By Amanda Wright The 2025 Federal Budget was never just about dollars and cents—it was about the direction Australia takes in the years ahead. Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ latest budget, delivered on 25 March, makes clear where the Albanese government believes that the future lies: in cost-of-living relief, housing, and a transition to a more sustainable economy. But with an election now set for 3 May, it’s impossible to ignore the political stakes. Is this a responsible economic plan or a budget de
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When disastrous floods swept through the region in February, the town of Ingham found itself in a crisis unlike any it had seen in recent memory with devastating flood waters surpassing the levels they reached in the historic floods of 1967. Amidst the chaos of the floods the local medical practices Hinchinbrook Healthcare and Ingham Family Medical Practice banded together in times of uncertainty and provided a glimmer of light to Ingham residents, demonstrating remarkable resilience and resour
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Victoria grew up in Brisbane and went on to pursue a Cert III in Business Administration while also qualifying as a swimming teacher through AustSwim. Their career path led them to roles as a receptionist and swimming instructor, where they worked hard to fund their Diploma of Arts. Later serving as an editor for a medical journal at Queensland University of Technology, Victoria further sharpened their writing and editorial skills. Victoria's family live in Macknade and moving to the reg
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A striking symbol of resilience and awareness now stands along the highway in Ingham—its vivid blue branches reaching out as a reminder that no one has to struggle in silence. The Blue Tree Project, a national initiative aimed at breaking the stigma around mental health, found a home in the town in July 2023, thanks to a collaborative community effort. Councillor Donna Marbelli first saw a Blue Tree while driving between Townsville and Ingham and knew the town needed one of its own. The search
Read the full storyDuring the recent floods, Optimise Health and Wellness played a critical role in ensuring vulnerable community members received the care they needed. Despite widespread disruptions, the organisation remained operational, implementing emergency management strategies and strategically positioning staff across affected areas to provide continuous healthcare services.
Director and Mental Health Occupational Therapist Kara Christopher highlighted their efforts in supporting isolated individuals.
“One of our participants with Parkinson’s was alone and cut off from services, but our team maintained regular phone check-ins and worked with local stakeholders to ensure he was safe and supported. Knowing someone was checking in on him made all the difference,” she said.
Beyond direct client care, Kara was also involved in the Community Recovery Centre, to be able to offer mental health services to more people, not just clients of Optimise Health and Wellness.
Kara provided mental health support to residents processing the emotional toll of the disaster. She noted that people experienced lots of loss and a sense of being trapped.
“Having the opportunity to sit and normalise and discuss, that helps. And it's been kind of humbling to be able to sit and be part of that process and work through with people and to work within the broader team."
Despite the trauma of the event, Kara also said that Ingham residents are resilient and there are always people that believe someone is worse off than them. As a local Kara says she had heard about how caring the Ingham community is, but to witness it first-hand during the floods was incredibly uplifting.
In addition to crisis response, Optimise Health and Wellness provides a range of essential healthcare services year-round. They have been operational since 2018 and offer allied health support, including occupational therapy, psychology, exercise physiology, and therapy assistance. Their team works closely with NDIS and aged care, they mostly work with vulnerable people in the community.
With a strong focus on accessibility and person-centred care, Optimise Health and Wellness continues to be a pillar of support for the community, ensuring that healthcare services are available when and where they are needed.
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