Barwon Health

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Barwon Health

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Victoria's largest regional service, providing state-of-the-art treatment and care.

Barwon Health is established under the Health Services Act 1988 as a Schedule 5 public health service. Formed in 1998, Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia,
providing care at all stages of life and circumstance. With more than 8,758 staff, we are one of Australia’s
largest regional employers and the largest employer in Geelong. Barwon Health provides services for everyone who needs care, regardless of their financial status or the location of their usual residence. As a regional health service, we provide leadership and tertiary referral services across the
Barwon South West region. We provide services from the University Hospital Geelong precinct in central Geelong, the McKellar Centre precinct in North Geelong and other locations including the Sunrise Centre, a partnership initiative with the Geelong Football Club and the Transport Accident Commission that provides a contemporary community venue for specialist community rehabilitation programs. We provide community health services from Anglesea, Belmont, Corio, Newcomb, and Torquay and dental services from Belmont, Corio and Newcomb. Our newest sites include Barwon Health North in Norlane providing, amongst other services, child and family health services, renal dialysis, medical imaging and an urgent care service. Mental health, drugs and alcohol services are provided at the Swanston Centre at University Hospital Geelong, Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) at Belmont Community Rehabilitation Facility, the McKellar Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre and Blakiston Lodge Psychogeriatric Unit at the McKellar Centre and 10 community-based locations including Belmont, central Geelong, Colac, Corio, Barwon Health North and Newcomb. We provide residential aged care beds across two sites: Alan David Lodge in Charlemont, and three lodges on the
McKellar Centre precinct in North Geelong these include Percy Baxter Lodge, Wallace Lodge and Blakiston Lodge. We provide a comprehensive range of health services including acute care (medicine, surgery, women’s health,
paediatrics, emergency and specialist clinics), mental health, alcohol and other drugs services, primary care,
community health, rehabilitation, geriatric medicine, palliative care, community nursing and hospital in the home. As a major teaching hospital, we have relationships with Deakin University, LaTrobe University, the Gordon
Institute and other tertiary education providers including the University of Melbourne and Monash University. We
provide teaching and training for all health professionals across all disciplines, at all career stages.

03/11/2026

The Victorian State election will be held on Saturday, 28 November 2026.
During the caretaker period (starting 6 pm on Tuesday 3 November 2026) content will only be added in line with the caretaker conventions.
Read more at https://www.vic.gov.au/guidelines-caretaker-conventions

30/10/2026

#𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐟𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧, Clinical Nurse Specialist | Graduate Program

“I was lucky enough in 2025 to take on Clinical Support Nurse roles across both the Acute Team and the Graduate Program Team, supporting nurses at different stages of their careers.

As a Clinical Support Nurse with the Graduate Nurse Program, I feel privileged to be part of such an important stage in a nurse’s professional journey. Starting your career can be both exciting and challenging, and we’re here to provide support from the very beginning.

Our team starts connecting with potential graduates well before their graduate year begins, including attending the ACN Expo and hosting welcome sessions. We also run refresher skills sessions to help graduates feel prepared and confident before they start.

Throughout the year, I help plan and facilitate study days based on the learning needs of our graduates, but a big part of my role is providing support at the bedside. Sometimes that means answering questions, talking through a situation or simply being there while someone finds their feet.

Creating a safe environment where graduates can ask questions, make mistakes, reflect on their practice and learn without fear or judgement is really important to me.

What I love most is seeing how much they grow throughout the year. Watching a graduate become a confident and capable nurse is incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like seeing that moment when something suddenly clicks and they realise just how much they’re capable of.

Seeing so many of our graduates go on to become high-calibre Barwon Health nurses makes the role even more satisfying. I’m proud to be part of their journey.”

28/10/2026

The Victorian Chief Health Officer has issued an advisory about an increase in anaphylaxis notifications related to unapproved peptides in Victoria.

Unapproved peptide products carry significant safety risks including immediate and potentially fatal anaphylaxis, and more delayed onset conditions such as inflammatory responses, wide-ranging body side effects, musculoskeletal injuries and liver damage.

Our Harm Reduction Team offers services including Needle Syringe Programs, Drug Alerts and take-home naloxone.

🔗 Learn about their services and sign up to drug alerts: https://mhdas.barwonhealth.org.au/service/harm-reduction-services/
🔗Learn about the symptoms of anaphylaxis: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/anaphylaxis

28/10/2026

Today, Barwon Health is helping shape the next generation of intensive care specialists, hosting the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) Fellowship Clinical Examinations for the first time.

As one of only four Victorian ICU sites selected to host the examinations, our Intensive Care Unit is welcoming CICM examiners and specialist trainees undertaking a significant milestone on their journey to becoming intensive care physicians.

Throughout the day, candidates will demonstrate their clinical expertise by assessing patients, applying complex clinical reasoning and presenting their findings under the supervision of experienced examiners. The examinations are made possible through the generosity of patients and families who consent to participate, along with the support of our ICU clinicians and senior registrars.

