. He has produced amazing paintings that are proudly displayed on the care home walls, often generating conversation between residents and staff.

Once he established his love for painting, he took his idea even further by creating a range of seasonal cards which he now sells to create awareness of Parkinson’s Disease.

Maurice has also been part of interview panels for recruiting new staff, including the home’s recently hired recreational officer and maintenance officer.

Betty McIntosh

Betty is a gifted knitter and an extremely talented painter.

Her knitting speciality is teddy bears, which she now makes to order for residents, families, employees and volunteers.

Betty’s Teddies are in such high demand, that it can often take weeks for her to fill her pre-orders – although nobody seems to mind the wait.

When asked why she does this, Betty says that the smile on peoples’ faces when they get one of her teddy bears is priceless and gives her endless joy.

As the COVID-19 situation has eased around much of the country in recent weeks, we’re pleased that most of our care homes are again open for visitors.

Care homes in metro Melbourne, and some others in key hotspot areas of NSW and Queensland, are currently closed.

Homes that are open for visitors have infection control procedures in place and specific visiting hours. Please contact a care home directly for more detail on their opening hours or to book a visit.

UPDATE Tuesday 25 August

Following recent cases of COVID-19 in parts of Queensland, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close some of our care homes to visitors. These homes are either within, or nearby to, areas listed in the Queensland Health’s Restricted Areas Direction (No.3).

The Queensland homes currently closed to visitors are New Farm, Rangeville, Glenvale, Runaway Bay, Tugun and Merrimac.

We will continue to assess the situation, closely monitor government advice and let relatives of our care homes know of any changes.

UPDATE Thursday 20 August

All Bupa aged care homes in Queensland and ACT have now re-opened to visitors, along with most of our NSW care homes.

Each care home currently has its own visiting hours and restrictions depending on where they are located, so please check in directly with the home for more detail. Contact details for our aged care homes can be found here.

The following care homes remain closed to visitors:

• Victoria: All Bupa aged care homes
• NSW: Banora Point, Pottsville Beach, Bateau Bay, Cardiff, Waratah, Baulkham Hills and North Rocks

UPDATE Thursday 6 August

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to change across the country, this week we have closed a further seven care homes to visitors. These additional homes who are no longer accepting visitors are Stirling and Calwell in the ACT, and Ballina, Waratah, Cardiff, Seaforth and Mosman in NSW.

While we’re helping residents in these homes with video calls and other ways to stay in touch with loved ones, we’re also encouraging anyone who’d like to reach out to our NSW, ACT and Queensland homes to consider visiting by mail.

Bupa care homes currently closed to visitors:

• Victoria: all Victorian Bupa aged care homes
• NSW: Tumut, Eden, Baulkham Hills, North Rocks, Dural, St Ives, Ashfield, Queens Park, Willoughby, Bankstown, Berry, Bexley, Clemton Park, Greenacre, Sutherland, Ashbury, Maroubra, Ballina, Cardiff, Waratah, Mosman and Seaforth.
• Queensland: New Farm, Glenvale, Rangeville, Merrimac, Tugun, Runaway Bay.
• ACT: Stirling, Calwell

UPDATE Friday 31 July

From today (Friday 31 July 2020), a further five Bupa care homes in NSW are now closed to visitors. These homes are Willoughby, Queens Park, Maroubra, Ashbury and Ashfield.

Following recent COVID-19 cases reported in Queensland, we have also decided to temporarily close all our South East Queensland care homes to visitors from today. These homes are located in New Farm, Glenvale, Rangeville, Merrimac, Tugun, Runaway Bay.

The restrictions in these homes are the same as listed under the Victorian update below, posted on Wednesday 8 July. If anyone has questions about their specific circumstances, it’s best to contact the care home directly.

This means that as of today, the following Bupa aged care homes are not taking visitors:

• Victoria: all Victorian Bupa aged care homes
• NSW: Tumut, Eden, Baulkham Hills, North Rocks, Dural, St Ives, Ashfield, Queens Park, Willoughby, Bankstown, Berry, Bexley, Clemton Park, Greenacre, Sutherland, Ashbury and Maroubra
• Queensland: New Farm, Glenvale, Rangeville, Merrimac, Tugun, Runaway Bay.

While all other Bupa care homes are still accepting visitors, please check in with the care home directly for more information on any current restrictions. Contact details for our care homes can be found here.

UPDATE Monday 27 July

To help protect the health and safety of our aged care residents, Bupa care homes in North Rocks, Dural, St Ives and Baulkham Hills (all NSW) are now closed to visitors.

The current list of Bupa care homes in NSW that are not taking visitors includes Bankstown, Berry, Bexley, Clemton Park, Greenacre, Sutherland, Eden, Tumut, North Rocks, Dural, St Ives and Baulkham Hills.

The restrictions are the same as detailed under the Victorian update (Wednesday 8 July) and we encourage anyone with a specific question about their loved one to check in directly with the relevant care home. Contact details for our care homes can be found here.

We thank everyone connected to our care homes for their understanding and patience during this difficult time.

UPDATE Wednesday 22 July

Bupa Eden and Tumut (NSW) aged care homes to close to visitors from Wednesday 22 July.

Due to an increased spread of COVID-19 in the region, we will be closing our Eden and Tumut (NSW) aged care homes to visitors from today.

As with the Victorian restrictions outlined below (Wednesday 8 July), there will be some compassionate exceptions, so please check in with the care home to discuss your specific circumstances.

While the homes are closed to visitors, our teams will continue to run activities and arrange video calls with residents’ loved ones.

If you’d like to help keep our residents connected while they can’t have visitors, why not send them a letter?

UPDATE Wednesday 22 July, 10am

Bupa has activated its Outbreak Management Plan at Bupa Traralgon (VIC) following the positive COVID-19 test from a health professional who visited the home last week. Find out more here.

