The Blue Mountains largest employment sector is health and wellbeing. This includes hospitals, GP clinics, medical specialists, pharmacies, dentists and others, but also includes massage therapy, gyms and other fitness businesses, and day spas.
While Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE) is continuing to advocate to ensure availability of the best possible health care in both the public and private sectors, there are other interesting developments associated with health and well-being taking place in our region.
Pnyx is a local technology start-up that has developed software specifically for the care industries. Working with local organisations such as Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre, Pnyx has developed Comm.care, a case management platform that helps to co-ordinate and track the delivery of disability support and aged care services. Founder Juan Pereyra has worked with a small team on the app’s development to ensure it’s tailored for care providers.
Lynda Davis, from Katoomba-based Spa Sublime, has made the most of recent opportunities that BMEE has provided to explore potential grants and incentives for research and development, and export development. Building on more than 15 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Ms Davis has recently developed Akorah - a range of natural body products. BMEE is assisting her in developing the export potential of Akorah to overseas markets.
These are both great examples of entrepreneurship, highlighting the opportunities that work well in the Blue Mountains. This is such a great place to live, and to make it even better for the next generation we need to encourage businesses to grow and create jobs, so that fewer residents need to leave the area every day for work.
In addition to exporting software and products there are opportunities to export expertise. With so many well qualified residents and consultants this is a great growth opportunity. Part of BMEE’s role is to attract investment to the region. We are keen to work with anyone wanting to establish aged-care facilities, medical clinics or others, especially in the health and wellness industry. We believe there is huge demand for these types of services although the difficulty often is finding appropriate sites.
Local disability providers have had to make changes to accommodate the NDIS. Groups such as Greystanes Disability Services and Dare Disability continue to adapt and provide care to members of the local community. BMEE is partnering with Dare Disability on their “Best Business” initiative to raise awareness and to support people with disabilities in the Blue Mountains and surrounding communities.
Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre is also operating in this sector. As a local community sector service provider it is growing its service provision base across community aged-care support services, disability services as an NDIS provider (with specific expertise in plan management for people requesting management of their NDIS plan funds), community mental health programs and programs and activities targeting families and young people. Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre has been joined by Lower Mountains and Mid-Mountains Neighbourhood Centres to form Belong Blue Mountains Incorporated and is now a significant local employer servicing more than 1100 clients across the LGA.
If you are involved in this industry and would like more information about connections for industry development contact us at www.bmee.org.au.
Bernie Fehon is CEO of Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise
