Central Highlands Rural Health

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Central Highlands Rural Health

Central Highlands Rural Health provides acute, community health and aged care services to communities across the Hepburn Shire and Macedon Ranges.

Central Highlands Rural Health has facilities in Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford, Kyneton and Trentham. Central Highlands Rural Health has been providing healthcare to its local community for over 160 years. Although we have had a number of name changes over the years, our mission remains the same – to deliver high quality healthcare for our communities. Central Highlands Rural Health provides acute, community health and aged care services to people across the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shire. We work collaboratively with medical professionals and regional healthcare partners to provide a breadth of services for you and your family, plus seamless transitions between hospital and the home. We can provide or connect you with the services, programs and expertise you need. The intention of this page is to inform the community of the services, program, activities, events and health promotion information provided Central Highlands Rural Health. It does not replace professional health advice. It is not a resource for emergencies, raising health concerns or seeking professional advice. Our Urgent Care Centres in Kyneton and Daylesford are open 24/7 or in a life threatening emergency you can 000. We welcome friendly and authentic engagement but expect people to be respectful, constructive and legal. We reserve the right to remove comments. Central Highlands Rural Health has no control over shared posts and comments made on those posts. If you’ve got a specific issue, we’d prefer to resolve your concerns in ways that respect privacy. Formal feedback or complaints can be sent confidentially to ceo@chrh.org.au. We expect that users will not post content that falls into the following categories and reserve the right to remove postings that are:
• off-topic and not appropriate for discussion in this forum
• in violation of another’s privacy
• vexatious, fraudulent, deceptive or misleading
• abusive, defamatory, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or otherwise offensive
• of a political nature or promote particular services, products, or political organizations
• illegal or advocate illegal activity
• in violation of another’s intellectual property or infringe upon copyrights or trademarks

07/04/2026

🌍 World Health Day 2026 🌍

Today, we recognise World Health Day and this year’s theme: Together for health. Stand with science.

At Central Highlands Rural Health, this message strongly aligns with our Best Care goals, particularly our commitment to making decisions based on the best available evidence. It’s about ensuring the care we provide is informed, safe, and grounded in what we know works.

We also take a moment to thank those at the forefront of science whose work continues to drive breakthroughs and advancements in healthcare. Their dedication is helping to shape a future with better treatments, improved care, and stronger health outcomes for all.

03/04/2026

📣 Urgent Care available 24/7 in Kyneton and Daylesford 📣

With some GP clinics closed for the Easter break, you can still access timely care close to home.

If you or someone you care for needs urgent medical attention, our experienced nursing teams can assess and treat a wide range of urgent health concerns.

📍 Kyneton Health Urgent Care Centre
📞 03 5422 9900
➡️ 7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton. Present at the nurses’ station or use the after-hours security buzzer at the front entrance.

📍 Daylesford Health Urgent Care Centre
📞 03 5321 6500
➡️ 17 Hospital Street, Daylesford. Press the buzzer at the dedicated entrance to be let in.

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 000.

31/03/2026

Seeing Through the Haze at Daylesford Primary School!

Over the last three weeks, Sam visited year 5 & 6 classes at Daylesford Primary to participate in the Seeing Through the Haze Education Program. This program runs through what a v**e is, how the to***co industry markets them to young people and plays out scenarios with the students to help make informed decisions when they are exposed to v**es in the community and when heading to senior school.

It was very impressive to hear the knowledge the students already had about the harms of va**ng and see through the ‘haze’ of how the industry targets and wants young people to take up the habit.

26/03/2026

We're pleased to share our Autumn Community Newsletter.

This edition is packed with news, community information and photos from our organisation over the last few months.

We welcome you to dive into the pages to read about what we’ve done recently for your local community.

Happy reading!

👉 www.chrh.org.au/articles/autumn2026communitynewsletter

25/03/2026

Central Highlands Rural Health was honoured with the Excellence in Collaboration Award at the Annual Health Service Awards on Tuesday 3 March, recognising the organisation’s work in meeting the Healthy Choices: Policy Directive for Victorian Public Health Services.

CHRH received this award for the team’s successful multidisciplinary collaboration to meet the Policy Directive targets across five campuses. Achieving this milestone required strong coordination across teams, working through a range of operational challenges to ensure 100% compliance of the Healthy Choices targets for 2025.

Health Promotion Officer, Laurey Sherren, attended the awards ceremony online to accept the award on behalf of CHRH.

In addition, Wendy VanderPol (Hotel Services Manager), Howard Bradfield (Support Services Manager), Jemima Hill (Dietitian) and Laurey Sherren were nominated for the Healthy Choices: Policy Directive Local Champion Award, recognising their collaborative efforts in implementing the Policy Directive at Central Highlands Rural Health in 2025.

This recognition highlights the dedication and teamwork across the organisation in creating healthier food and drink environments for staff, visitors and the wider community.

18/03/2026

What are you hungry for?
A jam donut? A warm cup of coffee? A toasty with really good cheese?

At Central Highlands Rural Health, we love food and the role it plays in our wellbeing and our community.

Like breathing, swallowing is something most of us don’t think about. It’s a reflex that’s essential to everyday life. On average, we swallow between 500 and 700 times a day. Around three times an hour during sleep, once a minute while awake, and even more often during meals. We swallow food, drinks, medicine and saliva.

For people who have trouble swallowing, everyday things like eating and drinking can become difficult. It can lead to poor nutrition and dehydration, pneumonia, and a reduced quality of life.

Our Speech Pathology team works with people in the community who experience swallowing difficulties. They can assess swallowing and develop a plan to help people enjoy their favourite foods and drinks safely and with confidence.

