Barwon Health

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Barwon Health

Victoria's largest regional service, providing state-of-the-art treatment and care.

Barwon Health is established under the Health Services Act 1988 as a Schedule 5 public health service. Formed in 1998, Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia,
providing care at all stages of life and circumstance. With more than 8,758 staff, we are one of Australia’s
largest regional employers and the largest employer in Geelong. Barwon H

ealth provides services for everyone who needs care, regardless of their financial status or the location of their usual residence. As a regional health service, we provide leadership and tertiary referral services across the
Barwon South West region. We provide services from the University Hospital Geelong precinct in central Geelong, the McKellar Centre precinct in North Geelong and other locations including the Sunrise Centre, a partnership initiative with the Geelong Football Club and the Transport Accident Commission that provides a contemporary community venue for specialist community rehabilitation programs. We provide community health services from Anglesea, Belmont, Corio, Newcomb, and Torquay and dental services from Belmont, Corio and Newcomb. Our newest sites include Barwon Health North in Norlane providing, amongst other services, child and family health services, renal dialysis, medical imaging and an urgent care service. Mental health, drugs and alcohol services are provided at the Swanston Centre at University Hospital Geelong, Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) at Belmont Community Rehabilitation Facility, the McKellar Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre and Blakiston Lodge Psychogeriatric Unit at the McKellar Centre and 10 community-based locations including Belmont, central Geelong, Colac, Corio, Barwon Health North and Newcomb. We provide residential aged care beds across two sites: Alan David Lodge in Charlemont, and three lodges on the
McKellar Centre precinct in North Geelong these include Percy Baxter Lodge, Wallace Lodge and Blakiston Lodge. We provide a comprehensive range of health services including acute care (medicine, surgery, women’s health,
paediatrics, emergency and specialist clinics), mental health, alcohol and other drugs services, primary care,
community health, rehabilitation, geriatric medicine, palliative care, community nursing and hospital in the home. As a major teaching hospital, we have relationships with Deakin University, LaTrobe University, the Gordon
Institute and other tertiary education providers including the University of Melbourne and Monash University. We
provide teaching and training for all health professionals across all disciplines, at all career stages.

25/04/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞
"I’m a registered nurse on Heath Wing 6 which is a surgical, colorectal and urology ward. I’ve been a registered nurse for almost three years. I did my graduate year on Heath Wing 6 and loved it so much I came back. In the last 12 months I have become the wellbeing champion and head of the social committee. I have also started a monthly newsletter for the ward that includes notes for the ward, staff news and announcements, upcoming events and educational sessions, photos and things from the wellbeing program that interest the ward.

I genuinely enjoy working on the ward. The team is amazing and I’ve built some really good friendships that make shifts enjoyable. I’ve always felt supported by the nurse unit manager and associate nurse unit managers and their encouragement pushes me to keep improving and growing as a registered nurse.

I also really appreciate the opportunity to take on extra roles. Organising social events is something I love, especially being able to have fun with each other outside of work. I enjoy being creative, so creating the monthly newsletter is a fun for me, and the positive feedback from the team has made it even more rewarding."

24/04/2026

An ANZAC Day commemorative service was held at the McKellar Centre today, bringing together residents, staff, volunteers and visitors to reflect and honour those who have served.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed including MC Joy Bromley, guest speaker Mark Lee from the Geelong RSL, Wallace Lodge resident Claudio Stalio, bagpiper Craig McKenzie, bugler Britteny Ling from the Salvation Army South Barwon Band, soloist Rebecca Hay, Spiritual Care coordinator Isabel Greenall and Barwon Health Veteran Affairs.

Special guests in attendance included Barwon Health board director Stephen Elder, Jeremiah Jacoby representing Hon. Richard Marles, Federal Member for Corio, Fakiha Mazumder representing Christine Couzens, Member for Geelong and Councillor Rowan D Story AM, City of Greater Geelong.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest we forget.

23/04/2026

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to celebrate our staff’s remarkable commitment to serving the community through our combined Length of Service celebration and the Barwon Best Care Awards.

More than 180 staff gathered at Rydges Geelong to celebrate staff who achieved 20, 30, 40 or 50 years of service in 2025, while we also recognised teams and individuals doing outstanding work in safety and quality, education and training, work health and safety, and outstanding leadership and teamwork.

See the list of winners and a full event gallery on the Barwon Health website: https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/news/celebrating-staff-at-the-length-of-service-and-barwon-best-care-awards/

23/04/2026

Yesterday we celebrated an exciting milestone for healthcare in the Barwon region.

Our new alliance with Deakin University means more people in our community will be able to take part in clinical trials and access the latest healthcare innovations close to home.

For patients and families, this can mean less travel, less disruption, and care delivered by teams they know and trust. It also means regional voices helping shape the future of healthcare, not just benefiting from it later.

This partnership strengthens clinical excellence, supports ongoing learning and improvement across our health system, and brings long term benefits to our community through research, jobs and investment.
Thank you to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Richard Marles MP for officially marking the launch, and our clinicians, researchers, donors, the Barwon Health Foundation, and everyone who has contributed to making this collaboration a reality.

We’re proud of what this alliance will deliver for patients today — and for the health of our region into the future.
You can read more here : https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/news/barwon-health-and-deakin-university-create-alliance-to-enable-clinical-research/

21/04/2026

Residents, visitors, staff and volunteers are invited to attend our annual ANZAC Day commemorative service at the McKellar Centre.

The service will be held on Friday 24 April from 1:30pm to 2:30pm at the McKellar Centre Town Square, located just outside Cafe 45.