UPDATE Sunday 19 July

Bupa has activated its Outbreak Management Plan at Bupa Edithvale (VIC) and Sunshine (VIC) following three team members testing positive for COVID-19. Find out more here. 

UPDATE Saturday 18 July

Some NSW Bupa aged care homes to close to visitors from Saturday 18 July.

With an increased spread of COVID-19 in the southern region of Sydney and parts of regional NSW, we will be closing some of our NSW aged care homes to visitors from today.

These homes are located in Bankstown, Berry, Bexley, Clemton Park, Greenacre and Sutherland.

As with the Victorian restrictions outlined below, there will be some compassionate exceptions, so please check in with the care home to discuss your specific circumstances.

As below, our teams will continue to run activities in the home and facilitate video calls with residents and their loved ones.

Once again, we thank our employees, residents and their loved ones for their patience throughout this challenging period.

UPDATE Wednesday 8 July

Victorian Bupa aged care homes to close to visitors as much of Victoria returns to Stage 3 restrictions.

With COVID-19 cases continuing to increase in Victoria and parts of the state returning to Stage 3 restrictions, we have made the difficult decision to close our Victorian aged care homes to visitors from 5:30pm today.

We know this is hard for our residents and their loved ones but this is an important step in protecting the health and safety of our residents and employees.

There will be some compassionate exceptions made for visitors (including for residents who are receiving end stage palliative care), so we encourage you to check in with the care home directly to discuss your specific circumstances. You can find the contact details for all our care homes here.

In recent months, we’ve rolled out extra iPads to all our care homes so our teams can continue to arrange video calls. We have also set up a dedicated aged care app and many of our homes have started private Facebook groups to help keep relatives connected to their loved ones in our care.

Our teams will keep running activities in care homes to ensure that daily life continues as normally as possible for our residents and that their health and wellbeing is maintained.

All employees and external clinical workers attending the care home will continue to follow strict health disclosure rules, safety precautions and temperature checks.

This decision has been a really challenging one to make, and we appreciate the ongoing patience, support and understanding of our residents and their loved ones as we work through this together.

UPDATE Tuesday 30 June

We’re happy to be able to ease some of our visitor restrictions in our care homes across Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, NSW and ACT. Details are outlined below, but for more detailed questions, please check in directly with the care home.

In our Queensland, South Australia and Tasmanian care homes:

Residents can have two visitors for up to an hour each day. This is still limited to one visit per day, so both visitors will need to come together. Visits are open from 11.30am to 1.00pm, and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm daily.

• Children can visit residents at our care homes. The adult supervising will need to make sure children wear masks and maintain physical distancing at all times. As with any visitor, children entering our care homes will need to have proof of an up-to-date flu vaccination.
• Residents are allowed to go on social day trips with families. Friends and family taking their loved ones out for the day will need to fill in a visitor register before they leave the care home. Residents will need to wear masks during the outing and will be placed under close monitoring for 14 days on return to the home. They will need to maintain physical distancing where possible but won’t be required to isolate.
• Entertainers and Volunteers are welcomed back in our homes. We’re happy to welcome back entertainers, volunteers, mental health support companionship and other external service providers into our care homes.

The same health and safety precautions will be in place for all visitors – health declarations, temperature checks, hand washing on entry, checking flu vaccination status, and wearing a mask while in the home.

In our NSW care homes:

NSW visitor arrangements are the same as listed above for Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, however we have also received advice from the NSW Chief Health Officer that anyone who has visited Melbourne will be unable to enter our care homes for 14 days.

In our ACT care homes:

Residents in our ACT care homes are now allowed to go on social day trips with the same precautions as listed above for Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

We’re also pleased to welcome back entertainers and volunteers, however at this stage, children under the age of 16 are still not permitted into our ACT care homes.

In some regional Victorian care homes:

Our homes at Eastwood, Echuca, Mildura, Portland, Traralgon and Wodonga have not had any changes to visitor requirements since the announcement made on Wednesday 17 June. Full details can be found below under that date below.

Residents can have two visitors for up to an hour each day. This is still limited to one visit per day, so both visitors will need to come together. Visits are open from 11.30am to 1.00pm, and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm daily.

The Victorian government has advised of higher risk areas for COVID-19 transmission, including the Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Hume and Moreland areas. If you live or work in one of these areas, particularly the twelve postcodes as outlined by the Victorian government (note this list was updated on Saturday 4 July), we ask that you avoid visiting any of our care homes at this time, if possible.

In all other Victorian care homes, visitor arrangements remain as per the update below on Friday 26 June:

Note this list of care homes has been extended to include six additional care homes. This now includes Ballarat, Berwick, Bonbeach, Eastwood, Edithvale, Caulfield, Clayton, Croydon, Donvale, Templestowe, Windsor, Bendigo, Kyneton, Woodend, Coburg, Greensborough, South Morang, Thomastown, Sunshine, Bellarine Lakes and Barrabool.

Visiting hours in these Victorian homes have been reduced to 11:30am - 2:30pm daily, with visits limited to one visitor per day for 30 minutes. 

We know this has been a challenging time for everyone and we appreciate the ongoing support and patience from our residents’ loved ones.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and Government advice closely and provide any localised updates directly to our residents and their families.

UPDATE Friday 26 June

Due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the Victorian Government has called out high risk areas with significant local transmission rates.

The hotspots include the Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Hume, and Moreland local council areas.

We are asking anyone who lives or works in these areas to limit or stop visits to our care homes for the time being, if possible.

To help protect the health and safety of our residents and employees while there is an increase in cases in Victoria, from tomorrow, Saturday 27 June, Bupa care homes in the Melbourne metro area will have reduced visiting hours, and visits will be limited to one visitor per day, for 30 minutes.

Visits will be open from 11:30am to 2:30pm daily.

The care homes are located in Berwick, Bonbeach, Edithvale, Caulfield, Clayton, Croydon, Donvale, Templestowe, Windsor, Coburg, Greensborough, South Morang, Thomastown and Sunshine.

