Victorian Aboriginal Health Service -VAHS

22/01/2026

📢 VAHS Statement regarding January 26 📢

If you need Culturally safe support around January 26, call Yarning Safe N Strong on 1800 959 563 for free, confidential, assistance 24/7 ☎️

21/01/2026

The VAHS Preventative Health Unit The Koori Way popped up to show support for Rainbow Mob at Midsumma Festival Carnival ✨🌈

We had some great yarns with other Community Controlled and mainstream organisations about building truly inclusive spaces where everyone feels safe seeking their healthcare needs, and the next steps for the VAHS Rainbow Mob working group 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The team also slung out some merch for people who wrote postcards to the to***co industry, calling them out for the devastating impact their products have on Community 🚭

The only way is The Koori Way 🖤💛❤️

20/01/2026

❗️Thank you for your high level of interest. Expressions of interest will CLOSE end of day tomorrow (23 January) ❗️

Eight week possum skin cloak workshop for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families 🖤💛❤️

is offering a meaningful opportunity for families to come together each week to share stories and create a possum skin cloak in a culturally safe space 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

All materials are provided and each session will be guided by Cultural facilitators, focussing on strengthening connection to Culture, Community and family 🫶🏾

If you'd like to participate, fill in the form linked in the comments 🔗

19/01/2026

VAHS Men's Group is BACK for 2026 🖤💛❤️

Join us to yarn with some likeminded fellas, enjoy a feed, and connect to Culture the following days and times:

🪃 Mondays (weekly) 1.30pm-4.30pm, Artifacts Workshop at Your Community Health

🎶 Tuesdays (weekly) 10am-11am, Didgeridoo Sessions at VAHS Preston

🧶 Wednesdays (fortnightly: 21 January, 4 February, 18 February) 12pm-2pm, Yarning Circle at Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd

🌭 Thursdays (weekly) 12.0pm-2.30pm, barbecue lunch at VAHS Fitzroy

Contact Darah for more information on 0478 734 938 or mensunuit@vahs.org.au

18/01/2026

Caring for Community means continuously listening and learning 🖤💛❤️

VAHS staff were lucky enough to have a History of VAHS session with Ambassador Uncle Alan Brown.

"VAHS is more than just a clinic. Those who came before us were political advocates for our rights and health," Uncle Alan said.

15/01/2026

📢 West Metro primary and secondary students/families - this one's for you! 📢

VAHS' St Albans team and preventative health unit The Koori Way are attending the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. West Metro Back To School Event 🏫

📆 Friday 23 January
🕰️ 11am-2pm
📍Wyndham Park, Watton Street, Werribee

We'll be there alongside V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Dhelk Dja and Ngwala Willumbong to provide education information for primary and high school students and their families 🚸

There'll be a feed provided and back to school packs for participants 🎒

13/01/2026

Rainbow Mob and allies, we would love to have you join us as part of the Rainbow Mob float at the Midsumma Festival march 🌈

Meet Craig under the gum tree at Ian Johnson Oval, St Kilda nice and early for a 10.30am start on Sunday 1 February to show your pride, celebrate Rainbow Mob and reiterate the importance creating safe spaces for the LGBTIQA+ community ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤

Join the First Nations Float at Midsumma Pride March! 🌈

Walk with VACCHO, VAHS, Treaty for Victoria, and The Koori Way as we celebrate and show our pride!

When 📅 : Sunday, 1 February 2026
Where 📍: Meet at 10 am at Ian Johnson Oval, St Kilda (Corner of Fitzroy St & Lakeside Dr)
March 🚶 starts: 10.30 am along Fitzroy St, finishing at Catani Gardens

Be early! The first 100 attendees receive a limited-edition VAHS Rainbow Mob T-shirt!

Aunty Carolyn Briggs will lead the First Nations float and perform a Welcome to Country at Catani Gardens.

Come along, meet Community leaders, grab your T-shirt, and show your PRIDE!

🌈🖤💛❤️💙💚🤍🖤🌈

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

12/01/2026

VAHS is a proud supporter of and participant in Midsumma Festival and we can't wait to return in 2026 🌈

Midsumma is a loud and proud celebration and acknowledgement of the LGBTIQA+ community, we call on Rainbow Mob and allies to get involved and show support for safe and diverse communities 💜

Catch us at -

🩵 Midsumma Carnival
11am-9pm Sunday 18 January, Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne
The vibrant opening event to formally begin Midsumma for 2026. Catch our preventative health unit The Koori Way there from 11am-3pm.

🩷 Midsumma Pride March
Starts 10.30am on Sunday 1 February, from Ian Johnson Oval St Kilda
One of the biggest events on the Pride calendar, the Rainbow Mob float, along with D***s on Bikes will lead the march, as Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we celebrate.

🤍 Victoria's Pride Street Party
Starts midday on Sunday 8 February, Gertrude Street and Smith Street precincts, Fitzroy
An all-day block party celebrating q***r pride through music, arts, food, and community. VAHS' Charcoal Lane site will be transformed into a sensory quiet zone to go to chill out and get away from the hustle and bustle.

