Barwon Health

09/04/2026

A bereavement singing group led by palliative care volunteers is supporting families who have recently lost loved ones.

The group meets fortnightly at the McKellar Centre Chapel and recently held its first session at Barwon Health Palliative Care at Anam Cara House.

Sarah Carroll facilitates the group, supported by fellow volunteers John Carroll, Carole Witana and Sarah Vannewkirk.

The group involves breath work, singing and creating music together whilst having fun along the way.

Funded by The Hospice Foundation Geelong, the group is highly valued by families and friends navigating bereavement.

Pictured: Bereavement singing group in action at Barwon Health Palliative Care at Anam Cara House.

08/04/2026

Thinking about your 2027 graduate year in nursing, midwifery or Mental Health, Drugs & Alcohol Service (MHDAS)? Come and chat with the Barwon Health team at the ACN Nursing and Health Expo on 18 April.
We’ll be there to answer your questions and talk through graduate opportunities.
If you’re a second, third or fourth-year nursing, midwifery or paramedicine student, drop by the Barwon Health stall and say hello.
Learn more here: https://www.acn.edu.au/events/nursing-health-expo

03/04/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧, 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭
"I'm an endocrinologist primarily based in specialist clinics. I work in the diabetes clinics, the high risk diabetes foot clinic and the general endocrinology clinic. I help patients manage their diabetes, complications related to diabetes such as diabetic foot ulcers, thyroid conditions, metabolic bone issues, pituitary disorders, adrenal disorder and other endocrine conditions. Most of my days involve consulting with patients in clinics to personalise their medical management and optimising long-term outcomes.

I have worked at Barwon Health for eight years, having completed my Advanced Physician Training in Endocrinology. During my registrar years, I was mostly involved with inpatient management on the wards at University Hospital Geelong. Since becoming a consultant endocrinologist, my focus at Barwon Health is providing outpatient care to patients with endocrine issues.

I am incredibly fortunate to work within a supportive and cohesive team of diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, orthotists, administrative staff, clinic nurses and fellow endocrinologists. In the outpatient setting, I have the privilege of supporting and witnessing patients with chronic conditions make meaningful progress over time to improve their overall health."

31/03/2026

🗞️ A major clinical trial aiming to reduce hospital admissions among preschoolers who experience wheezing episodes has reached a significant milestone with the recruitment of its 1,000th child.

The ARROW Trial is testing a new treatment for childhood wheeze and involves 46 hospitals participating in the Children’s Inpatient Research Collaboration of Australia and New Zealand (CIRCAN).

Study lead Professor Peter Vuillermin, a paediatrician from the Barwon Health and Deakin University Clinical Trials Alliance, said wheezing illnesses were the leading cause of hospital admissions among preschool-aged children worldwide.

The trial aims to recruit 1,088 children from one to six years old with a history of recurrent wheeze requiring hospital admission. Participants receive either OM-85, an oral medication that boosts immunity, or a placebo for the first 10 days of each month over 12 months. Families complete weekly diaries to track symptoms and healthcare presentations.

Read more: https://www.deakin.edu.au/about-deakin/news-and-media-releases/article/landmark-study-into-preschool-wheezing-reaches-major-milestone

📷: Amanda and Xander Gillin

30/03/2026

Barwon Health research operations manager Bree Sarah recently joined the Local Legends Radio Show on 94.7 The Pulse, sharing valuable insights on clinical trials happening at Barwon Health and how the community can get involved.

🎧 Listen: https://soundcloud.com/tim-carr-20/bree-sarah-barwon-health?si=233c1dd27ff24fdfaabbcb601e4c71a8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

This week we spoke to Bree Sarah who is the Research Operations Manager at Barwon Health. She talked to us about the amazing number of medical trials that are constantly running at Barwon Health and the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre.

She stressed the importance of the trials and encouraged people to volunteer to be be part of medical trials. It was an eye opener for Keith and I.