The same health and safety precautions are in place – a health declaration, temperature checks, hand washing on entry, confirming flu vaccination status, social distancing and wearing a mask while in the home.

While our regional Victorian care homes remain on the existing visitor restrictions as outlined below, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will be in contact with residents and relatives about any further changes that may be needed.

UPDATE Friday 19 June

We are currently reviewing the Queensland, Tasmanian and South Australian Governments' directions around aged care visitation restrictions and considering the impact these guidelines may have on our visitation policy at Bupa care homes.

We will be sure to update our residents and their loved ones about any changes to our current visitor policies soon.

It is important that our aged care visitor restrictions find the right balance between looking after our residents’ and employees’ physical health, while also taking into account the need for residents to see their loved ones.

UPDATE Wednesday 17 June

From today, Wednesday 17 June, residents in our Australian aged care homes will be able to see two visitors at a time for up to an hour each day.

To help manage the number of people coming into our care homes at any given time, visits will still be limited to one session per resident per day and will need to be booked in with the home ahead of time.

This means if two people plan on visiting a resident, they’ll need to come into the home together, not at separate times throughout the day.

The same health and safety precautions will remain in place to protect the health and safety of our residents and employees. This includes a health declaration, temperature checks, hand washing on entry, checking flu vaccination status and wearing a mask while in the home.

Thank you to all the friends and family members with loved ones in our care for their ongoing cooperation, patience and support.

UPDATE Thursday 21 May

We’re extending our visiting hours at all Bupa aged care homes to make it easier for visitors to see their loved ones at a time that suits them.

From Monday 25 May, visits will be open from 11:30am to 1:00pm, and from 2:30pm to 5:30pm daily.

The same health and safety precautions listed below will be in place. This will include completing a health declaration, temperature checks, hand washing on entry, checking flu vaccination status, and wearing a mask while in the home, and one visitor per resident per day.

We are committed to the principles in the new Industry Code for visiting residential aged care homes during COVID-19 and will continue to help our residents see their loved ones while minimising the risk of infection in our homes. 

Thanks to all those who have shown patience and cooperation throughout this challenging time.

UPDATE Friday 24 April

Suzanne Dvorak, Managing Director, Bupa Villages and Aged Care, Australia

From Friday 1 May, we will begin to allow limited visits to our Australian Bupa aged care homes, in line with the timing of the Government’s mandatory flu vaccination rules.

It’s been almost four weeks since we made the difficult decision to close our care homes to visitors, with some compassionate exceptions.

We originally introduced these restrictions based on medical advice that the COVID-19 outbreak may become significant across the community. While it continues to be a serious and challenging situation, we are thankful that the outbreak has been suppressed earlier than anticipated. However, we need to remain vigilant.

We are also encouraged that so far none of our Australian Bupa homes have had infections among residents. While it has been distressing to see some outbreaks in Australian aged care homes more broadly, we are thankful that these haven’t been larger.

Our elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to this deadly virus and their health must always be our number one priority.

While our teams have been facilitating video calls with families and ensuring our residents are getting out of their rooms and socialising with each other, we know that being able to see loved ones is important to their emotional wellbeing. We will continue to balance this consideration alongside the risks associated with exposure to COVID-19.

Friday 1 May is the same date that the Government’s mandatory flu vaccination rules come into effect, meaning only those who are vaccinated will be able to enter our care homes. This is an important step in trying to keep infections out of our home and protect our residents as much as possible.

While we are easing visitor restrictions, safety precautions remain critical in minimising the risk of infection. This means:

• Visits will be allowed from 11:30am – 2:30pm daily and we’re asking relatives to call ahead.
• All visitors must wear a mask and practice hand hygiene upon entry.
• All visitors will have their temperature checked on entry, and anyone with a high temperature will not be permitted to enter.
• Written evidence of flu vaccination will be required.
• One visitor will be allowed per day for each resident, for 30 minutes.
• No children (under 18 years) will be allowed.
• Social distancing must be maintained (1.5 metres) and visits must take place in resident rooms or outdoors to maintain this – not in communal areas.

Additionally, anyone with flu-like symptoms or anyone who has had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days will not be permitted to enter.

We are cautiously hopeful that we will continue to see a low rate of community transmission of COVID-19 so that we can maintain visits to our homes and further ease restrictions.

We understand some family and friends may choose not to visit in order to protect the health of their loved ones and that some might not be able to make it regularly during visiting hours. So maintaining virtual connections for all our residents will continue to be a focus for our care teams. We’ve introduced a number of new ways to keep in touch including through video calls, a dedicated aged care app, private Facebook groups and by sending in letters and drawings.

Importantly, our South Hobart home will remain closed to visitors in line with the Tasmanian Government restrictions of no visits to aged care homes in Tasmania.

I’d like to thank all those connected to our care homes for their understanding and patience during this difficult time as we continue to care for your loved ones.

UPDATE Friday 27 March 2020

As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to rise across Australia, we need to take new measures to prioritise the health and safety of our residents and employees.

We have now made the difficult decision to stop all visits to Bupa aged care homes starting tomorrow, Saturday 28 March.

This is due to the growing risk of COVID-19 infection from people entering our care homes, and recent Government advice to limit movement and interactions in the community.

While we know this is difficult for our residents and their loved ones, we have set up an initiative, Visits by Mail, to help keep residents connected with the community, and will continue to develop new ideas that support their wellbeing. We also encourage our residents’ families to video call their loved ones and have made arrangements at each home to facilitate this.

There will continue to be compassionate exceptions for visits to residents, such as for those who are receiving palliative care. Please contact the care home to discuss this.

We thank everyone for their continued support, patience and understanding during this time, particularly our aged care employees who are committed to caring for our residents and continue to come to work to fulfil this vitally important and essential work.

