Health Victoria News - Department of Health Victoria Australia

The future for patients requiring specialist treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital is looking brighter with the establishment of the Jigsaw Foundation Chair of Paediatric Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery.

International award for paediatric bioethics work

Clinical Director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre Hugo Gold has received the inaugural Hans Joachim Schwager Award on behalf of his team.

Win for allied health

A program to provide training and a qualification for local Aboriginal people has proved a success at Central Gippsland Health Service.

Certificate graduates celebrate

Students from Melbourne and Swan Hill have graduated from a Certificate IV in Mental Health course developed by VICSERV and Wodonga TAFE.

Hospital and Health Services

Record $14 billion for Victoria’s health system
The State Government will invest $14.3 billion in health in 2013/14 to treat more patients and manage the increasing pressure on the system.

Northern expansion
A three-storey wing will be constructed at the Northern Hospital in Epping with the major expansion to meet the needs of the growing population.

Young docs opt for the country
A record number of junior medical doctors are training at Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW).

Awards for staff at Wang
More than 100 staff at Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) have received achievement awards.

New CEO for Northern Health
Janet Compton has taken up the position of Chief Executive Officer at Northern Health.

New piece in paediatric plastic surgery puzzle
The future for patients requiring specialist treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital is looking brighter with the establishment of the Jigsaw Foundation Chair of Paediatric Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Aged Care

Support in Budget for seniors
The 2013/14 State Budget delivers on the Government’s strong commitment to supporting older citizens, says Minister for Ageing David Davis.

Steps to stroke rehab
A ground-breaking group exercise program run by Peninsula Health in partnership with local gyms is helping stroke survivors.

Dementia funding boost
Minister for Ageing David Davis has officially opened Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s first permanent regional office in Geelong

Refurbished palliative care unit unveiled
Minister for Health David Davis has opened the refurbished palliative and supportive unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Mental Health and Drugs

More funds for mental health beds, services and workers
The State Government will spend an additional $70 million next year to better support Victorians with a mental illness or drug and alcohol addiction.

Certificate graduates celebrate
Students from Melbourne and Swan Hill have graduated from a Certificate IV in Mental Health course developed by VICSERV and Wodonga TAFE.

Mental health unit for Werribee
A new 54-bed acute mental health facility will be built in Werribee.

Mental health first for Bendigo
People with mental illness will have access to the best possible care in a unique psychiatric facility at the new Bendigo Hospital.

General News

International award for paediatric bioethics work
Clinical Director of the Children’s Bioethics Centre Hugo Gold has received the inaugural Hans Joachim Schwager Award on behalf of his team.

Investment to ensure future doctors and nurses
The Government will invest a significant $238.3 million over four years to increase the number of doctors, nurses and other health professionals working in the health system.

International award for bowel cancer contribution
Bowel cancer expert Professor Finlay Macrae has been honoured by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) for his professional and personal contributions to the field of gastroenterology.

Ambulance stations open
The new state-of-the-art Chelsea ambulance station has been officially opened.

Increase in organ donation numbers
Victoria has delivered an 83 per cent increase in the number of organ donors in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012.

Newcomb gets the message across
Barwon Health is the first healthcare network in Australia to have one of its sites receive Scope’s Communication Access Symbol.

Partnership establishes overseas connections
The Department of Health and Ko Awatea, an arm of the Counties Manukau District Health Board in New Zealand, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement.

Wellbeing and Integrated Care

Dental boost for Melbourne’s west
The Government will provide $9.7 million for the long-awaited replacement of the Western Region Health Centre’s public dental services clinic.

Win for allied health
A program to provide training and a qualification for local Aboriginal people has proved a success at Central Gippsland Health Service.

Clinic tackles weighty issue in west
Western Health has established a clinic at Sunshine Hospital specifically for pregnant women with a very high body mass index (BMI).

PET/CT scanning leads to guided lung cancer therapy
A Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre treatment is providing higher-than-ever survival rates for patients with the most common form of lung cancer.

Dental students to learn through Uni TV
A project co-ordinated by the University of Melbourne and funded by the State Government will help change the delivery of dental education in Victoria.

Team tackles drug-resistant influenza
Two of Australia’s top medical researchers have received funding to investigate better treatments for patients with drug-resistant influenza viruses.

Ballarat cancer centre treats first patients
The first patients have been treated in the new, purpose-built $55 million Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC).

Record funding for Aboriginal health
The Budget include a record $61.7 million boost to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Victorians.