Hosting these examinations is a proud recognition of the expertise, capability and reputation of our ICU team. It reflects Barwon Health's commitment to excellence in patient care, education and research, while supporting the development of a highly skilled healthcare workforce for the future.

As we work towards our Impact 2030 vision, opportunities like this demonstrate the important role we play in growing, attracting and developing the clinicians who will care for our communities for years to come.

We thank everyone involved in making the day possible and wish all candidates every success.

27/10/2026

❤️ Life saved through teamwork, technology and quick action

Barwon Health Intensive Care Unit nurses Vanessa Jones, Megan Edwards and Kate Titheridge caught up with former patient Steven Bowen in Ocean Grove on Monday.

Mr Bowen spent 53 days in ICU at University Hospital Geelong, including four weeks in an induced coma and time connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine that took over the function of his heart and lungs.

This came after Mr Bowen went into cardiac arrest at his Bellarine home in May, with a nursing student first on the scene following a day of placement, delivering critical CPR while paramedics made their way to the scene thanks to a first responder app.

👉 Read Steven's remarkable story:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4zlKOlh

25/10/2026

💙 Occupational Therapy Forum 2026: Participation Matters
Occupational Therapy Week 2026 runs from 26 October to 1 November, with World Occupational Therapy Day celebrated on 27 October. 🌏

To mark the occasion, Barwon Health Occupational Therapists will come together for a Forum at Geelong West Town Hall, showcasing the incredible work happening across acute, sub-acute, mental health, paediatrics and more.

We're looking forward to an afternoon of learning, connection and celebrating how Occupational Therapy helps people participate in what matters most. 🙌

🔗 Learn more about Occupational Therapy Week 2026: https://otaus.com.au/ot-week-2026

💙

23/10/2026

#𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐟𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 , Clerical Team Leader | Outpatients

“I joined Barwon Health in 2012 after moving from Melbourne, where I worked in Specialist Clinics at Austin Hospital for three years. I’ve now been a Clerical Team Leader in Specialist Clinics for the past seven years.

When I started, Specialist Clinics operated from just one site. Today, we have four sites, reflecting the significant growth in our region and the increasing demand for specialist care across the South West corridor.

My role is to manage the day-to-day operations of the surgical specialist clinics and support our administration team. This includes leading and supporting clerical staff, coordinating clinics and working closely with our multidisciplinary teams to help ensure patients receive safe, efficient and patient-focused care.

I really enjoy working in Specialist Clinics and being part of such a diverse team. Over the years, I’ve made some wonderful friendships at Barwon Health, which is one of the things that makes coming to work so enjoyable.

What I find most rewarding is being able to go above and beyond to make a patient’s experience a positive one. I also enjoy supporting and developing our team, and I really value how well our clerical and clinical teams work together to make a difference for our patients.

Knowing the work we do behind the scenes can make a real difference to both patients and staff is incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to have been part of the Barwon Health community for more than a decade.”

21/10/2026

World Osteoporosis Day, celebrated yesterday, is an opportunity to raise awareness of bone health and the importance of prevention, early identification and appropriate management of osteoporosis.

From an endocrinology perspective, hormones play an important role in maintaining healthy bones, and conditions affecting hormonal balance can contribute to bone loss and increased fracture risk.

Maintaining adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise, and identifying and managing risk factors are important steps in supporting lifelong bone health.

Barwon Health and the region remain at the forefront of research, with the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, one of only a few large population-based cohort studies in Australia, having documented changes to the health and wellbeing of young, middle-aged and older women and men over more than three decades.

For more information, head here 👉 https://impact.deakin.edu.au/2024/08/geelong-study-celebrates-30-years-of-knowledge-gains-in-healthy-ageing/

20/10/2026

World Pharmacy Technician Day was celebrated today, with our pharmacy teams coming together to recognise and celebrate our incredible technicians, pharmacy store and administrative staff 🎉🎈

From safely dispensing and compounding medicines to supporting pharmacists, nurses and multidisciplinary teams, their expertise is essential to the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care.

Today was an opportunity to celebrate, connect and say thank you for the skill, dedication and care they bring to our health service every day.

19/10/2026

Have your say in shaping better care for our community 💭💙

Barwon Health is inviting community members to join our Community Advisory Committee, a Sub-Committee of the Board. This is your chance to help shape how we deliver care and improve experiences for consumers, families and carers across our region.

We’re looking for people who bring:

✅ Knowledge or lived experience as a consumer or carer
✅ Awareness of current health issues
✅ The ability to represent local community perspectives
✅ A collaborative approach to working with Board members, executives and other consumers
✅ Have capacity to attend quarterly Committee meetings in the Geelong area

We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, including First Nations people, people with disability, older people, and those with diverse lived experiences.

To learn more or apply, visit https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/about-us/community-advisory-committee/ or contact our Consumer Partnerships team at [email protected]

Address

272-322 Ryrie Street
Geelong, VIC
3220

Telephone

+61342150000

Website

http://www.barwonhealth.org.au/

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