UPDATE Friday 20 March 2020

New Bupa Aged Care Australia COVID-19 Information Line

From tomorrow (Saturday 21 March), we’re opening up a special hotline for all relatives and friends of our aged care residents with questions about the steps Bupa is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our Australian aged care homes.

Phone number:

1800 780 038.

Opening hours:

• 9am-9pm Monday to Friday
• 10am-6pm Saturday and Sunday

Anyone who is looking for information about their own health, or their family’s health, should still contact the Australian Government Central Patient COVID-19 Triage Hotline on 1800 020 080.

Please continue to contact the relevant Bupa care home directly for any questions about a specific resident in that home.

Bupa's contact details for any non-COVID-19 related aged care enquiries, can be found at here.

UPDATE Wednesday 18 March 2020

Restricting visits to our care homes

Bupa is very mindful of the need to take every possible step to protect our aged care residents from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are introducing new rules to minimise visits to care homes to help protect the safety of our residents and employees.

Effective immediately, we are now introducing limits on all visits. This means:

• Visits will only take place from 2pm – 5pm each day (including weekends).
• Visitors will be required to wear gloves and mask (provided by our care home).
• All visits should be pre-booked by ringing ahead to the care home. See here for contact details for all our care homes. 
• Visitors will be greeted on entry by a staff member who will help with putting on the gloves and masks. They will also explain how to safely wear the protection equipment.
• A limit of one visitor per resident per day, for a maximum of 30 minutes. This is to ensure effective use of protective masks.
• Visits must take place within the resident’s room, not in communal areas.
• All visitors should limit interactions with other residents and maintain a safe social distance of 1.5 metres.
• Children and young people (under 18 years) will not be able to visit. The reason is that children may carry a range of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, while showing no or minimal symptoms.
• Introducing temperature checks for people entering our care homes, to ensure people with a fever do not enter.

These measures are in addition to the previous requirements for visiting our care homes.

We’re asking everyone to consider whether their visit is essential and postpone it if possible. Minimising the number of visitors is the best way to reduce the risk of infection.

There will be compassionate exceptions for visits to residents, such as for those who are receiving palliative care. Please contact the care home to discuss this.

We understand these restrictions will be difficult for some, and we will help to arrange phone or video calls for residents to keep in touch with their loved ones.

We’ve also put a call out to our residents’ family members, encouraging them to have their children or grandchildren record video messages for their relatives in our care homes, which can help our residents feel more connected while there is a limit on visitors.

We continue to work with the government health authorities to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent infections, and preparing for managing an outbreak if it should happen.

Protecting our residents and employees is our highest priority and we all have a role to play in this.

I want to thank all of our residents and their loved ones for their ongoing support and understanding during these difficult times.

You can read more about Bupa’s other business areas on COVID-19 preparation and links to the latest government information here.

UPDATE: Friday 13 March 2020 

As the residents we care for are often more vulnerable and susceptible to infections, we have strong existing outbreak prevention measures already in place at our homes, and our teams are experienced in managing infection control.

We are further strengthening these existing controls across all of our homes with new sign in processes, proper hygiene reminders and are ensuring all our employees participate in infection control refresher training.

We have also introduced precautionary measures such as making sure we have enough essential equipment available if needed.

Visitors to our care homes

All visitors to Bupa care homes must now complete a Health Declaration Form before they can enter our care homes. All visitors must use hand sanitiser upon entry to our homes.

We’ve changed the access codes to our homes and introduced a new sign-in procedure to ensure any visitors with risk-factors for COVID-19 or who have flu-like symptoms stay home until cleared.

In line with instructions from government health authorities, visitors and employees won’t be able to come into our care homes if they:

- Have had contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19

- Have travelled overseas in the last 14 days

- Are feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat

The health and safety of our residents and employees is our absolute priority. Our visitors also have a role to play in this, so we ask anyone planning on attending our homes to err on the side of caution when planning a visit.

Flu vaccinations

Another way to protect our residents is to ensure as many employees and visitors as possible have a flu vaccine before winter. While the flu vaccine won’t protect you from COVID-19, it is important for preventing flu outbreaks and protecting the overall health of our homes.

We will continue to keep our employees, contractors and visitors informed around any updates relating to COVID-19 and reminding them of preventative measures to minimise infection related risks.

If you have any questions or concerns about visiting your loved ones at one of our care homes please contact the home directly. Details can be found here.

Emily Amos, Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance said this partnership is a major win for South Australians.

“We know that two common barriers to booking in these important surgeries are out-of-pocket-costs and the prospect of traveling back and forth to a hospital or clinic for rehabilitation.

“Through our partnership with the JRC, we are able to address both of these concerns at a time when many South Australians are concerned about their finances or spending extended time in hospital as a result of COVID-19.

“This is all about helping members get more out of their health insurance rather than paying from their own pockets,” said Ms Amos.

Since 1999, around 1.5 million hip and knee joint replacement procedures have taken place in Australia[1] with this rate continuing to grow as a result of our country’s ageing population. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also suggests South Australians in the public system are waiting longer for surgeries than the national average^[2].

“We are proud to be looking after our South Australian members by providing them timely access to hip and knee joint replacement surgeries without the stress of being placed on lengthy surgery wait-lists,” said Ms Amos.

Chris Maher, JRC Director said the innovative JRC offering delivers a streamlined service that simplifies the patient-experience.

“By establishing a single point of care, and coordinating all relevant health providers, Bupa members are enabled to strengthen their relationship with their surgeon and be more actively involved in their own care.

“The new JRC clinical pathway enables Bupa members to receive quality accountable co-ordinated end-to-end care, and to choose where they receive their rehab services, whilst also minimising any financial burden by delivering a no gap experience,” Mr Maher said.

The program is available to South Australian customers who hold an appropriate level of Hospital cover (joint replacement procedures) and have served the 12-month waiting period. Members with excess products will still need to pay the excess.

Mrs Reid, a patient who was treated through the JRC program said having a single point of contact was really important.