If you would like to listen to our chat just click here:
https://soundcloud.com/tim-carr-20/bree-sarah-barwon-health?si=233c1dd27ff24fdfaabbcb601e4c71a8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

27/03/2026

𝐃𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐧, 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧
"We look after patients with lung diseases but my special interest is problems with blood vessels in the lungs including pulmonary embolism (PE). I lead our PE response team (PERT). It is about rapid decision making to improve outcomes for patients with PE. It combines specialists from interventional radiology (IR), Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department and anaesthetics to make decisions together. In some cases our IR doctors can perform minimally invasive clot retrieval which is an innovative and lifesaving procedure.

We were the first hospital in Victoria to institute this service and are now the most experienced hospital in Australia in this intervention. It’s been rewarding to see its positive impact on patients. We’re seeing fewer deaths and people getting home sooner.

I did most of my training years at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) before coming to Geelong in 2017. The respiratory unit has grown in recent years. We have a great mix of newer doctors and experienced physicians, and there’s a supportive team culture. We help each other, we’re open about advice and we enjoy working together. I feel lucky to work with the colleagues I do.

One of the nicest things is seeing junior doctors come through the unit and then go on to train as respiratory physicians themselves. Watching hard working junior doctors develop into the next generation of specialists is lovely.

I remember being a junior doctor at RMH and seeing three expert physicians around a patient's bedside trying to figure out a complex problem. It had a huge impact on me to see how committed they were with every patient in the system and that is what inspires me. I believe strongly in providing the best possible care in a public healthcare system that everyone can access. I can use my brain to solve difficult problems and communicate with people when they are in a vulnerable moment. I think that is a real privilege."

26/03/2026

🧳⛺🦟 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬?

Eligibility to receive a free Japanese encephalitis vaccine has been temporarily expanded until 30 June 2026 to include people who plan to visit any of the 24 high-risk local government areas in Victoria for outdoor recreation.

Japanese encephalitis is a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain caused by a virus that can be spread to humans through mosquito bites.

High-risk areas in regional Victoria are experiencing a prolonged mosquito season this year due to recent flooding in parts of northern Victoria.

Speak to your doctor or local immunisation provider to check if you are eligible for the free vaccine, including if you plan to visit any of the high-risk local government areas.

To check the list of high-risk local government areas, go to the eligibility criteria in the vaccination section on this page: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/japanese-encephalitis

Find more information on Japanese encephalitis and how to protect yourself from mosquitoes here: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/japanese-encephalitis

24/03/2026

🎙️ In this episode of Room 64 - A Palliative Care Podcast, we're joined by Karen Sariego who is an aged care and disability palliative care link nurse.

Sharing information about her role in the aged care and disability sector, Karen provides a rare insight into the unique role and importance of working with aged care and disability service providers across the Barwon South West region to ensure we are providing the best possible palliative care service to older members of the community and people with a disability.

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CYC0175oPwA100KPkuXSz?si=HrG1lvP-QLeJfdw4CnCAQg

Please take the opportunity to listen to this episode and share through your networks to keep these important conversations happening.

20/03/2026

As part of Advance Care Planning Week, we're showcasing the role our ACP facilitators play at Barwon Health.

𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫
"I help clients and patients to document their Advance Care directives and appoint their medical treatment decision makers. My colleague Susanne Burtt and I have scheduled appointments either face-to-face in outpatient clinics or community health centres, on the hospital wards or phone and telehealth appointments. Each appointment takes between 45 to 90 minutes. The rest of our work is administration and education. We run regular workshops for Barwon Health staff throughout the year, and we process all Advance Care Planning documents from across Barwon Health and private and GP sources before they go onto the DMR.

My background is critical care nursing. Before this role, I had worked in intensive care units/critical care units for decades. I have been at Barwon Health in this role for five years and our ACP program has recently undergone significant changes. However, we want people to know we are still here and available to assist.

