Western Health

15/01/2026

A dignified way to honour a loved one 💙

Western Health is introducing thoughtfully designed bereavement bags to return personal belongings to families after a patient dies.

The bags feature artwork created by Victorian children and community craft groups, offering a gentle human touch at a very difficult time.

They replace standard plastic bags and reflect the care, dignity and respect our teams bring to end-of-life care.

Monique Sammut, Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Bacchus Marsh and within our Aged General Medicine and Subacute Services division, helped bring the bags to Western Health through the Handover HeARTwork charity.

Each bag includes a simple message for families: “our thoughts are with you.”

Learn more https://westernhealth.org.au/news/dignified-remembrance-with-new-bereavement-bags

09/01/2026

Creating connected care teams from day one 🤝

This week, Western Health welcomed our newest medical, nursing, pharmacy and allied health interns and graduates at our second interprofessional orientation.

More than 200 new starters came together across several Western Health sites, including the new Footscray Hospital. By learning together from the start, our graduates build relationships across professions and begin their careers as part of true multidisciplinary teams.

Director Education and Learning Robyn Peel said the program reflects how care is delivered in hospitals every day, with different professions working together to improve patient care.

With shared education sessions, joint grand rounds and study days planned throughout the year, this orientation marks the beginning of a collaborative journey focused on delivering better care for our communities.

💙 To all our newest team members, welcome to Western Health 🫶

06/01/2026

31/12/2025

✨ Happy New Year from all of us here at Western Health. 🎉✨

Our Emergency Departments and urgent care centres are open as usual today and tomorrow. 🏥🚑

If you’re out partying tonight, please drink responsibly, drive safely and look after each other. 🍸🚗💚

For more information on the year’s activities, achievements and challenges:

📺 Watch our Annual General Meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrpZQmlBqNY
📃 Read our Annual Report athttps://westernhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/Western%20Health%20Annual%20Report%202024-25.pdf [2.28 MB]

Thank you for your support throughout 2025, and here’s to a safe, happy and healthy start to 2026! 🙏🎉

24/12/2025

From everyone at Western Health, we wish our patients, families, volunteers and communities a safe and happy holiday season 🎄

To our staff who are on shift today, thank you for the care, skill and compassion you bring to work, especially at this time of year. Your dedication makes a real difference for our patients and their families ❤️

To our patients spending Christmas in hospital and away from loved ones, please know you are not alone. Our teams are here to support you, today and every day.

We wish everyone a safe and happy New Year ✨

19/12/2025

Behind the scenes of a hospital before it opens – and our students were right there. 🏥👀

Working alongside Western Health, our health students jumped into the Footscray Hospital mock move to help test how care will actually flow when doors open in 2026.

From transfer simulations to timing trials, it was all about pressure-testing systems – and giving students early exposure to real clinical environments (the kind you can’t learn from a textbook 📚).

With over 800 students completing placements each year across Western Health, many are already learning in the spaces they’ll one day work in. If you’re curious about the bigger picture of how VU supports the future health workforce, read this 👉 https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/vu-blog/supporting-the-frontline-of-our-rapidly-growing-health-workforce

18/12/2025

Services at Melton Urgent Care at 195-209 Barries Road Melton West were closed yesterday due to an electrical fault.

The fault has now been fixed, and services are operating as normal.

In a life-threatening medical emergency, please call Triple Zero (000) or attend the emergency department.

17/12/2025

UPDATE: ALL TICKETS NOW ALLOCATED

All tickets to the Footscray Hospital Community Open Day have now been allocated.

If you are interested in attending the Open Day, we encourage you to join the waitlist for your preferred session time. If tickets are released or become available, they’ll be offered to the waitlist in order automatically, with email notifications sent as spots become available.

You can view session times and join the waitlist at https://openhousemelbourne.org/event/footscray-hospital-community-open-day/

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We are thrilled to announce that the Footscray Hospital Community Open Day will be on Sunday, 1 February 2026.

This Community Open Day is an opportunity to celebrate the new Footscray Hospital, before it officially opens to the public on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

The Community Open Day is a free event. Tickets are limited and registration is essential.

Western Health has partnered with Open House Melbourne to produce a self-guided audio tour of the new Hospital. Self-guided tours will run from 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm).

We hope you can join us for a family-friendly day of fun and discovery.

👉 Book your ticket today at https://openhousemelbourne.org/event/footscray-hospital-community-open-day/

Footscray Hospital Community Open Day is presented by Western Health and Open House Melbourne, with thanks to the Plenary Health consortium, Victorian Government, and Victoria University, Melbourne Australia

15/12/2025

🎥 Channel 9 captured an important milestone ahead of the opening of the new Footscray Hospital on Wednesday 18 February 2026.

This milestone was a mock move exercise that allowed us to thoroughly test logistics, communications, governance and clinical processes in a realistic, controlled environment.

It was great to have the Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health Infrastructure Melissa Horne MP, and the local Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP, visit us for part of today's exercise in support of this important milestone.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, patient transport partners and Footscray Hospital Public Private Partnership members for the extensive planning, commitment and support that made this insightful and successful exercise possible. 🙏

11/12/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Dr Claire Long on receiving the Western Health 2025 Board Chair Medal!

At our Annual General Meeting, Western Health Board Chair Prof. The Hon. Jill Hennessy presented Dr Long with this prestigious honour in recognition of her exceptional leadership, advocacy and commitment to patient care.

Starting at Western Health as a medical student, Dr Long has become a highly respected Clinical Services Director who leads with integrity, kindness and an unwavering focus on patient safety.

Her work has driven major improvements across Aged, General Medicine and Subacute services including advancements such as the high-risk pre-operative optimisation clinic.

Her colleagues describe her as supportive, authentic and fiercely committed to her team and patients. 🌟

Read on 👉 https://westernhealth.org.au/news/distinguished-healthcare-leader-receives-board-chair-medal

📷 L-R: Western Health Board Chair Prof. The Hon. Jill Hennessy, award winner Dr Claire Long, and Western Health Chief Executive Officer Prof. Russell Harrison.

02/12/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that the new Footscray Hospital will open to patients on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

Located on the corner of Ballarat Road and Geelong Road, the new hospital will replace the original Footscray Hospital on Gordon Street.

Years of planning and dedication from our Western Health teams, the Victorian Government and our project partners Plenary Health, Victoria University, Melbourne Australia, Victorian Health Building Authority and Multiplex Construction have gone into creating a world-class facility that will transform healthcare for our community.

Our focus is on ensuring a smooth, safe and seamless transition and continuing to deliver the very best care throughout and post the move.