AUS-SSC
Australian Healthcare workers looking to assist with care in Cambodia:
Source, Support,Connect
AUS-SSC: Source, Support, Connect Cambodia
Thank you for your interest in AUS-SSC.
A team of doctors, nurses, and lay people, headed by Justin Gaffney RN, have been running general medical clinics for the local population in Battambang, a province in the country of Cambodia, since 2013.
We are a non-denominational group of health professionals becoming a registered Not-for-Profit Incorporated Association in 2018.
Our clinics historically have run for out of Battambang with our base center being the Pet Yei Chi (PYC) Shelter for the Sick. We provide clinics out PYC as well as sending mobile crews out to the surrounding villages in the district.
We are also working with local Health Teams. In particular we have sustained a relationship with Roka Hospital since our first 2013 trip and have moved more to a training platform to help improve the skills and knowledge of this dynamic rural Hospital.
We also began a relationship with the charity Heart Print in Siem Reap to offer health clincs for those children covered by their care. September saw us extend this to include the parents and family of these 90 children.
Our clinics are busy and see more than 900 plus patients in a week across six days, ranging from babies to geriatrics.
Cambodians have many chronic health issues as there is little in the way of public health.
Many of the locals have poor access to health facilities either due to poverty, distance, or lack of facilities.
HIV has been prevalent since the late 1980’s. There are also many patients with Type II diabetes, hypertension, Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), intestinal worms, malnutrition, scabies, burns, fractures, mental health and hypothyroidism and breast cancer amongst many other conditions.
Health care is very basic, and access is difficult and expensive.
Access to medical help is limited by distance and cost as well as a need to work to support the family.
Medications are available and, though cheap by Western standards, what often happens is that Cambodians’ present to a pharmacy and take whatever they are given. Patients are often not aware of what they are on or why they are taking it.
As well as delivering clinical care to patients we aim to increase the knowledge and skills of the local health care staff and empower them toward providing a self-sufficient, high quality health care service. We do this with face-to-face education, working alongside and mentoring the local health care team, as well as being available with ongoing queries. We are investing in developing Khmer language resources for patient education to improve the understanding of common diseases and treatments. 2024 saw us create these Khmer language resources for Breast Self Examintation (BSE) and for Urinary Incontinence. We hope to work with local Health Care workers to expand this and share these resources with those Health Professionals who we work with.
Our aim is to return bi-annually and cement relationships with local health providers through offering support to the local infrastructure that already exists through the continuing work of the those local health clinics such as PYC, Roka Hospital and Heart Print.
Pet Yei Chi co-ordinates many volunteers from around the globe including surgeons and dentists however they do not get a lot of general medical expertise, and this is where we assist.
Our aim is to:
Source local Health Care Teams,
Support their work through direct and indirect actions of mentoring and education and connect them with the means and equipment so that they
Sustain the health care needs of their community.[1][2][3][4]
We operate in conjunction with the the small health care clinics such as ‘Pet Yei Chi’ Shelter for the Sick and the Arrupe Welcome Center for People with Disabilities, in Battambang district, Cambodia. 
We look to create sustainable long term relationships with local health proefessionals to make sustainable health a reality.
We work with local nurses, health carers and health promotion staff who look to support the poor, disabled, and disenfranchised in the surrounding villages. The Jesuits Arrupe Centre run a multitude of different operations out of this compound including education, SAM Program and Laplaoma disability services, physiotherapy and dental health.
Justin Gaffney, RN is the President for AUS-SSC. His first trip was 2013 and he has been working along side the staff of Pet Yei Chi since. His passion is to offer health care to those most in need while developing the skills and knowledge of the local health care staff.
Emmaly Sok; Secretary. Emmaly has peviosly volunteered and lived in Cambodia and has married a local Khmer, She is passionate about Cambodia and aissisting the Khmer people. Her skill set is as a Health AO and her insight into Camabodia has been valuable.
Michael Gaffney, Treasurer. Michael has voluunteered in Cambodia with AUS-SSC. He is very generose with his time and as an accoutant ensures that we meet our obligations for registration as an Incorporated Association.
AUS SSC Back Story
It all began with a trip with a mate in 2013 to Battambang, Cambodia.
We were looking at how we might help the small health clinic, Pet Yei Che, that is part of the Catholic church in the Battambang compound.
I met Bishop Kiki JRS, Father Manoj JRS and the staff of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang and Pet Yei Che Shelter for the Sick.
The Bishop is an enigmatic Jesuit priest from Spain named ‘Kike’ Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez. Kike is part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) working in Cambodia.
The Jesuit Refugee Service has looked at the repatriation of Cambodians after the end of the Cambodian civil war and fall of the Khmer Rhouge. The catholic compound, under the direction of Kike, works to offer assistance to the most needy in the Battambang province and throughout Cambodia.
Father Manoj coordinates the activities of Pet Yei Che (as well as many other activities) and has provided the infrastructure for our continued activities. Without this clinics would be unsustainable.
Many health groups from around the world come into Cambodia to work out of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang.
Our action is to coordinate Australian Health Care Volunteers to provide general medical clinics for the Battambang provincial area.
Cambodians that are affected by poor access to health care. There is little access to health care.
Most Cambodians struggle to afford care.
Many Cambodians have poor access due to distance to Health Care.
Many rural Cambodians can not afford to leave their crops/work to attend a Health Clinic in a distant major town or city.
Programs through the Apostolic Prefecture, the Jesuits and Caritas Cambodia.
