Bairnsdale Regional Health Service

24/08/2026

ED Demand Update - Monday 24 August: Our emergency department is currently experiencing high demand and long wait times. We thank our community for your patience and understanding while our staff care for everyone as quickly and safely as possible.
More information: https://brhs.com.au/health-services/emergency-department/

22/08/2026

Want variety, flexibility, and a genuinely supportive team?
The subacute Flanagan Ward is hiring!

We're looking for Registered Nurses to join our welcoming team, with multiple full-time and part-time opportunities available. Gain valuable experience across acute care, rehabilitation/GEM, palliative care and transit lounge services while working alongside a supportive team and making a real difference every day.

Ready for your next nursing opportunity? We'd love to hear from you.
👉Learn more via www.brhs.com.au/careers/current-vacancies

21/08/2026

A little Friday appreciation for some of our favourite four-legged friends 🐾💙

Our wonderful therapy dogs do such an important job at BRHS, bringing comfort, connection and plenty of smiles to patients, visitors and staff.

Here are a few lovely moments with our team, and a reminder of just how special these pups are.

20/08/2026

A medical appointment or hospital visit can be stressful enough without having to worry about how you will get there and home again.

That’s where volunteers like Shane can make such a difference.

Shane Reid is part of our BRHS volunteer driving team, helping patients get to and from the health service, attend appointments and, when needed, collect medicines.

It’s a simple service that can make a big difference. Having someone there to help with transport can help take one worry off a patient’s plate and make accessing care just that little bit easier.

Shane has been a fantastic addition to the team, and his reliability, willingness to help and commitment to keeping our vehicles clean and ready to go have certainly been noticed.

Thanks, Shane, for always going the extra mile! 🧡

Our volunteers are such an important part of the BRHS team and the best care we provide to our community every day.

Inspired to get involved? Join our fabulous team of BRHS volunteers and help make a difference in your community.

📞 5150 3346
📧 [email protected]

19/08/2026

Our teams were treated to a very special farewell recital today, with Jordan Chan swapping his fun scrubs for the keyboard at his farewell morning tea.

Jordan has packed an incredible amount into his time at BRHS. He has helped strengthen access to physiotherapy across East Gippsland through our virtual partnership with Omeo District Health, and over the past six months has spent one day each week at GEGAC, supporting more culturally safe and accessible care.

He’s also become known for his kindness, his willingness to go above and beyond for patients and families, and, of course, those fun scrubs.

But when asked what he’ll miss most, Jordan’s answer was simple: the people. “I love the team. We’re a small team, so we get to work closely with people across all disciplines. The people are amazing,” he said.

Today’s keyboard performance was a pretty perfect way to farewell someone who has brought so much skill, warmth and personality to BRHS.

Jordan finishes up this Friday before heading to Latrobe Regional Health Service for an exciting new opportunity.

We’ll miss the music, the fun scrubs and, most of all, Jordan. Thanks for everything!

17/08/2026

A great visit to Dargo Bush Nursing Centre for our Operational Director Care@Home Deb Eveleigh and our Aboriginal Health Unit Manager Lois Whelan today, sharing more about our regional Reconciliation Action Plan and continuing important conversations about cultural safety, local history and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Thanks to the Dargo Bush Nursing Centre Inc. team for the warm welcome!

Today we were delighted to welcome Deb, Operational Director Care@Home and Lois, Aboriginal Health Unit Manager from BRHS to our BNC😊
The reason for the visit was to learn more about the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that has been collaboratively developed by Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, Dargo BNC, Ensay Bush Nursing Centre, Gelantipy District Bush Nursing Centre Inc, Swifts Creek BNC and Buchan BNC.
The RAP aims to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in and visiting the Gippsland region.
We also learnt about the Bataluk Cultural Trail and the five clans of the Gunaikurnai. Both Lois and Deb said they are going to try and source information about Dargo and its history with the Aboriginal people - we would love to be able to present this at our "Spring Fling Christmas Lunch" coming up!
Learning about cultural safety in our health care system is really important as we try to close the gap to end disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

13/08/2026

Today, our incredible oncology patients had a special surprise for the people who support them through some of the toughest days of their lives.

