Macedon Ranges Health

28/10/2026

💚 OT Week | 26 October – 1 November 2026

This OT Week, we’re celebrating the incredible work of occupational therapists and this year’s theme, Participation Matters.

Being able to take part in the everyday activities that are important to us – whether that’s caring for ourselves, working, learning, connecting with others, getting out into the community or enjoying hobbies can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.

Occupational therapists work alongside people to help overcome barriers and make everyday life easier, safer and more meaningful. This might include supporting independence at home, managing changes following illness or injury, recommending equipment or home modifications, building skills and confidence, or helping people participate in the activities that matter most to them.

Here at Macedon Ranges Health, we’re proud to recognise our Occupational Therapy team and the important role they play in supporting people across our community to live well and participate in everyday life.

💚 Because participation isn’t just about keeping busy – participation matters.

Learn more about OT Week:
https://www.otaus.com.au/

21/10/2026

Connection Starts in our Community 🤝🌿

Mental Health Month may be coming to an end, but looking after our wellbeing and staying connected matters all year round.

Feeling part of a community can support our mental health - and connection doesn’t have to be complicated.

Across the Macedon Ranges, there are many ways to get involved:
👋 Say hello to someone in your neighbourhood
☕ Invite someone for a cuppa or a walk
🌱 Join a local group, class or community activity
🙋 Volunteer for something you care about
📱 Reconnect with someone you haven’t spoken to for a while
💛 Make an effort to include someone who might be feeling isolated

Community connection can look different for everyone. What matters is finding people, places or activities that help you feel like you belong.

As October finishes, perhaps choose one connection you’d like to keep nurturing.

Together, we can help create a Macedon Ranges community where people feel seen, supported and able to thrive. 💚

14/10/2026

Sometimes, listening is enough 👂💛

When someone we care about is having a difficult time, it’s natural to want to make things better.

But we don’t always need to have the solution.

Taking the time to really listen can be one of the most valuable ways we support each other. Give the person your attention, try to understand what they’re experiencing and resist the urge to immediately fix the problem.

You might simply ask:
“How are you really going?”

Then give them the space to answer.

Connection isn’t about having all the right words. Sometimes being there, listening and helping someone feel heard is enough.

Who could you check in with this week? 💚

13/10/2026

National Carers Week | 11–17 October

This National Carers Week, Macedon Ranges Health would like to acknowledge and thank the many carers across our community.

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who may be living with disability, mental health challenges, chronic or terminal illness, alcohol or other drug issues, or frailty associated with ageing.

For many people, caring is simply part of everyday life - and they may not even think of themselves as a ‘carer’.

The 2026 theme, Care for a carer: Making carers visible, is a reminder to recognise the enormous contribution carers make to families, workplaces and communities every day.

To all the carers across the Macedon Ranges - thank you for the time, care, patience, advocacy and support you provide.

And this week, we encourage everyone to think about the carers in their own lives. A simple check-in, offering practical help, sharing a cuppa or asking “How are you going?” can be a meaningful way to show that their wellbeing matters too.

💙 This National Carers Week, let’s make carers visible - and make sure they feel supported too.

12/10/2026

🦶 Podiatry Week | 12–18 October 2026

Our feet carry us through everyday life – whether that’s getting out for a walk, playing sport, working, gardening or simply staying active and independent.

This Podiatry Week, we’re celebrating the important role podiatrists play in helping people of all ages look after their foot and lower limb health.
Podiatrists can support a wide range of concerns, including foot and ankle pain, injuries, children’s foot development, diabetes-related foot care, skin and nail conditions, footwear, orthotics, gait and rehabilitation.

Here at Macedon Ranges Health, our Podiatry team works with people across our community to help them stay comfortable, mobile and doing the things that matter to them.

👣 Healthy feet can make a big difference to your overall wellbeing.
Learn more about Podiatry Week and the role of podiatrists:
https://www.podiatry.org.au/

08/10/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🩷

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness, support those impacted by breast cancer, and recognise the importance of ongoing research.

In Australia, around 56 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, and thousands of individuals and families are affected by the disease each year.

Thanks in part to advances in research, the breast cancer death rate in Australia has fallen by more than 40% since 1994 - but there is still more work to do. The National Breast Cancer Foundation continues to fund research focused on prevention, earlier detection, stopping progression and recurrence, and improving treatment for metastatic and hard-to-treat breast cancers.

This October, take a moment to:
🩷 Learn about breast cancer and your own risk factors
🩷 Be aware of what is normal for your breasts and speak with a health professional if you notice a change
🩷 Check that you are up to date with any recommended breast screening
🩷 Support the people in our community whose lives have been affected by breast cancer

Every conversation, every step forward in research and every person who knows when to seek help can make a difference.

Together, we can help create a future with fewer lives lost to breast cancer.

07/10/2026

🎉 Victorian Seniors Festival is here! 🎉

October is Victorian Seniors Festival, and there are so many fantastic opportunities for older people across the Macedon Ranges to connect, create and celebrate.

Throughout the month, locals can get involved in a huge range of free and low-cost activities from croquet, table tennis, yoga and Pilates to dancing, social outings, live music, community lunches and more. There are events happening across Gisborne, Kyneton, Woodend, Riddells Creek, Macedon and beyond, with something to suit all kinds of interests and abilities.

The festival is a wonderful opportunity to try something new, reconnect with an old interest, meet new people and celebrate positive ageing in our community.

There are also some special outings on offer, including a Country Concert trip to Castlemaine, a lunch prepared by Braemar College students, and a Safari Bus Tour at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

👉 Explore the full Macedon Ranges Seniors Festival program and find an event near you:
https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Older-People/Seniors-Festival-2026

The Victorian Seniors Festival is a major state-wide festival for and involving seniors. The festival runs from 1–31 October every year, with free and low-cost events right across Victoria.

05/10/2026

Together We Thrive 🌱

October is Mental Health Month, and this year’s theme is Together We Thrive.

Our mental health is supported by the people, places and communities around us - and sometimes it’s the small, everyday things that can make a meaningful difference.

This month, Mental Health Australia has created a 31-day wellbeing calendar, with a simple idea for each day to help strengthen connection, belonging and wellbeing. From moving together and sharing a meal, to checking in with someone, spending time in nature or simply saying hello - there are plenty of small ways to take part.

Save this handy calender and choose a few ideas to try – or follow along each day.

Here in the Macedon Ranges, connection can start with something as simple as a chat with a neighbour, a walk with a friend, joining a local activity or reaching out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Small moments of care, kindness and connection all count.

Together, we thrive. 💚

24/09/2026

Macedon Ranges Health will be closed tomorrow, Friday 25 September, for the Grand Final Public Holiday.

We will reopen on Monday 28 September.

22/09/2026

🧠 Dementia Action Week | 21–27 September 2026

This Dementia Action Week, it’s time to talk about dementia.

Almost half a million Australians are living with dementia, with around 1.7 million people involved in their care.

Yet dementia is still something we don’t always feel comfortable talking about. Starting a conversation can help build understanding, reduce stigma and make it easier for people living with dementia, their families and carers to feel supported and connected.

💬 A conversation can make a difference.
Take the time to learn more about dementia, check in with someone you know, listen without judgement and help create a community where people living with dementia feel valued, included and supported.

And remember – dementia is not a normal part of ageing.

For information, advice or support, contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more about Dementia Action Week 👉

https://www.dementia.org.au/get-involved/dementia-action-week

Dementia Action Week is a major leadership, awareness and advocacy campaign led by Dementia Australia as the peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers.