Illawarra Medical Centre

11/11/2025

Today is World Pneumonia Day, aimed at reducing deaths from the single, biggest infectious killer of adults and children.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs usually caused by bacteria or a virus. It can cause mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages, however it is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide.

Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially for babies 12 months and under, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people older than 70 years.

Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended and funded for children under 5, older people with medical conditions, Aboriginal people with medical conditions, and those aged 65 years and over.

Find out more at https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pneumonia

To book in for your pneumococcal vaccine, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online at https://illawarramedical.com.au/

10/11/2025

09/11/2025

This Australian Food Safety Week is encouraging us all to do our research on food safety and not ‘swallow’ food safety myths.

One of the most common myths is that food borne disease is a minor illness. While vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms, food poisoning in extreme forms can cause reactive arthritis, kidney or nerve damage and hepatitis.

There are an estimated 4.67 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year that result in 47,900 hospitalisations, 38 deaths and cost to the economy of $3 billion.

Learn more about food safety and test your knowledge by taking the food safety myth quiz on the Food Safety Information Council website www.foodsafety.asn.au

07/11/2025

Today is World Whooping Cough Day, which shines a light on the threat posed by whooping cough and the simple ways people can remain protected throughout life.

With whooping cough cases significantly on the rise in recent years, including a 940% increase in recorded WA cases and a more than 1,600% increase in recorded cases nationally in 2024, the simplest way to protect yourself and your family is by staying up-to-date with your vaccinations.

To make a vaccination booking, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online.

Find out more about whooping cough at https://illawarramedical.com.au/whooping-cough-cases-reach-epidemic-proportions-across-australia/

06/11/2025

Did you know that hay fever is the most common allergic disorder in Australia, affecting one in five people?

Pollen from trees, grass, and weeds is the one of the main triggers for seasonal allergies at this time of year. Hay fever can also be caused by dust mites, mould, or animal dander.

Symptoms include:
o Runny, itchy or congested nose
o Sneezing
o Itchy, watery eyes
o Snoring

Find out more in our recent blog>>

Hay fever is the most common allergic disorder in Australia, affecting one in five people. Find out more>>

03/11/2025

Today may be the race that stops the nation, but we'll still be up and running and ready to assist you with any health concerns you may have.

Make a booking online at https://illawarramedical.com.au/ or phone us on (08) 9208 6400.

03/11/2025

You may have seen recently in the media that the government has introduced new Bulk Billing incentives from November 1.

At Illawarra Medical Centre, we are committed to providing quality health care tailored to meet the specific needs of the local community that we have been servicing for more than 30 years.

In order to maintain this standard of care for our patients (many of whom have complex health needs) while ensuring the financial sustainability of the practice, we have chosen to remain a mixed billing practice.

We will continue to provide bulk billing for a number of patients, including Pensioner Concession card holders, Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) card holders and children aged under 16 years. Bulk billing is available to these patients for weekday appointments.

For more information on our current fees, visit https://illawarramedical.com.au/about-illawarra-medical-centre-ballajura/fees-general-practice/

01/11/2025

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, which aims to shine a light on one of Australia's biggest killers.

More than 15,122 Australians will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year — that’s 41 every day, with around 85% of those diagnosed at a late stage.

While there are a number of risk factors, the main contributor is smoking, which accounts for 85% of all cases of the disease. The risk of developing lung cancer increases based on both the number of ci******es and years that you have smoked.

Find out more at https://lungfoundation.com.au/

30/10/2025

Try not to overindulge in too many Halloween treats today!

If you do have any health or dietary concerns, book an appointment with one of our GPs or our on-site dietitian and get your health back on track.

Appointments can be made online or by phoning us on (08) 9208 6400.

28/10/2025

Spring not only brings out the sun and beautiful blooms, but allergies too! And with Western Australia experiencing above average rainfall over winter, hay fever season may be longer and more severe for sufferers this year.

Find out more about the symptoms, prevention and treatment options available for hay fever in our latest blog>>

Hay fever is the most common allergic disorder in Australia, affecting one in five people. Find out more>>

27/10/2025

October is National Safe Work Month, which encourages Australian workplaces around Australia to prioritise health and safety in the workplace and reduce the number of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

In Australia in 2024, 188 workers sadly lost their lives due to traumatic injuries in the workplace, and an additional 146,700 serious workers’ compensation claims were made, equating to more than 400 serious claims a day across Australia.

For more information, visit https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

If you need assistance with creating a healthier workplace or getting injured workers back to work as early as possible, contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

We offer a range of services to help businesses create a healthier workplace, including occupational health checks, pre-employment medicals, on-site flu vaccinations and insurance medicals.

Our patients and business partners also have access to an on-site physiotherapy practice – Illawarra Physiotherapy Centre – with referrals from Illawarra Medical Centre, as well as the Australian Clinical Labs pathology, located right next door, for drug screening and radiology services.