Foster and Toora Medical Centres

15/09/2025

APPOINTMENT NO-SHOWS

I’m sorry to say that this morning we had FIVE appointments wasted to people failing to turn up without letting us know they couldn’t attend the appointment. This is exceptionally disappointing when we are so pressured for appointments and these could have been made available for another patient.

PLEASE, out of courtesy to your community members we encourage you to write your appointment in your diary or in your phone calendar or put your card on the fridge and LET US KNOW if you no longer require it or cannot attend.

Let’s all work together to use our valuable resources carefully!

08/09/2025

PHONES ARE DOWN AT FOSTER AND TOORA MEDICAL CENTRES

Apologies if you have been unable to get through this morning. We are open as usual for booked appointments and anticipate the problem will be fixed quickly.
If you require a non urgent appointment please call later.

If you have an urgent problem suitable to be seen at FMC and the phone does not answer, you can attend the clinic to be triaged in person. Please try calling first as we hope the problem will be fixed soon.

Thanks for your understanding.

13/06/2025

YOU’RE INVITED: Join the Conversation on Building a Healthier, Stronger Community

For the past 13 years, the South Gippsland Community Health Foundation has proudly supported vital health services for the Corner Inlet community. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, we’ve been able to fund important projects like:

Purchasing the Banksia Lodge lease for South Gippsland Hospital
Upgrading high-care rooms at Prom Country Aged Care
Supporting the Royal Flying Doctor transport service
We believe there's still so much more we can achieve—together. As someone already playing a key role in building a resilient, healthy community, we’d love for you to join us for a special Community Foundations Panel and Q&A.

This event is a chance to connect, share ideas, and explore how we can better work together to support the health and wellbeing of our region.

We are grateful to the South Gippsland Council for sponsoring the event.

Event Details:
📅 Sunday, 29 June
🕑 2:00–4:00 PM
📍 Manna Gum Community House

RSVP Mon 23 June

Please see the attached flyer for more information.
We’d love to see you—and your team—there.

09/06/2025

https://www.sgst.com.au/news/foster-doctor-david-iser-awarded-an-oam-for-services-to-medicine

Congratulations Dr David Iser - a well earned recognition of decades of hard work and care.

HIGHLY-regarded and universally acclaimed Foster doctor, David Iser, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in today’s King’s Birthday honours. Dr David James Iser, now of Barwon Heads, where he moved in...

03/06/2025

Would you like to work with our wonderful team? FMC is looking for a new receptionist! Please see the add below for details and spread the word if you know someone who would be a great fit.

Find your ideal job at SEEK with 28 Medical Centre jobs found in Foster VIC 3960. View all our Medical Centre vacancies now with new jobs added daily!

13/04/2025

THE FMC CHICKENS ARE MIGRATING

The prize-winning FMC chickens have been a much loved fixture of the clinic since the early days of the COVID pandemic. They’ve made many a nervous patient (small and big) feel at ease and kept people entertained while they wait. We think the chickens and the person who has been cleaning up after them as best he could for 5 years have earned a rest so the chickens will soon head home to run amok in the garden instead.
The courtyard area will return to its original water feature and garden unless another excellent suggestion appears from left field!

24/03/2025

Under 65 and wondering if you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine?

Common conditions included on the eligibility list include Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Cancer Kidney Disease and lung disease. Please note mild asthma not requiring multiple medications including preventer medication does not currently qualify.

All ATSI patients over 6m of age are eligible.

You may find the information below useful.

This fact sheet provides information about getting vaccinated against the flu in 2025.

24/03/2025

FLU VACCINES

Flu vaccines are arriving and as we do every year we will hold some dedicated clinic sessions to FMC patients. Please call or drop in to the clinic to book your appointment.

Over 65yo sessions:
Saturday 5th April AM
Saturday 12th April AM

Under 65s with a chronic disease, ATSI patients or those paying privately:
Monday 7th April
Tuesday 8th April

We will book further clinics as demand requires. Please note we do not yet have supply of vaccines for children 6m-5y.

17/03/2025

HOT DOCS

We have made the decision to stop using the Hot Docs booking platform at this time as under the current appointment pressures it is not really serving its purpose. We know a small number of people find it useful and we apologise for the inconvenience - of course appointments can still be booked on the phone and in person. We will continue to triage urgent appointments via reception and the nurses to ensure fair appointment allocation. If you have recently made your appointment through hot docs it will remain in place.
Warm regards, FMC

21/01/2025

Update 22/1 Phones and internet were finally back on at 1630 yesterday. There will be lots to catch up on including emails and faxes - thank you for being patient and understanding. Hundreds of voice messages were left but we are unable to address all of these. If you have not had a response please call back as needed.
Many thanks to those below helping with useful information.

Update@1430
Still no progress everyone. Please note we are running off one phone and we cannot guarantee we can respond to voice mail messages. You may need to call back tomorrow.

Update @ FMC
We are waiting for TPG to restore our internet this morning but it may be lunchtime before this happens. Our phones, escripts and remote access to our server are all affected. We will have a single diverted phone line so you may have difficulty getting through. If you require advice about whether your problem is urgent please consider utilising Nurse on Call or VVED as we will be unable to answer all calls. As usual, please call triple zero for all emergencies. We will see urgent walk ins at the hospital and clinic but please avoid walking in if your problem is not urgent.

21/01/2025

UPDATE 445pm - thanks again for your patience. Phones and internet are still down but we hope to be back online tomorrow. Script clinic will be transferred tomorrow and you will receive a call if you did not get one today.
Thanks again!

We apologise if you have tried to call or email us today - we are having difficulties with our internet and are awaiting further advice to rectify the issue. If you have a booked appointment please attend as usual.

10/12/2024

We apologise if you have had trouble getting in touch with FMC today. We have been at the mercy of a TPG internet outage affecting our phones, fax, escript and email.
TPGs Field engineer has found damaged fibre near the corner of Lafayette St and Kay St, Traralgon. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Once there is more information available we will update you further. There is no current ETR.