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Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm Saturday 9am - 12pm

Health First Medical Group

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Ballarat, VIC
Health First Medical Group

Health First Medical Group in Ballarat provides a safe, inclusive space for compassionate, family-friendly healthcare. Welcome to Health First Medical Group!

Our friendly team of doctors, nurses, & admin staff are dedicated to offering thorough care & putting your health first at every visit. Our wonderful team are proud to continue serving the Ballarat community at our modern clinic in the heart of the Ballarat CBD. Why choose us?

-Purpose-built clinic designed with your comfort in mind
-General Practitioners with a special interest in family medicine
-Caring, thorough doctors who are passionate about patient-centered care
-Same-day appointments for emergencies
-On-site pathology and practice nurse
-Women’s health consultations

New patient appointments now being accepted! We are here to provide high-quality healthcare for you and your family. 💚

15/11/2025

💉 It’s time for this week’s vaccination update!
For our final week focusing on kids’ vaccinations, we’re looking at premature and low–birth-weight babies — little ones who may need extra protection early in life.

Babies who are born early or smaller than expected are more vulnerable to serious infections. The good news is that most routine childhood vaccines are given at the same chronological age (their age from birth), not their corrected age — meaning they don’t have to wait longer to start building immunity.

If your baby was born very premature or smaller than expected, your GP can guide you on the best schedule and any extra vaccines that might be recommended.

Ensuring timely vaccination — especially for infants who are more at risk — is one of the best ways to keep them safe and healthy. 💛

Stay tuned as we move on to vaccination information for other at-risk groups next week!

05/11/2025

💉 It’s time for this week’s vaccination update!
This week we’re talking about meningococcal ACWY — a vaccine that protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, and Y). These infections can cause serious illness like meningitis or bloodstream infection, and can develop suddenly — even in healthy children.

The meningococcal ACWY vaccine is routinely given at 12 months of age, but did you know it can be given earlier?

Babies can receive the vaccine before 12 months (with extra doses later) for earlier protection against this serious disease.

If you’d like your child protected sooner, talk to your GP or immunisation provider about the best timing and options.

Keeping up to date with vaccines — and considering earlier protection when possible — helps keep everyone safe

01/11/2025

From November 1, you might see news stories saying that “GPs are returning to bulk billing.”

We want to be open with you that this change does not apply to our clinic.

We’ll continue to be a private billing practice so that we can offer:
❤️ Appointments with time to listen, understand and explain
❤️ Continuity of care with doctors who know you and your family
❤️ Safe, careful medicine instead of rushed consultations
❤️ A locally owned clinic that supports local jobs and our community

There has been a lot of government messaging about a “return to bulk billing”, but the incentives still don’t cover the real cost of providing quality medical care — so for many clinics, it is more of a headline announcement than a workable, long-term solution.

If you’d like to see real change, we encourage you to share your experience with your local Federal Member.

Thank you for being part of our clinic community — and for valuing the time, care and relationships that make general practice meaningful.

We genuinely appreciate your support. 💛

30/10/2025

💉 It’s time for this week’s vaccination update!

This week we’re talking about chickenpox (varicella) — a highly contagious infection that can cause hundreds of itchy blisters, high fever, and, in some cases, serious complications like pneumonia, skin infections, or inflammation of the brain.

The chickenpox vaccine is part of the routine childhood schedule, providing good protection after one dose.
But did you know a second (booster) dose is recommended for even stronger and longer-lasting protection?
While it’s not part of the free routine schedule, the booster can be given as a self-funded vaccine and helps prevent breakthrough infections and outbreaks.

Even mild cases can spread easily — keeping up to date with all recommended doses helps protect your family and the community

26/10/2025

💉 It’s time for this week’s vaccination update!

This week we’re talking about meningococcal B, a rare but serious infection that can cause meningitis or severe bloodstream infection, especially in babies, young children, and teens. A vaccine is available to protect against it, but it’s self-funded for most people — meaning it’s not part of the free routine schedule.

Even though meningococcal disease doesn’t happen often, it can progress quickly and be life-threatening. Talk to your GP about whether the meningococcal B vaccine is right for your family.

Keeping up to date with vaccines helps protect everyone 💪

16/10/2025

💉 Let’s talk about immunisation!

Vaccines are one of the simplest and safest ways to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from serious illness. But across Australia, immunisation rates are starting to drop — and that means some preventable diseases are creeping back in.