“Being able to ring my care co-ordinator gave me a lot of reassurance. I met the doctors and support people beforehand, which was good because I had a few issues I was able to discuss at an early stage.

"I also saw the supported care facility before my surgery, which made me feel more comfortable and positive going into the operation as I had been apprehensive,” said Mrs Reid.

^{[1]https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/documents/10180/671402/Demographics+of+Hip%2C+Knee+and+Shoulder+Arthroplasty}

^{[2] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/myhospitals/intersection/access/eswt}

Media reference number: 20/094

Research suggests there are many common issues that can be heightened during disease outbreaks, including: panic, depression, anger, confusion and uncertainty, with up to a third of people experiencing high levels of worry and anxiety^[1]. Any mental health issue people might be experiencing can be amplified while struggles with addiction or family violence could get worse. Social isolation can also increase feelings of loneliness, grief and self-doubt.

Bupa’s Senior Mental Health & Wellbeing Advisor, Chanel Nesci says there has never been a more important time to connect with people and provide support to those who might be struggling.

5 helpful tips for asking R U OK?

1. Prepare yourself to ask the question. Make sure you’re in a good headspace, have time to listen and be prepared that the person you are speaking to may not be okay.
2. Have the conversation in a place that’s private and informal where you can listen without judgment. Give the person time to think and take what they say seriously.
3. In a situation where you find a person isn’t okay, the next best step is to encourage action. Asking questions like, “What would be a good first step we can take?” or “How can I help you with this?” can prompt someone to identify what they may be needing.
4. If someone is needing more urgent support or if they mention that they are thinking about taking their own life, link them to urgent medical support or call services such as Lifeline. Where life is in immediate danger, contact 000.
5. Remember to check in on the person regularly, to see if they have accessed any support or found ways to better manage their situation.
6. If you feel worried or concerned about people around you, make sure that you seek support for yourself, as this may have an impact on you too.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed social environments, particularly in Victoria where most people have been largely confined to their homes during stage 4 restrictions.

“If you can’t connect with someone in person, take the time to pick up the phone or set up a video chat to ask R U OK? It could be the most important conversation you have all year.

“It’s also vital that anyone who is struggling with their mental health consults a GP or qualified health professional who can provide support and treatment options. Don’t wait for the pandemic to pass, to access support for your mental health,” Chanel said.

What Bupa is doing to support the mental health of its customers

The Bupa Health Foundation recently donated more than $2 million in funding to projects supporting the mental health of young Australians. This has helped grow the My Circle digital platform, where young people can connect anonymously with their peers for online group counselling, and expand the Kids Helpline@School program to reach more primary schools across Australia.

Bupa has also provided male customers in Victoria free access to an online wellbeing hub, in partnership with Australian mental health solution provider Mindstar and digital innovator Go1, to assist them in the face of the growing mental health challenges triggered by the social and financial impacts of the state’s Stage 4 restrictions.

Psychology has been identified as the second most common telehealth claim for Bupa since it began funding services delivered over the telephone on March 25. As physical distancing restrictions eased across Australia in May, Bupa continues to fund both telehealth and face to face psychological services.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our aged care residents haven’t been able to see their loved ones as often as they would like. Finding new ways to maintain virtual connections has been important in looking after our residents’ mental wellbeing during this time. We’ve introduced a number of new ways to keep in touch including through video calls on new iPads in each home, a dedicated aged care app, private Facebook groups and by asking local communities to send in letters and drawings as part of our Visits By Mail initiative.

Media reference number: 20/095

^{[1] Blackdoginstitute.org.au. 2020. Mental Health Ramifications Of COVID-19: The Australian Context. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 July 2020]}

Bupa established this partnership recognising that 87 per cent of its customers would prefer to receive mental health care in the community or the comfort of their own home^[1]. Research suggests that a “balanced care” model that includes community-based mental health support services as a complement to hospital care, can help improve continuity of care, adherence to treatment and quality of life^[2].

Nirasha Parsotam, Bupa’s Head of Health System Strategy & Integration said it’s important that people experiencing a mental health condition can receive care and support in the setting of their choice.

“We believe this service meets the real demand for alternatives to the traditional psychiatrist led, hospital-based model of care with the ultimate goal of helping patients live happy and fulfilling lives in the community.

“We are extremely pleased to offer our Queensland customers access to this program which is already delivering promising results,” Ms Parsotam said.

Since the QLD pilot started in January this year, 52 members have enrolled in the program and 17 have been discharged back to the management of their GP.

Esther Dancewicz, Occupational Therapist at Mind Australia said from a clinical perspective the program focuses on promoting the right words, actions, and thoughts to be incorporated into people’s lives.

“It’s all about supporting patients and giving them the power to see their lives as worthy of having goals – daily goals, weekly goals, five-year goals, family goals, career goals, better life goals.

“These goals and ongoing community integration give them the assurance that their life is unique, valued, and worthy of being shared with the world,” Ms Dancewicz said.

The program is available to eligible^[3] Bupa customers residing in the South East QLD LGAs of City of Brisbane, Ipswich City, Logan City, Redland City and City of Gold Coast.

Visit here for further information about the Mind Care Choices program.

^{[1] https://www.bupa.com.au/health-programs/bupa-mind-care-choices-program}

^{[2] https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/74710/E82976.pdf}

^{[3] Customers who have a diagnosed mental illness and have experienced one or more overnight hospital admissions for mental health treatment.}

Media reference number: 20/087

Bupa froze premiums for all customers for six months, saving them around $134m.

Premium increases have been deferred for a further six months for all customers receiving Job Keeper and Job Seeker support.

Bupa is providing $50m in hardship support available to ALL customers who are suffering financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

36,000 Bupa customers have benefitted to date from premium waivers, premium discounts, policy suspensions and unemployment cover.

ALL Bupa customers (with hospital policies) are automatically covered for lung and chest conditions, including those arising from COVID-19 related claims.

