K-Life celebrates Jumpers and Jazz in July

Cancer touches the lives of many individuals and families. While not every cancer can be prevented, research suggests that at least one in three cancer cases may be preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and participation in recommended screening programs. Cancer prevention is not about being perfect or making dramatic changes overnight. It is about taking practical, sustainable steps to protect your health. Know the risk factors you can change One of the most important ways to reduce your cancer risk is to avoid smoking. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer and is linked to cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, bowel, bladder and several other parts of the body. If you smoke, it is never too late to quit. Your healthcare provider can discuss medications, nicotine replacement and other supports that may make quitting easier. Alcohol also increases the risk of several cancers, including breast, bowel, liver, mouth and throat cancers. Even reducing the amount you drink can benefit your health. Consider including alcohol-free days in your week, choosing smaller servings or replacing an alcoholic drink with water or a non-alcoholic option. Regular physical activity, nutritious food and maintaining a healthy weight can also help reduce cancer risk. You do not need to join a gym or follow a complicated diet. Walking, gardening, housework and other activities that get you moving all count. Aim to eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and legumes, while limiting processed meats and highly processed foods. In Queensland, protecting your skin is also essential - our colder Killarney days still bring plenty of sunshine. Check the UV level each day and remember to slip on protective clothing, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses whenever sun protection is required. Make screening part of your routine Cancer screening aims to detect cancer—or changes that could lead to cancer—before symptoms develop. Finding cancer early can make treatment more effective. Australia’s national screening programs include: Bowel screening: People aged 45 to 74 are eligible for a free home bowel screening test every two years. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit, while those aged 50 to 74 are generally sent one automatically. When bowel cancer is found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. Breast screening: Women over 40 can access a free mammogram every two years, with women aged 50 to 74 actively invited to participate through BreastScreen Australia. Cervical screening: Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every five years. A self-collection option is also available for many participants. Lung screening: Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program is available for eligible people at high risk of lung cancer. It uses a low-dose CT scan to look for early lung cancer in people who do not have symptoms. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have a history of smoking and think you may be eligible. Screening is intended for people without symptoms. If you notice a new lump, unexplained bleeding, a persistent cough, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, a changing mole or any other unusual or persistent change in your body, do not wait for your next screening test. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Start with one small step Cancer prevention does not need to feel overwhelming. Start with one achievable action: complete the screening kit sitting at home, book an overdue health check, take a daily walk, reduce your alcohol intake, arrange a skin check or ask for support to stop smoking. Your personal risk can be affected by your age, family history, previous health conditions and lifestyle. Regular health checks provide an opportunity to discuss which screening tests and preventive health measures may be appropriate for you. Small decisions made today can have a meaningful impact on your future health. If you have been putting off a health check or screening test, now is a good time to make it a priority.  Our local GPs at K-Life are all well equipped to help you assess your risk and how you can best reduce your own cancer risk. To make an appointment at K-Life Medical Centre, please call 07 4664 1488 .

K-Life is delighted to welcome Bec as the new Manager of the Killarney Community Pool. Bec brings almost 21 years of experience in teaching, coaching and managing learn-to-swim programs and swimming squads. Having lived in Logan for most of her life, she is now looking forward to becoming part of the Killarney community and bringing her extensive aquatic experience to our local pool. With the pool preparing to reopen in September, Bec has plenty of ideas for programs that will encourage people of all ages and abilities to get involved. Her plans include learn-to-swim programs, swimming squads and Baby Aqua Play, subject to suitable water temperatures. Bec is also close to completing an aquarobics qualification and hopes to offer opportunities for adults and older community members to enjoy the health and social benefits of exercising in the water. Water safety will be another important focus. Bec would like to introduce a Junior Lifeguard program, helping children develop valuable skills, confidence and an understanding of how to stay safe around water. Bec is also interested in introducing Pool Life Saving Sport as an alternative to traditional swimming carnivals. These activities give children the opportunity to develop and demonstrate a wider range of skills beyond swimming speed alone. This can help more young people feel successful in the pool while learning practical lifesaving skills. Away from the pool, Bec describes herself as “a collector of hobbies.” She enjoys dancing and a wide variety of crafts and is a passionate Queensland Firebirds supporter. Although knee injuries brought her own netball-playing days to an end, her enthusiasm for sport and active living remains strong. Bec’s depth of experience, creativity and focus on inclusion will be a wonderful addition to the Killarney Community Pool. We are excited to see the pool reopen and to welcome local families, swimmers and community members back for another season.  Please join us in warmly welcoming Bec to K-Life and the Killarney community. Keep an eye on the Killarney Community Pool Facebook page for reopening information, program announcements and enrolment details.