The good news? Staying up to date with vaccines keeps everyone safer — especially babies, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share quick, easy posts about important immunisations for different age groups — what they protect against and why they matter.

We're starting with information about routine immunisations to keep our teeniest community members safe.
It's so easy to forget these days with the craziness of the newborn phase so pop them in your calender!

Stay tuned for next week’s post! 💪✨

12/10/2025

Breast Cancer Awareness – Information is Power

Breast cancer screening is changing, and you now receive more personalised information to help you take control of your health.

BreastScreen is now reporting breast density in your results.

This is important because:
- Dense breast tissue can make cancers harder to detect on a mammogram
- It may slightly increase your personal risk of breast cancer

This doesn't mean there's a problem — it's about giving you and your GP more insight to make informed decisions about your screening and prevention options.

You can also use the free, evidence-based tool iPrevent to learn more about your individual risk and what steps might be right for you: www.iprevent.com.au

If you have questions about your results or risk, we’re here to help.

03/10/2025

💔A (Very Sad) Message from Our Clinic💔

We are deeply heartbroken to share that our much-loved team member, Amanda, and her partner Ken recently lost their precious twin girls, Lilly and Poppy, to stillbirth at 21 weeks.
Our thoughts and love are with them during this incredibly difficult time. Lilly and Poppy will be forever loved and remembered.

Amanda has asked us to share this news with our patients so that she doesn’t have to face individual conversations when she returns to work.
Many of you had shared in her excitement, and she knows people will want to express their care, but it is just too painful for her to speak about. She is taking all the time she needs away from work, and when she is ready to return, your kindness and sensitivity will mean a great deal.

If you’d like to show your support for Amanda, please leave a kind message in the comments, or, if you wish, make a donation to Babies Above, an organisation very close to her heart.

https://www.instagram.com/babiesaboveincorporated?igsh=MTZzOHlpa29wZG5xZQ==

They have upcoming charity events or you can donate via payID babiesaboveinc@gmail.com.

23/09/2025

The Trump administration has made highly controversial claims about the causes of autism and ADHD, asserting that paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) use during pregnancy increases the risk of children being diagnosed as neurodivergent.

RANZCOG joins leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting these claims. Scientific evidence shows no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD during childhood, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting the administration’s statement.

The causes of neurodivergence are incompletely understood and remain complex, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Earlier studies raising concerns about paracetamol could not determine whether the medicine itself was responsible, or whether other factors explained the association.

A much larger and stronger study, published in 2024 by Ahlqvist and colleagues, looked at 2.5 million children in Sweden. When they accounted for important factors like family history of autism/ADHD and sibling comparisons, they found no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and children developing autism or ADHD.

The use of medications during pregnancy should always balance the potential benefits against any potential harms - both of the medication and of the condition being treated - to the mother and the fetus. The Ahlqvist study provides conclusive evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy does not increase the chance of neurodivergence in the offspring and therefore should be considered safe to use in pregnancy where there is a clear reason to do so.

People who are uncertain about medication use in pregnancy should discuss this with their doctor or midwife.

Learn more in a statement on the RANZCOG website

https://www.instagram.com/p/DO7FZODjJk4/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=bG9mb282bXN5b3po

22/09/2025

September is Sexual Health Month!

It's the perfect time to check in on your sexual wellbeing — no shame, just health.

We're also highlighting the mpox (monkeypox) vaccine, now available for those at higher risk.

Check out our information for key info on who should consider the vaccine, how it works, and how to stay protected.

💬 Got questions? We're here to help — book a confidential chat with your GP today.

18/09/2025

A Spacer + Your Puffer = A Great Team!

This simple combo can help more medicine reach your lungs — and if it’s not working well for you, your GP can likely recommend a different type of puffer that suits you better. 😊

11/09/2025

🟡 R U OK? Day – A Conversation Could Change a Life 🟡

Today is a powerful reminder to check in with the people around us.
Sometimes asking “Are you OK?” and really listening can make all the difference.

You don’t need to be an expert — just being there matters.

💛 If you’re not feeling OK, or if someone you know is struggling, speaking with your GP is a great first step.
We're here to help you through.

💻 Visit 👉 https://www.ruok.org.au
for helpful tips on starting a conversation.

Let’s make mental health a priority — together.

Address

12 Doveton Street South
Ballarat, VIC
3350

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday	9am - 12pm

Website

http://www.healthfirstballarat.com.au/

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