Bupa was the first insurer to give customers more ways to access healthcare through telehealth (phone or Internet), including psychology, physiotherapy and speech therapy.

Bupa has significantly boosted mental health care support through online and community based mental health programs.

We have donated $1.375m to Kids Helpline toprovide young people with access to free, quality mental health support.

All Bupa customers had access to Australia’s leading home fitness and nutrition program, 28 by Sam Wood, for three months at no cost.

All Bupa customers have access to a dedicated COVID-19 assistance and advice helpline.

The Fiction:

Bupa has made excess profits from COVID-19:
Overall health insurance profits are down 42% for the first half of 2020.

Premiums are increasing to boost bottom lines:
Health insurance premiums are increasing less than the rate of claims paid for customers.

Bupa has failed customers during COVID-19:
Bupa has provided more than $184m of support to customers impacted by COVID-19 and financial hardship.

Claims have decreased significantly due to COVID-19:
Despite the disruption of the pandemic, overall benefits paid for claims in 2019/20 were only 2.4% less than the previous year. Most claims are now running ahead of the same period last year.

Medical inflation and device costs are not a factor in driving premium increases:

Latest reports show premiums would be $141 cheaper if private prostheses costs were the same as the public system.

The public health system would be better off without private healthcare or insurance:

Nearly half (42%) of all hospital admissions in Australia are funded by private health insurance and about 60% of all elective surgeries. [AIHW 2019] This reduces waiting times and lowers demand for public hospital beds.

The pandemic has shown there is little reason for people to stick with their health insurance:

73% of people with health insurance believe it is essential and want to hold onto it. It provides peace of mind and access to services not provided in the public system or funded by Medicare, for example mental health care.

As part of the treatment process, patients are paired with a personal clinician via telehealth who then designs a unique treatment plan with VR exercises to make the experience fun and engaging. Throughout the program, clinicians monitor patient progress through a real-time data-driven dashboard for the duration of their recovery journey.

Emily Amos, Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance said providing customers with tech-driven health services in the home has never been more important, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where accessing physiotherapy in the clinic can be difficult.

“We trialled this with selected customers earlier in the year and the results were overwhelmingly positive with customers reporting that they enjoyed the XRHealth program and found it extremely convenient.

“This has the potential to be a truly transformational offering and we are looking forward to seeing the results of the expanded trial,” said Ms Amos.

Following the trial, Bupa will be scaling-up by making the platform available to more customers from 1 September 2020 as part of the Members First Network, with a wider rollout planned for 2021.

Eran Orr, CEO of XRHealth said he is excited to be partnering with Australia’s largest health insurer to deliver this innovative model of care to Australia.

“XRHealth was developed based on my experiences using VR flight simulations as a Fighter Pilot.

“VR is a real gamechanger with regards to physiotherapy treatment and after years of research and development, our technology is used by a broad range of patients in the USA. Based on our research, we believe there is a similar level of demand in the Australian market,” said Mr Orr.

Bupa is currently seeking participants for the program and encourages customers to sign up for the solution via https://www.bupa.com.au/health-programs/xrhealth

 The trial is designed for customers seeking physiotherapy treatment^[1].

^[1] XRHealth will be offered as a part of Bupa’s Members First Network, with the hire of the VR headset being complimentary during the trial period.

Media reference number: 20/088

The partnership, which launched today, will give Bupa Health Insurance members^[2] access to exclusive bonus point offers when they link their Woolworths Everyday Rewards account to Bupa.

To help encourage healthier habits, Bupa customers can collect three points for every dollar spent on fresh fruit and vegetables and Macro Wholefoods Market products for the first 60 days after linking their account. This recognises customers’ investment in their health and will help them enjoy discounts on future shops sooner or bank more points for Christmas.

Emily Amos, Managing Director of Health Insurance at Bupa said the partnership comes at a time where health – and household budgets – have never been more important.

“By giving members the chance to collect more points, they can earn savings towards a future shop faster. This initiative will reward our members for healthy choices and give them added value from their health insurance policy,” Ms Amos said.

“Woolworths shares our passion for promoting healthy lifestyles and we hope as many members as possible take advantage of this offer by enjoying deliciously fresh and nutritious food options.”

In the months ahead eligible customers will also enjoy a Woolworths-first, with 20 times bonus points on cleaning products - the highest bonus points offer to date. Further partnership benefits later this year will include 10 times bonus points on a total shop plus special offers across the Woolworth Group.

Hannah Ross, Woolworths Director of Everyday Rewards said the partnership is an important evolution of the supermarket’s broader strategy to support its customers’ health and wellbeing.

“We know our customers want to make healthier eating choices, and we’ve been working hard to make it easier and more affordable to do so,” Ms Ross said.

“This focus on wellbeing has only accelerated in the pandemic, with our customers telling us their number one food priority over the next 12 months is eating more fresh fruit and veggies.^[3]

“We’re delighted to be teaming up with Bupa to support this positive intent with extra rewards on purchase that can help kickstart new habits.”

The three points per dollar spent promotion runs for 60 days after Bupa members link their account to Everyday Rewards via everydayrewards.com.au/Bupa, with no cap on the number of points a member can earn during that period.

For more information on the offer visit https://www.woolworthsrewards.com.au/partners/bupa/rewards.html?linkcard=y

^[1] IPSOS survey for Woolworths conducted in June 2020 among 2,000 Australians.

^[2] Only domestic Bupa health insurance policyholders excluding Ambulance only who reside in Australia are eligible for this offer.

^[3]  IPSOS survey for Woolworths conducted in June 2020 among 2,000 Australians.

Media reference number: 20/093

Friday is an opportunity for us all to play an active role in creating this inclusive and safe environment. Our Bupa Employee Pride Network will be celebrating the day and encourage everyone to wear a splash of purple to create awareness. This year's theme is 'We are the Change'. How will you be the change?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health problems have been revealed as at least twice as prevalent as in non-pandemic circumstances^[1], a statistic which is of significant concern amongst men who account for more than 75% of all Australian suicides^[2].

