BHP is supporting women’s health through a new telehealth service and mental health by renewing an ongoing partnership for the 2024–25 financial year.
Women’s health
A new partnership between Hedland Well Women’s Centre (HWWC) and Luma will provide the Hedland community in Western Australia access to general practitioners (GP) specialising in women’s health.
The telehealth service was initially commenced as a six-month pilot and will now offer up to sixteen appointments per month to women in the Hedland area.
“It will increase the capacity and offering of GP services in Port and South Hedland, specifically focusing on services which are in high demand for women,” HWWC chief executive officer Kianna Barker said.
Appointments will cover a range of services including contraceptive counselling and prescription, sexually transmitted infection screening, hormone related consultations, and management of conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Confidential appointments will be scheduled fortnightly and involve video-enabled telehealth between the HWWC nurse, the client and a Luma GP.
“This is an important advancement in providing accessible high-quality specialised healthcare to women in the Hedland community,” Barker said.
The service will be located in Luma’s Perth-based offices and thanks to support from BHP, the facility has bought and installed upgraded IT (information technology) systems such as advanced cyber security programming, internet satellite upgrades and telehealth equipment.
BHP manager WA community Rachel Donkin said the Big Australian is committed to improving the availability of health and community services in Port Hedland.
“This program will increase access to holistic health care and offer women support for reproductive health concerns and during pregnancy,” Donkin said.
Mental health
BHP has donated another $200,000 to Lifeline WA, a mental health service that provides 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
The funding from the major miner will enable Lifeline WA to recruit, train and deploy 50 crisis supporters to offer crucial support for individuals who need it.
During the 2022–23 financial year, Lifeline WA had almost 98,000 conversations with individuals seeking crisis support services.
The funding is said to help the new crisis supporters meet growing demand. Lifeline WA is expected to receive to more than 130,000 calls for help in the next 12 months.
“The training that goes into giving a person the skills to help someone survive their darkest hour is long and complex, involving many months of intense professional supervision,” Lifeline WA chief executive officer Lorna MacGregor said.
“BHP’s donation is integral to helping us achieve that goal so that more calls are answered.”
BHP previously donated $200,000 to Lifeline WA in October 2023 and $300,000 in April 2020.
“The work Lifeline does is so important and aligns with our commitment to keep our people and communities safe and well – both physically and psychologically,” BHP head of human resources WA Iron Ore Regina Stene said.
“We are very proud to work with Lifeline WA and help grow its life saving service to the WA community.”
To speak to one of Lifeline’s crisis supporters, call 13 11 14.
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