K-Life marked Aged Care Employee Day with a colourful week of celebration, recognition and gratitude—culminating in the announcement that its Lifestyle and Wellness Team had been named a national winner in the 2026 Ageing Australia You are ACE! Awards. The team won the Team – Consumer Focus and Care category, receiving national recognition for its commitment to resident wellbeing, teamwork, collaboration and the delivery of innovative and meaningful experiences for older people. The award was announced on Aged Care Employee Day, held nationally on 7 August to recognise the dedication, compassion and professionalism of people working across aged care. For K-Life, the award provided the perfect conclusion to its Crazy Scrubs—or Outfit— with Personality Week, organised by K-Life’s People and Culture Team. Each day featured a different theme, including Bright and Colourful, Animals, Flowers and Nature, Celebration Day and K-Life Spirit Day. Clinical staff embraced the themes through colourful scrubs, while non-clinical staff joined in with themed clothing, hats, socks and accessories. Residents were invited to vote for their favourite outfits, making the week an enjoyable shared experience for residents and staff. K-Life People and Culture Manager Leanne Fogarty said the week was designed to recognise the personality, compassion and dedication employees bring to their roles. “Our employees bring so much more than their professional skills to K-Life. They bring patience, kindness, humour, creativity and genuine compassion,” Ms Fogarty said. “It was wonderful to see our staff embrace the activities and bring so much colour and happiness to K-Life. Most importantly, the week created many special moments and shared smiles between our employees and residents.” The celebrations also included K-Life’s Thanks for Caring initiative, which encouraged residents, families and colleagues to recognise staff members for the thoughtful and compassionate things they do. Recognition slips were available throughout K-Life, providing an opportunity to acknowledge exceptional acts of care as well as the quiet, everyday moments that help residents feel safe, valued and supported. “Some of the most meaningful acts of care are the little things that can easily go unnoticed,” Ms Fogarty said. “It might be taking extra time to listen, offering reassurance, finding a way to make someone smile or simply being present during a difficult moment. Thanks for Caring gave us an opportunity to recognise those actions and remind our employees that what they do truly matters.” A celebration lunch was held on Aged Care Employee Day, bringing staff together to reflect on the week and recognise their contribution to K-Life and the wider Killarney community. The excitement grew when Ageing Australia announced that K-Life’s Lifestyle and Wellness Team had won the national You are ACE! Award. “Our Lifestyle and Wellness Team works incredibly hard to create meaningful opportunities that support connection, purpose, enjoyment and wellbeing for our residents,” General Manager Andrew Millard said. “To receive this national recognition is an extraordinary achievement for a team from our small rural community. We are incredibly proud of them.” K-Life also extended its appreciation to the People and Culture Team for the work undertaken behind the scenes to coordinate the week’s activities and staff celebration. “Our People and Culture Team put an enormous amount of thought and effort into creating a week that was inclusive, meaningful and fun,” a Mr Millard said. “We sincerely thank them for organising such a wonderful event and for ensuring our employees felt recognised, appreciated and celebrated.” K-Life extends its heartfelt thanks to every staff member for the care, compassion and commitment they bring to their work each day.  The colourful scrubs and outfits may change from day to day, but the kindness, dedication and personality behind them continue to brighten the lives of those we provide care for at K-Life every day.

K-Life’s 2026 Jumpers and Jazz in July tree jumper entry was much more than a colourful festival display. It was the result of residents, volunteers and staff bringing their individual skills, ideas and enthusiasm together to achieve a shared outcome. Our entry, “The Sweetest Jam is Community - Where every ingredient belongs K-Life” celebrated connection, belonging, creativity and community. From the earliest ideas through to the final installation, everyone had an opportunity to contribute in a way that was meaningful to them. Our K-Life crafters took on the role of Creative Directors, helping to guide the design and oversee the creation of the decorations. Residents contributed their time, creativity and knowledge, while volunteers and staff helped transform these ideas into a finished tree jumper. Some people crafted, some helped organise materials, some assisted with installation, and others provided encouragement and practical support. The project also brought together creativity and music. An original K-Life song was written to complement the “The Sweetest Jam is Community - Where every ingredient belongs K-Life” theme, and our residents’ choir performed it for the Jumpers and Jazz judges in front of the completed tree. This gave residents another way to participate and proudly represent K-Life within the wider community.

Community collaboration, live music and meaningful connections create a memorable day for K-Life residents and the wider Killarney community.

Connecting people, strengthening partnerships and supporting a more resilient community.  On Saturday 30 May 2026, the Killarney Recreation Club came alive with community spirit as more than 400 people attended the inaugural Killarney and District Community Connections Expo . Proudly coordinated by K-Life and the Killarney Co-op and supported through the Southern Downs Regional Council Community Recovery and Resilience Program, the Expo brought together more than 40 community organisations, service providers, businesses, sporting groups, emergency services and volunteer organisations, all with a shared goal of strengthening connections across our region. The event provided local residents with the opportunity to discover the many services, activities and supports available throughout Killarney and the surrounding district. From healthcare and aged care services to volunteer groups, education providers, sporting clubs and community organisations, the Expo showcased the incredible range of support networks available within our community. One of the key aims of the Expo was to improve awareness of local services and create opportunities for people to connect with organisations that can support their health, wellbeing and community involvement. The event also highlighted the important role volunteers play in keeping our community vibrant and connected. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed meeting local service providers, collecting information, entering lucky door prizes, participating in community surveys and learning more about opportunities available within the district. The K-Life Men's Shed sausage sizzle and refreshments helped create a welcoming atmosphere where conversations and connections could flourish. The Expo was also an important opportunity for organisations to network with one another, strengthening referral pathways and fostering new partnerships that will benefit the community long after the event has concluded. Community survey data collected during the event will assist K-Life and local stakeholders to better understand community needs, identify service gaps and support future planning initiatives aimed at improving health and wellbeing outcomes across the region. K-Life would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the Expo, including exhibitors, volunteers, sponsors, community groups, local businesses and attendees. Special thanks go to the Killarney Co-op, our volunteers, and the many organisations that gave their time and expertise to support the day. The overwhelming response from the community demonstrates the value of bringing people together, sharing information and strengthening local connections. At K-Life, we believe that strong communities are built through collaboration, and the success of the Killarney and District Community Connections Expo is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when communities come together. We look forward to continuing these conversations and building on the partnerships and connections formed through this event.

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