Bupa Australia & New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Hisham El-Ansary said these tools are aimed at building resilience and wellbeing amongst men in their homes.

“Now more than ever, supporting mental health is key priority for Bupa. There are well-documented concerns highlighting that men are less likely to access available mental health support^[3].

“There is no shame, and we need to cast aside the stigma associated with men seeking help. This is important everywhere, but particularly in Victoria right now, where we are providing free access to flexible, self-directed Men’s Wellbeing Hub over this challenging 6-week period.” Mr El-Ansary said.

The Men’s Wellbeing Hub includes learning resources on topics such as maintaining mental fitness, dealing with isolation, fatherhood, how to stress-less and social connection. These have been identified as essential elements of everyday life which have changed dramatically during COVID-19.

Mindstar CEO Aaron Williams said the mission is to give Victorian blokes a little extra hope and purpose in what many are finding a stressful and sometimes overwhelming time.

“With Victorian men living in lockdown, we are starting to see the negative impact that this is having on their wellbeing and mental health. Many blokes are feeling exhausted, frustrated and on-edge.

“For whatever reason, Aussie men often don’t access traditional mental health support services when they need it. The Men’s Wellbeing Hub is different. It is made by men, for men and gives blokes the practical tools in their toolbelt to deal with this crisis.

“The MAN CHAT interview series is about having raw, honest conversations with blokes like Samuel Johnson and Daisy Thomas about some of their hard times and talking about how Aussie men can improve their own wellbeing and resilience,” Mr Williams said.

Go1 has long championed the importance of mental health, both at workplaces and in the community. The organisation sees technology, especially the online delivery of programs, as central to education and lifelong learning.

Go1 co-founder and CEO Andrew Barnes said the initiative will play an important role in helping Victorian men through these unprecedented times of heightened stress and anxiety.

“We’d like to encourage men to make full use of this free initiative - help us help you make your mental health and wellbeing a priority.

“In our observation, men have often viewed depression and anxiety as a sign of weakness, but together with Bupa and Mindstar, we want to offer them a safe place where they can feel comfortable enough to reach out for support and make a difference to their wellbeing,” Dr Barnes said.

This announcement is the latest initiative Bupa has undertaken to support the mental health of Australians. Recently the Bupa Health Foundation provided more than $2 million in funding to Kids Helpline to boost projects that support the mental health of young Australians. This includes the My Circle digital platform and the Kids Helpline@School program.

Bupa is also the first Australian health insurer to offer eligible members a suite of clinically proven Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses with a guaranteed 100 per cent rebate upon course completion through their Extras cover.

For more information or to join the Men’s Wellbeing Hub visit here.

^[1] https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/mental-health-people-australia-first-month-covid-19-restrictions-national-survey

^[2] https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2019/June/Mens_health

^[3] https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1-facts_figures.pdf

Media reference number: 20/085

Tracy Adams, CEO of yourtown, the organisation that runs Kids Helpline, said the funding from the Bupa Health Foundation will allow Kids Helpline to extend the My Circle digital platform to support up to 10,000 young people over the next two years. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of young people connecting with others to improve their mental health.

“With My Circle, we have been able to provide a secure, modern social networking environment to young people to help them navigate challenges in their life. It’s a place where they can anonymously share their experiences, understand that they are not alone and learn how their peers have dealt with the same challenges. A qualified counsellor is available to provide extra support during all My Circles’ contacts,” Ms Adams said.

The My Circle platform was conceptualised and designed by The University of Sydney Cyberpsychology Research Group.

The additional funding will enable The University of Sydney to further evaluate the evidence-base of the My Circle platform and service and develop an innovative, cost-effective Digital Mental Health Practice Model that can be adopted by other organisations to support vulnerable groups.

Dr Andrew Campbell, Chair, Cyberpsychology Research Group, The University of Sydney, said the development of an evidence-based, mental health specific social network for young people was long overdue.

 “Young people with lived experiences of mental health concerns often prefer to seek help and management using tools they’re familiar with, like social networking platforms, but need to be assured that their privacy is being protected and they are receiving qualified counsellor advice. My Circles is the first custom designed and evidence-based social network platform to achieve this,” Dr Campbell said.

Hisham El-Ansary, Bupa ANZ CEO, said this support is an extension of Bupa’s ongoing commitment to improve the mental wellbeing of Australia’s young people.

“We know this is a critical time for mental health support to the Australian community as we deal with the aftermath of the tragic bushfires and continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr El-Ansary said.

“Over the past three months, contacts to Kids Helpline have increased by 29 per cent. This means young Australians are reaching out for help and we are committed to providing Kids Helpline with appropriate funding to give them the support they need.

“This latest funding is in addition to the more than $33 million the Bupa Health Foundation has invested in focused health research, including $5.4 million towards improving mental health outcomes, since 2005,” Mr El-Ansary added.

The Bupa Health Foundation will also contribute close to $800,000 to Macquarie University and Edith Cowan University for projects that target early intervention to improve the emotional wellbeing of children in schools. Read more here.

Media reference number: 20/082

As part of Bupa’s ongoing commitment to supporting youth mental health in Australia, the recent Bupa Health Foundation competitive funding round called for research focusing on early intervention to improve outcomes in the mental wellbeing of school aged children and adolescents.

Macquarie University and Edith Cowan University were chosen as this year’s recipients from more than 100 applications, with both projects aiming to improve support provided in schools.

This funding forms part of Bupa Health Foundation’s two-year $2m+ commitment to improving the mental wellbeing of young Australians (link here).

Annette Schmiede, Bupa Health Foundation Executive Leader, said the grants program is an important part of Bupa’s commitment to supporting the mental health of young people in Australia and building resilient communities.