I love my role because of the people I meet and work with and the significant conversations I get to have with people. Everyone is different but there are often tissues involved. The work is important and rewarding because it helps people have a say in the healthcare they do or don’t want, what situations they would find unacceptable and their preferences of life-prolonging treatments. It helps the medical staff and the families and significant others to make the right decision for the patient, prevents disagreements between loved ones and hopefully one day might mean the person has an end of life that is dignified and gentle."

19/03/2026

Barwon Health volunteers are crafting fiddle mats to support patients experiencing delirium.

Fiddle mats are soft tactile lap blankets with different textures to help occupy the hands, reduce agitation and provide sensory stimulation.

Delirium is a sudden change in a person's mental state that can cause confusion, disorientation or difficulty concentrating. For those experiencing delirium, small interventions such as these fiddle mats can make a real difference to their comfort and wellbeing, and provide a sense of calm during what can be a distressing time.

Where possible, these mats are matched to a patient's personal preferences, including their favourite colours, patterns or interests, so that each one feels personal and meaningful.

These creations reflect the compassion and dedication of our volunteers who go above and beyond to support our patients.

Pictured: Maggie Clarke, Barwon Health volunteer

12/03/2026

We’re pleased to see Barwon Health’s life-saving work recognised in the media.

Our Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) is delivering world-leading care for patients with life-threatening lung clots, helping set a new benchmark in treatment.

Led by respiratory specialist Associate Professor Dr Anna Dunn, the multidisciplinary service brings together respiratory medicine, intensive care and interventional radiology to provide rapid, evidence-based care.

A key part of the treatment is minimally invasive mechanical thrombectomy, performed by specialist interventional radiologists. Our interventional radiology team is on call 24/7 to deliver these life-saving treatments, including Dr Ben Harrison, who performed Jackie’s thrombectomy.

Read more:
https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/geelongs-leading-lung-clot-treatment-slashes-death-rates-goes-global/news-story/4c00641f6533b6795652b6418e336caf

or via the Barwon Health website: https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/news/geelong-lung-clot-service-sets-international-benchmark-in-life-changing-care/

We’re incredibly proud of the teams whose collaboration and innovation continue to improve care for our community.

Photo: (L–R) Dr Steel Scott (Interventional Radiology), Associate Professor Anna Dunn (Director of Respiratory Medicine), Associate Professor Andrew Owen (Director of Interventional Radiology).

06/03/2026

8 March is and we're shining a spotlight on Linsey, who is making a difference in the Intensive Care Unit and beyond.

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐲, 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭
"As a clinical nurse specialist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), I care for critically unwell patients as part of a team of nurses, doctors, technicians, cleaners, receptionists and allied heath staff. We also provide support to the patient's family as having a relative in ICU can be a very stressful time.

For the past year I have also been covering the ICU liaison nurse role. I follow up ICU patients who have recovered enough to be transferred to a general ward. We check to make sure things have gone smoothly in their transition and can provide clarity about their ICU experience. The role involves attending MET and code blue calls to provide support and care for patients, visitors and staff members experiencing a medical emergency. The role also involves working with ward nurses and medical staff to provide support and education with complex and deteriorating patients.

I joined Barwon Health in 2008 working casually and then joined ICU in 2009 to complete my postgraduate diploma in critical care. I’ve remained in ICU ever since, so 17 years now. Before Barwon Health, I worked at Wonthaggi Hospital for two years and before that I worked in Scotland where I was born and grew up. I’ve now lived in Australia for 20 years, although apparently my accent hasn’t changed much!

I find it satisfying when, at a MET call, I arrive in an area I may not be familiar with, meet other nurses and medical staff I may never have met and everyone works together as a team to obtain the best outcome for a patient. I find it rewarding when I’ve looked after an unwell patient in ICU or at a MET call and next shift when you go to check in on them, they are much improved and they remember that you were kind to them."