The diocese analyzes the problems of the Cambodian population from a global point of view and a macro perspective but responds individually, in a micro perspective. This response to the needs of each person requires a high level of flexibility.
The diocese has the following lines of action:
Pastoral accompaniment as a way of proceeding.
Education.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! We can offer direct mentor-ships as well as support for Health education. Over the years we have looked to support student Nurses through their studies.
Agriculture and rural development.
Support to people with disabilities.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! We can look to compliment the activities that JRS and Caritas Cambodia perform - through Support and Connections with existing programs.
Health.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! Direct Health Clinics is where our main focus remains. In delivery of clinics to villages of the Battambang Prefecture we can look to support basic health care and health promotion.
AUS SSC Back Story
It all began with a trip with a mate in 2013 to Battambang, Cambodia.
We were looking at how we might help the small health clinic, Pet Yei Che, that is part of the Catholic church in the Battambang compound.
I met Bishop Kiki JRS, Father Manoj JRS and the staff of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang and Pet Yei Che Shelter for the Sick.
The Bishop is an enigmatic Jesuit priest from Spain named ‘Kike’ Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez. Kike is part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) working in Cambodia.
The Jesuit Refugee Service has looked at the repatriation of Cambodians after the end of the Cambodian civil war and fall of the Khmer Rhouge. The catholic compound, under the direction of Kike, works to offer assistance to the most needy in the Battambang province and throughout Cambodia.
Father Manoj coordinates the activities of Pet Yei Che (as well as many other activities) and has provided the infrastructure for our continued activities. Without this clinics would be unsustainable.
Many health groups from around the world come into Cambodia to work out of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang.
Our action is to coordinate Australian Health Care Volunteers to provide general medical clinics for the Battambang provincial area.
Cambodians that are affected by poor access to health care. There is little access to health care.
Most Cambodians struggle to afford care.
Many Cambodians have poor access due to distance to Health Care.
Many rural Cambodians can not afford to leave their crops/work to attend a Health Clinic in a distant major town or city.
Programs through the Apostolic Prefecture, the Jesuits and Caritas Cambodia.
The diocese analyzes the problems of the Cambodian population from a global point of view and a macro perspective but responds individually, in a micro perspective. This response to the needs of each person requires a high level of flexibility.
The diocese has the following lines of action:
Pastoral accompaniment as a way of proceeding.
Education.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! We can offer direct mentor-ships as well as support for Health education. Over the years we have looked to support student Nurses through their studies.
Agriculture and rural development.
Support to people with disabilities.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! We can look to compliment the activities that JRS and Caritas Cambodia perform - through Support and Connections with existing programs.
Health.This is where AUS-SSC can assist! Direct Health Clinics is where our main focus remains. In delivery of clinics to villages of the Battambang Prefecture we can look to support basic health care and health promotion.
Diocese of Battambang
Promotion of Cambodian culture.
The compound of Battambang parish in Battambang City hosts the central office of the Diocese of Battambang. The parish compound is known by the people of Battambang as "Pet Yiey Chee", which means "hospital of grandmother nuns". Pet yiey chee can be understood by its four lines of action
1. Health:
The Welcome Centre for shelter the Sick in Battambang has six main apostolates. One of them, the Hearing Aid Program, is run in partnership with Jesuit Service Cambodia.
Welcome Centre for the sick: health care for Walk-in Patients Apostolate
Hearing Aid Program
Battambang Provincial Jail Apostolate
Village Medical Service Apostolate
HIV-AIDS Patients Apostolate
Hospital Assistance Program
Support to children
2. Support to children with disabilities:
Support to children with disabilities Cambodia is one of the countries with highest number of physically disabled people due to landmines and difficulties of accessing basic health services. The Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang seeks solution to the difficulties for disabled people accessing education, health care and job opportunities.
Outreach team: assistance for rehabilitation of people with disabilities in north-western Cambodia.
Arrupe centre: Welcoming home for young children with disabilities, journeying with them through their studies or teaching them manual skills. The centre also provides a temporary welcome to people with disabilities who are brought to Battambang for specialist care.
Out patients: The prefecture cooperates with “Takamau centre for child mental health”, helping children that suffer from mental health diseases and their families.
Diocese of Battambang
3. Education
Cambodia has one of the youngest populations in the world; therefore, education is considered essential to future development. In Petyieychee there are different projects such us:
Kindergarten: Funded in 2001. This initiates education for boys and girls who are stimulated to learn and play in a supportive environment.
Tep Im center: A Student Hostel for girls and boys coming from very poor families and isolated villages. They study from tenth grade through university.
Scholarships: Available to children and young people living around the parish. The scholarships help with school supplies and fees in elementary, high school and university.
Anatha project: Founded in 2005. This program provides scholarships to children that do not study or might be in risk of abandoning school in order to help their families.
4. The church
The Apostolic prefecture office is in the compound of Petyieychee. From here we lead and encourage the prefecture’s 26 communities. These communities work to heal wounds of war and to develop their areas, with
special attention to those most in need.
The parish of Battambang, besides the religious services, has organizations for young people, social help for the elderly, music groups (traditional and contemporary) soccer clubs and various other activities to create community integration.
In Apostolic Prefecture we also have the Mgr. Oscar Romero Pastoral Centre, which offers catechism classes, promotes culture and arts and has a department of communication and mass media. The centre nurtures social awareness that promotes accompaniment and support of the community at large.