 “In recent years we’ve streamlined the Bupa Health Foundation’s funding rounds to support projects which focus on priority areas and challenges of concern to the community and governments across Australia. Young people’s mental health is of great concern in the current environment of natural disasters and the global pandemic.

“We believe both these research projects will make significant contributions towards the evidence base for early interventions to help schools identify young people whose emotional well-being is at risk” Ms Schmiede said.

This announcement brings the Bupa Health Foundation investment to more than $35 million, supporting over 150 projects aimed at improving health outcomes for Australians.

Macquarie University Centre for Emotional Health – Developing a sustainable system to deliver early intervention for mental health through Australian schools.

The Foundation has committed approximately $700,000 to this research project that will develop an evidence -base to enable early intervention and care pathways for schools to help identify young people who are struggling with existing and emerging emotional disorders.

Working with students, parents, educators and policy-makers, Professor Ron Rapee will lead the project with the aim to develop and test the best possible method to identify youth at risk and test effective pathways to appropriate care. “Young people with mental health problems rarely reach out for the help that they need. With this support from the Bupa Foundation, we’ll be able to develop innovative methods to identify young people who are in distress and connect them with the most appropriate places to get help,” Professor Rapee said.

Edith Cowan University – School libraries promoting wellbeing in Australian primary and secondary schools: An exploratory study

Edith Cowan University’s research project will receive approximately $90,000 in funding to look at how to support schools to provide frontline support for children’s wellbeing and mental health through their libraries as wellbeing hubs.

Chief Investigator, Dr Margaret Merga, will lead the exploratory project with partners at the Australian School Library Association and Murdoch University.

“While we know that school libraries can play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of young people, this project is a great opportunity for us to identify how schools can do this most effectively. This is particularly important with many school libraries struggling for funding in recent times, and the many challenges to wellbeing that our young people are currently facing,” Dr Merga said.

Media reference number: 20/092

Born in Wales in 1915, Lisa moved to Australia as a nine-year-old.

She married her husband in the early 1940s and spend 25 years on a farm in NSW. While she found farm life boring and difficult, she dreamed of traveling. So that’s exactly what she did once she divorced her husband in the mid-1960s.

Lisa spent a lot of her time after this traveling to places such as South Africa, Germany and the UK.

Her son Geoff, said his mum may be small, but she knows how to get her own way.

“Years ago, Mum was returning from Perth to Adelaide on the Indian Pacific – a train that runs from Perth to Adelaide. I was running a little late to drop Mum off at the station. When we arrived, the guard was holding the carriage door open, and ushered Mum quickly onto the train just before it departed.

“She soon realised that in her rush, she’d boarded a second-class carriage without sleeping cabins. She called the guard and asked him to take her to the cabin that she’d paid for. Unfortunately, the carriages were separated by goods wagons and she wouldn’t be able to go to her cabin until they reached Kalgoorlie.

“She protested, stamped her feet, and eventually had the guard request that the train be stopped in the middle of the desert. Only my mum could stop the Indian Pacific for a non-scheduled stop in the middle of the desert,” Geoff said.

Lisa’s love story didn’t stop after her divorce. When she was in the UK, she met Tom. The relationship quickly grew from a friendship into the love of her life. Lisa and Tom were secretly married after running away to Gretna Green in Scotland. Lisa was 89 at the time.

Geoff said that he couldn’t have asked for a better mum than Lisa.

“I speak for both my brother and sister when I say that we are all very proud of her.”

From the whole team at Bupa, we wish Lisa a very happy 105^th birthday!

Bupa Health Insurance Managing Director, Emily Amos, said the decision to defer the increase for customers on the Government’s COVID-19 support packages was made to take the pressure off customers worrying about financial hardship.

“This year has been an incredibly challenging one as Australia deals with the effects of COVID-19. Everyone’s doing it tough and we simply want to help our customers as much as we can,” Ms Amos said.

“The last thing someone who has lost their job or had their wages cut during this time needs is a price rise. That’s why Bupa will defer the premium increase for six months for any customers eligible for JobKeeper or JobSeeker.

“For the 36,000 Bupa customers that have already received financial hardship relief, they won’t need to do anything to make this happen. We will automatically apply the delay to their policy. Other customers on JobKeeper or JobSeeker can contact us to apply for the deferral.

“Other customers not on these government support programs are also able to apply for other forms of financial hardship assistance, including a possible three months premium suspension.

“At this time, the health of our community is more important than ever, and Bupa wants our customers to have more ways to be able to get more out of their health insurance”. Ms Amos said.

Customers on JobSeeker or JobKeeper who have not previously received financial assistance from Bupa can apply for the premium deferral at bupa.com.au/COVID19assist

For customers not experiencing financial hardship, the deferred April premium increase will be applied on October 1. This will cover rising healthcare costs so Bupa can continue to offer the best possible products and services to all customers.

How else has Bupa helped?

To support our customers’ health and financial wellbeing through the COVID-19 pandemic, Bupa has already:

• Dedicated $50m to providing hardship relief for customers’ suffering financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic with relief mechanisms consisting of premium waivers, premium discounts, policy suspensions and unemployment cover depending on customers individual circumstances.
• Delayed the April 1 premium increases for six months, saving customers around $134m.
• Made sure ALL customers with hospital policies are covered for lung and chest conditions, including those arising from COVID-19 related claims, irrespective of the terms of that policy.
• Expanded cover to include claims for psychology, speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietetic services delivered through telehealth (phone or Internet)
• Provided additional mental health support services
• Donated $1.375m via the Bupa Health Foundation to grow two Kids Helpline programs that will provide young people with access to free, quality mental health support, when they need it most.
• Expanded cover to include rebates on many health aids and medical appliances purchased online to provide added flexibility at a time where many people are practising social distancing.
• Provided customers with access to Australia’s leading home fitness and nutrition program, 28 by Sam Wood, for three months at no cost.
• Given access to a dedicated COVID-19 assistance and advice helpline.