Recent research by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) shows that many of the major Australian health funds have not substantially increased their rebate for seeing some physiotherapists in more than a decade. The APA has said that this is “inequitable and unfairly pressures patients into the health insurer’s selection of physiotherapist, despite choice being a core tenet of the Australian private health system.” Preferred provider schemes limit your freedom to choose the physiotherapist that is best able to treat their specific injury or condition.

The APA advises that when looking for a health fund that is right for you, you should look for one that not only meets your needs and provides good rebates for the services that you need but one that offers flexibility and allows you to see the physiotherapist that you want to see should you require their services.

The preferred provider schemes offered by health funds make no distinction between the level of experience or qualifications of your treating practitioner. The rebate you receive per consultation is the same whether you were treated by a new graduate on their first day of work, or by someone like myself with an APA Sports Physio title, Masters degree and over 20 years of private practice experience. I am not part of any preferred provider scheme because I believe that, to achieve the best health outcomes, insurers should provide higher rebates for more experienced and qualified physiotherapists and they should allow you your choice of physiotherapist without you being financially disadvantaged.

For the fitness of you.
Linda Reilly

Do you fancy tasting crocodile, kangaroo, emu, buffalo or camel? This is but one of the many rare and unusual experiences a record crowd of over 2, 000 people had at the 31st Trundle Bush Tucker Day last Saturday. People came from all over Australia to sample bush tucker, compete in the bush tucker cooking competition, take part in bush games and displays, attend camp over cooking guru Ranger Nick’s demonstrations or enjoy the live music provided by Beccy Cole and others.

As usual a team of more than 20 volunteers from the Northparkes Mines provided a selection of tasty treats, cooked in the traditional way, to sample for free. The bush games included bushies and junior relays, sheep shearing, billy boiling, whip cracking and dog jumping. This year’s event was well attended after widespread flooding last year that prevented many from attending. Many people commented on how well organised it was and that they would definitely return next year.

More than 500 high school students were emotionally challenged with the realities of what happens in a serious car crash during the staging of a mock crash at the PCYC Parkes last week. “I am still shaken by it,” said Kian Schembri,
a Year 10 student from Parkes Christian School of the annual event staged for the ninth time this year.

The aim of the confronting mock crash is to bring home the message of drinking and driving. The demonstration by the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils is the corner stone of the NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.

Four youth actors, Krystle-Lee McMurray and Maddison Collits from Forbes and Jack McGrath and Faith Hanstock from Parkes, took the audience on a moving, tragic and at times upsetting ride from a care free birthday party to the horrors of a car crash and its long-term after effects. “It is a really good way to teach us a lesson,” said Wally Campbell from Forbes High School, one of seven high schools attending.

“It will remain with me as a reminder not to drink and drive, and to think before getting into a car with someone who’s been drinking.” For Ella Richards from Parkes Christian School it was “really good and very confronting” as she has friends who had been in a crash. “I will definitely not drink and drive.” Melanie Suitor, Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, said it was hard to gauge the effect of the annual event, but in the Central West 25% of accidents involved young people, while the state average was 32%.

Local young drivers were involved in 207 crashes across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas over four years from 2011, resulting in three fatalities and 228 injuries.

By Maggi Barnard

Not many 23-year-olds have a facility named after them, but last Saturday the privilege befell Parkes’ international hockey star Mariah Williams when the second synthetic hockey turf was named in her honour. “I could not think of anyone more worthy,” said Parkes Hockey Inc Executive Director, Aaron Huppatz.

NSW Minister for Racing Paul Toole congratulated the club and Parkes Shire Council on the fantastic facility and the number of tournaments it had already attracted that support the local economy. “Mariah is an incredibly talented young woman. She is a product of this region and every time she plays Parkes and the whole Central West follow her.”

For the Parkes Mayor the naming of the field signified a great day for the community and for hockey. “We are standing on the shoulders of giants here today with many life members also in attendance. Mariah is an inspiration to all junior players who might be dreaming of being an Olympian one day too.”

Mariah responded to all the accolades saying she was very honoured. “There is a lot of history here as I grew up only 100m away from the fields and spent so much time here.” She said although she had lived in many different places, she would always call Parkes home.

The synthetic turf was jointly funded by the NSW Government’s ClubGrants Program, Parkes Shire Council and Parkes Hockey Inc totalling over $1.5M. The international standard surfaces available in Parkes had attracted three major hockey tournaments so far this year, with another three big events booked for next year.

By Maggi Barnard