If you, or someone you care about, is finding it hard to eat or drink, a Speech Pathologist may be able to help.

Get in touch with our Access team:
E: access@chrh.org.au
P: 03 5321 6539

15/03/2026

This week is Advance Care Planning Week.

It’s a reminder that planning ahead isn’t just about finances or legal documents. It’s about your health, your values, and the care you would want if you couldn’t speak for yourself.

An advance care plan helps your loved ones feel confident they’re honouring your wishes. It also helps your healthcare team provide care that reflects what matters most to you.

You can start by thinking about what’s important to you, who you would trust to make decisions on your behalf, and what treatments you would or wouldn’t want.

Your GP can guide you through the process and help you formally document your preferences. If you’d like support to begin, book an appointment with your GP to start the conversation.

For more information, please visit:
👉 www.advancecareplanning.org.au

12/03/2026

Central Highlands Rural Health staff recently came together at our Daylesford campus to learn more about the work of The Orange Door and how we can continue strengthening support for people experiencing family violence in our community.

We were pleased to welcome Dee Honeychurch and Jess Lanza from Family Safety Victoria, who shared insights from their experience working in the family violence sector and spoke about how The Orange Door connects women, children and families with specialist support.

Family violence has serious and lasting impacts on health and wellbeing, particularly for women and children. As a health service committed to equity, we recognise the importance of improving access to specialist support and creating safer pathways to care.

We look forward to engaging more with The Orange Door and Family Safety Victoria in the future as we strive to strengthen supports for the Hepburn Shire community.

10/03/2026

Thanks to the incredibly supportive crowd at ChillOut, generous online donations, and the support of The Royal Daylesford Hotel, Central Highlands Rural Health can now purchase a children’s resuscitation cart for the Daylesford Urgent Care Centre.

On Saturday afternoon the Royal hosted Songs for Scrubs, a fundraiser held as part of the ChillOut celebrations. Locals and visitors came together for an afternoon of music, dancing and community spirit, all while helping raise funds for equipment that will support our clinicians to care for children in emergency situations.

A big thank you to Cam, Jody, Jo, Sophie and the Royal team for getting behind the event and supporting our staff on the day.

Events like this show how strongly the community values its local health service. When people come together in support, it highlights the important role rural health services play for families across the region.

Thanks to everyone who attended or donated. Our goal was $3,000 and in just four hours we raised more than $3,600. We are thrilled with the support.

08/03/2026

On Friday we were proud to welcome the Victorian Minister for Health, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, to Kyneton Health in the lead-up to International Women’s Day.

The Minister joined our team and members of the community for an open day to learn more about the women’s health services now available locally through our Women’s Health Clinic and Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub.

Central Highlands Rural Health clinicians, including our GPs, physiotherapist and nurse navigators, spoke with the community about the care and support available for women and girls across the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn shires.

By bringing these specialised services closer to home, we are improving access to care and reducing the need for women to travel long distances to get the support they need. It’s part of a broader effort to ensure women in regional communities can access timely, coordinated and compassionate care at every stage of life.

It was great to be joined by many health professionals from other organisations as well including Omnia Community Health and Women's Health Loddon Mallee.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the work being done to strengthen women’s healthcare and help more women get the care they need, when and where they need it.

06/03/2026

‘It’s beginning to look a lot like our Songs for Scrubs fundraiser!

Our maintenance crew including Liam and Paul have been hard at work putting up temporary fencing and signs ahead of our fundraiser tomorrow during ChillOut 2026.

Shout out to Royal Hotel Manager Jody and owners Cam, Sophie and Jo for partnering with Daylesford Health to host our fundraiser over the fabulous ChillOut weekend.

Come along tomorrow at 1 and stay for a song or an entire set to help us raise money for a children’s resuscitation cart for our Daylesford Urgent Care Centre.

Let’s make this happen together!

27/02/2026

Last week we held an event in Creswick to acknowledge the completion of the major redevelopment at Creswick Health, and to thank the community who helped make it possible.

This milestone marks a new chapter for aged care and sub-acute services in our region.

Funded by the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, the project has delivered a new 30-bed residential aged care facility, along with the full upgrade and reopening of the Creswick Acute Ward and sub-acute services.

What truly got this project over the line was the backing of the Creswick community.

More than $150,000 was raised locally through the Creswick Health Upgrade Appeal to complete the project. Significant contributions came from Community Bank Creswick & District and the Creswick Auxiliary led by Margaret Orr, and her husband, Bob.

We would also like to acknowledge …

◾ Our project manager Frank Sawyer
◾ Former Board Member and Fundraising Committee Chair, Kate Redwood
◾ Cr Don Henderson and Cr Lesley Hewitt from the Hepburn Shire Council
◾ Richard Blight from Blight, Blight & Blight Studio
◾ SJ Weir (Ballarat)

This redevelopment is more than new buildings. It reflects the strength, generosity and trust of our community, and ensures Creswick families can access high-quality aged care and hospital services locally, now and into the future.

Address

Daylesford, VIC

Website

http://www.chrh.org.au/

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Our Story

Central Highlands Rural Health has been a part of the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shire for over 160 years.

Although we have had a number of name changes over the years, our mission remains the same – to deliver high quality healthcare for our communities.

We provide acute, community health and aged care services to people across Hepburn Shire and the Macedon Ranges. We work collaboratively with medical professionals and regional healthcare partners to provide a breadth of services for you and your family, plus seamless transitions between hospital and home. We can provide or connect you with the services, programs and expertise you need.

In November 2019, Hepburn Health Service amalgamated with Kyneton District Health to establish a new entity – Central Highlands Rural Health. The primary goal of Central Highlands Rural Health is to continue to provide the best possible integrated health services for our communities across a broader region.