11/01/2026

❗️Get Cool for School Health Checks at VAHS Fitzroy are BOOKED OUT ❗️

Thank you everyone for getting so behind Get Cool for School that you've already booked out Health Checks at one clinic!😎🎒

Come and see us today at VAHS FITZROY and VAHS PRESTON 📍

Get Cool for School! 😎 🎒

VAHS is helping you get your family’s health sorted in 2026 before school goes back 🏫

All four of our clinics are setting up a one-stop shop for health needs for kids aged 0-12, including a fun passport activity. The more stamps you get, the more you get in your special merch pack! 🛂

The timetable is –

VAHS Fitzroy:
🩺 Monday 12 January – Health Checks
🦷 Tuesday 13 January - Health Checks, dental clinic and oral health education, audiology and ear health with Hearing Australia
👂 Wednesday 14 January – Health Checks, audiology with MelUni audiology school
👣 Thursday 15 January – Health Checks, podiatry, dietitian, audiology with ear, nose and throat health
👓 Friday 16 January – Health Checks, optometry, preventative health with The Koori Way, ear health with Hearing Australia, dental clinic and oral health education, and a barbecue lunch

VAHS Preston:
🚐 Monday 12 January – dental van and oral health education, ear health with Hearing Australia, and preventative health with The Koori Way

VAHS St Albans:
🩺 Tuesday 13 January - Health Checks
🍎 Wednesday 14 January – Health Checks, dietitian, oral health education
🚐 Thursday 15 January – Dental van, Health Checks, preventative health with The Koori Way, and ear health with Hearing Australia

VAHS South Morang:
🚭 Wednesday 14 January – preventative health with The Koori Way, dental van, and ear health with Hearing Australia

Call VAHS on 9419 3000 to book a spot, or there will be walk-in opportunities on the day 🏥

08/01/2026

Do you want a chance to WIN tickets to the Australian Open men's final on Sunday 1 February? 👀🎾

Our friends at The Koori Way have a double pass up for grabs. All you need to do is register for and attend one of their upcoming Colour Fun Runs:

🫟 South-East Metro Fun Run hosted by Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd, 10am-2pm Sunday 18 January at Tirhutuan Park Dandenong North
🫟 West Gippsland Fun Run, 10am-12pm Sunday 15 February at Gippsland Immigration Park, Morwell
🫟 Shepparton Fun Run hosted by Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative, 1pm-2.30pm Friday 27 February at Rumbalara Football Netball Club

🔗 Register via the link in the comments. If you've already registered, you'll automatically be in the draw!

Do you want a chance to WIN a double pass to the men’s final at the Australian Open? 🎾

The Koori Way has a double pass to the men’s final at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday 1 February up for grabs! 🎫

All you need to do to be in the running is register for and participate in one of our upcoming Colour Fun Runs, with the first one hosted by Dandenong & District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd being 10am next Sunday 18 January at Tirhutuan Park, Dandenong North 👟

Other eligible events are the West Gippsland Colour Fun Run on Sunday 15 February at Gippsland Immigration Park, Morwell, and Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative at Rumbalara Football Netball Club Colour Fun Run 1pm on Friday 27 February 📅

Register before Friday 23 January via the link in the comments 🔗

Already registered? No worries, you’ll automatically be in the draw!

08/01/2026

Get Cool for School! 😎 🎒

VAHS is helping you get your family’s health sorted in 2026 before school goes back 🏫

All four of our clinics are setting up a one-stop shop for health needs for kids aged 0-12, including a fun passport activity. The more stamps you get, the more you get in your special merch pack! 🛂

The timetable is –

VAHS Fitzroy:
🩺 Monday 12 January – Health Checks
🦷 Tuesday 13 January - Health Checks, dental clinic and oral health education, audiology and ear health with Hearing Australia
👂 Wednesday 14 January – Health Checks, audiology with MelUni audiology school
👣 Thursday 15 January – Health Checks, podiatry, dietitian, audiology with ear, nose and throat health
👓 Friday 16 January – Health Checks, optometry, preventative health with The Koori Way, ear health with Hearing Australia, dental clinic and oral health education, and a barbecue lunch

VAHS Preston:
🚐 Monday 12 January – dental van and oral health education, ear health with Hearing Australia, and preventative health with The Koori Way

VAHS St Albans:
🩺 Tuesday 13 January - Health Checks
🍎 Wednesday 14 January – Health Checks, dietitian, oral health education
🚐 Thursday 15 January – Dental van, Health Checks, preventative health with The Koori Way, and ear health with Hearing Australia

VAHS South Morang:
🚭 Wednesday 14 January – preventative health with The Koori Way, dental van, and ear health with Hearing Australia

Call VAHS on 9419 3000 to book a spot, or there will be walk-in opportunities on the day 🏥

06/01/2026

🥵 HEATWAVE WARNING

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a heatwave warning for Victoria this week, with temperatures hitting the low 40s in metro Melbourne ☀️

Heatwave conditions can worsen existing medical conditions or cause health problems like heatstroke. Early signs of heat-related illness to watch out for include:

🌡️ Headaches and fatigue
🌡️ Raised body temperature
🌡️ Heavy sweating
🌡️ Weakness and poor coordination
🌡️ Nausea and vomiting
🌡️ Anxiety

We urge all Mob to take care of themselves, and vulnerable people including Elders, Boorais, and people with existing medical conditions, by:

💧 Stay hydrated - drink plenty of water and if you have to leave home, take a water bottle with you
🪭 Stay indoors where possible with air conditioning and/or electric fans, spray bottles, and cold towels to help keep your body cool
😅 If you don't have access to air con at home consider visiting a friend or family member who does, or a p***c place that does like a public library or shopping centre
🧴 Wear light, loose fitting clothing, as well as sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
☎️ Check in on elderly family members, especially if they live alone