Tea, coffee and ANZAC biscuits will be available following the service.

We hope you can make it as we acknowledge this important day.

20/04/2026

The digital version of our staff magazine Auricle is out now.

Plenty has been happening around Barwon Health over the past 12 months, so be sure to read the latest edition here:https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/14162_AuricleEdition12026_FA01-Digital-1.pdf

18/04/2026

𝐀/𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐰𝐞𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
"I am an interventional radiologist (IR) and the Director of Interventional Radiology at Barwon Health. IRs are doctors with a focus on minimally invasive image-guided treatments. The range of our work is broad - we interact with GPs and hospital specialties and treat almost all parts of the body. What we encounter from day-to-day ranges from the elective treatment of cancer patients to the emergency treatment of bleeding or infection (and with much in between). It's often unpredictable but stimulating and rewarding work.

I started at Barwon Health in 2008. I had trained in medicine in London and then in radiology in Oxford and had recently completed an IR fellowship in Melbourne. I loved my short time in Australia and wasn't ready to go back, which was 18 years ago now! The hospital and the radiology department has grown considerably since then and it has been exciting to be on that journey and to help innovate and expand the services that we offer. The unit now provides the same breadth of treatments that you would find in a metro teaching hospital. Recently, we have collaborated with the respiratory unit to provide the mechanical thrombectomy service for acute pulmonary embolism and that has brought great clinical outcomes and much fulfilment to our team.

The most rewarding part of my work is the feeling that you make a positive impact in lives. Sometimes we save lives, more often we get people home sooner or help them have a better quality of life. IR at Barwon Health is a wonderful close-knit group. The doctors, nurses, radiographers and support staff all work closely together. We work hard, have fun and look after each other, so I count myself very fortunate."

15/04/2026

Today Barwon Health hosted a Paediatric Palliative Care Workshop, bringing together clinicians from across the region to strengthen care for children with life-limiting illness.

In collaboration with The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne and the Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Service, the workshop connected paediatricians, nurses, allied health and ICU teams to share knowledge, build relationships and improve how we support children and their families at home and in hospital settings.

14/04/2026

Barwon Health is currently undergoing accreditation against the National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards (NHQHS).
The once every three-year accreditation process is an opportunity to showcase our commitment to delivering high-quality care to our patients.

During the week, assessors will be visiting services and facilities across Barwon Health. They may ask to observe and talk to you about the care you are receiving. You can choose to give consent to this or not.
Your involvement in the accreditation process helps improve our health service.

Learn more about accreditation here: https://bit.ly/4c7rLlE

13/04/2026

Barwon Health staff flu vaccinations are now available

From 13 April, our staff flu vaccination program begins with walk-in clinics at University Hospital Geelong cafeteria and Café 45 at the McKellar Centre, plus pop-up clinics across other Barwon Health sites.

An annual flu vaccine is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help protect yourself, your colleagues, your family and the patients in our care this winter.

Thank you to our staff for helping keep our community safe.

12/04/2026

⚠️ 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟏𝟑 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 - 𝟐𝟐 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

From 13 April to 22 May construction will commence on underground works at the main entrance of University Hospital Geelong.

Over the coming months, there will be some disruptions to pedestrians and vehicles:
- Short-term parking for drop-off and pick-up will remain available.
- Access will be maintained for pedestrians.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

(Note: The maternity intercom will remain accessible for maternity patients to contact maternity services staff after hours).

11/04/2026

𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫
"As an instrument tech supervisor, I have responsibility for the cleaning, washing, packing, wrapping and sterilising of reusable instruments and equipment to meet required standards. I supervise instrument technicians to ensure they follow procedures for sterilisation, preparation and maintenance of surgical instruments and medical equipment.

I have worked with Barwon Health for seven years. Working in a sterilisation department is an intense, specialised and vital role. I moved from New Zealand to Australia in 2018, having previously worked in Auckland and bringing 15 years of experience.

Before starting my career in sterilisation, I worked in a hotel in New Zealand. My wife is a nurse who introduced me to sterilisation. At the beginning, it was difficult dealing with soiled instruments, but I soon started to love my job and the critical role I play. Starting my career with Barwon Health was the best thing to happen to me. The people here are like family and are so supportive. My manager in the CSU is an open book, and I thank him for all the opportunities he has given me.

On one late afternoon, the department was facing a high number of soiled instruments from a heavy surgery day. I received a call from an orthopaedic nurse requiring an immediate complex tray that was dirty. The team was tired, but the urgency of getting the tray prioritised was my goal to ensure it was processed on time. We managed to process the required tray, validate its sterility, and deliver it to the theatre just in time. Hearing the excitement from the nurse and knowing our work directly contributed to a successful surgery was fulfilling.

Often, we are seen as unsung heroes working behind the scenes, but our meticulous care prevents infections and saves lives. There is pride in knowing that the quality starts with us and that we deliver a critical sterilisation service when it matters most. On International Day of Sterilisation Sciences, it’s important to recognise how crucial sterilisation technicians are in healthcare."

Address

272-322 Ryrie Street
Geelong, VIC
3220

Telephone

+61342150000

Website

http://www.barwonhealth.org.au/

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Our Story

Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia, providing care at all stages of life and circumstance. Health services available through Barwon Health cover the full spectrum from primary care, community services, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, emergency and acute care. With the exception of neurosurgery and transplantation, virtually all other specialties are available through University Hospital Geelong.

Care is provided to the community through:

Community health services at key locations throughout the region.

Aged care through the McKellar Centre and its sites at North Geelong and Charlemont.

Barwon Health

25/04/2026

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