In the lead-up to Cancer Nurses Day today, patients from our oncology unit were invited to write messages of thanks and encouragement on cardboard hearts for our cancer nursing team.

The result is a beautiful display filled with messages that say far more than we ever could:

“Thank you for your kindness.”
“What would we do without you?”
“You bring smiles and sparkles to our treatment days when some days are hard. Your support lightens the load just that little bit.”
“Without you, I probably wouldn’t be here. Thank you.”

Around 25 cancer nurses are part of the team supporting patients through treatment at BRHS, alongside our wonderful administration staff, volunteers, clinical and medical staff, cleaners, food services, facilities staff and many others.

Oncology Day Unit A/Nurse Unit Manager Jo Counihan said the specialised skills, strength, kindness and commitment of cancer nurses make a profound difference to patients every day.

That care is especially important here in East Gippsland, where being able to access treatment closer to home can mean less travel, more time with family and support networks, and care from a team who gets to know you along the way.

Today is a chance to celebrate the skill and expertise of our cancer nurses, but also the compassion, reassurance and connection they bring to people during an incredibly difficult time.

To our cancer nurses, and everyone who supports cancer care at BRHS, thank you for the difference you make every day.

12/08/2026

When Walter “Ted” Quick needed cancer treatment, the team at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service was there for him.

Now, Ted is giving back in a truly extraordinary way. 💙

The longtime East Gippsland local has donated $100,000 to BRHS cancer services as a heartfelt thank you to the people who cared for him, and as a gift that will help others across our region receive cancer care closer to home.

Ted spent many years living and working in Swifts Creek before moving to Paynesville. Following the sale of his Swifts Creek home, he chose to support the service that had played such an important part in his own cancer journey.

His generosity comes at a time when the need for strong local cancer care is significant. Avoidable cancer deaths in East Gippsland are higher than the Victorian rate — 33.8 per 100,000 people compared with 27.5 across Victoria.

And with Cancer Nurses Day tomorrow, Ted’s story is a beautiful reminder of the difference compassionate care can make, and of the lasting connections our cancer nurses build with the people and families they support.

Thank you, Ted, for giving back to the team that cared for you, and for helping make that same care possible for others.

You are a truly extraordinary person, Ted, and it is our privilege to care for you. 💙

To support care at BRHS, visit brhs.com.au/donatenow

Pictured L:R: BRHS CEO Peter Abraham, Oncology A/Nurse Unit Manager Jo Counihan, Ted, and Ted's sister Bonnie Laity.

10/08/2026

Tonight is Census night.

The 2026 Census takes place tonight, Tuesday 11 August.
The Census helps provide a snapshot of our community and informs future planning for services including health care, aged care, housing, transport and community support.

At BRHS, arrangements are in place to make sure patients staying on our wards and residents at Maddocks Gardens are counted.

Our wonderful BRHS volunteers will be helping patients and residents with Census arrangements where needed, alongside our teams.

If you are visiting our Emergency Department or working at BRHS tonight but will return home afterwards, you should generally be included on the Census form for your usual household.

If you are a patient or resident and have questions, please speak with a member of our team.

Thank you for helping make sure everyone in our community is counted.

Visit info.census.abs.gov.au for more.

10/08/2026

We're Hiring | Looking for an Occupational Therapy role that fits your life?

We're offering a flexible part-time Grade 2 Occupational Therapist position in our Acute Inpatient Team. With job share and reduced hours options available, you can continue growing your career while maintaining work-life balance.

You'll help patients maximise their independence, contribute to safe discharge planning, and play a key role in delivering high-quality patient-centred care. You'll also have opportunities to develop your leadership experience through supervision, mentoring and quality improvement initiatives.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now and discover how flexibility and professional growth can go hand in hand.

👉 Learn more via www.brhs.com.au/careers/current-vacancies