Macedon Ranges Health

05/11/2025

KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN! 📣

Strong communities start in shared spaces and shared moments. Neighbourhood Houses are essential for fostering those moments and connections. Every week, 185,000 people access Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria for resilience, friendship, wellbeing, learning, inclusion, and connection.

Neighbourhood Houses have faced rising costs, increasing community need and an erosion of core funding. Our funding no longer covers staff wages, let alone operational costs. Around half of all Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria are running at a loss. This cannot continue.

We are asking and the Victorian Government to urgently restore funding to historical levels through a 25% increase, allowing Neighbourhood Houses to continue providing communities with essential support and connection.

To show your support, visit us here at MRFEC, your local Neighbourhood House and sign a postcard supporting this ask and share what your Neighbourhood House means to you. For more information and to show your support, you can also visit https://www.nhvic.org.au/2026-campaign 🥳

02/11/2025

Macedon Ranges Health will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 4 November, for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

We will reopen on Wednesday 5 November

30/10/2025

Living with Chronic Pain? You’re Not Alone.

Macedon Ranges Health is running another free Chronic Pain Program, starting 12 November — designed to help you build confidence, connection, and practical strategies to manage ongoing pain.

Over four weekly sessions, you’ll learn from our experienced health professionals about:
✅ Medical & medication management
✅ Movement & function
✅ Diet & pain management
✅ Mental health & wellbeing

Our group-based program offers a safe and welcoming space to share experiences and learn together. Previous participants have described it as “fantastic and worthwhile” and said “it helped me realise I wasn’t alone.”

100% of past participants surveyed said the program gave them strategies to improve their wellbeing, and all found the environment supportive and welcoming.

If you or someone you know is living with chronic pain, this program could be the first step toward improving quality of life — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Starts: Tuesday 12 November 10.30 – 12pm
Where: Macedon Ranges Health, Gisborne
Cost: Free
Register now: Call 03 5428 0300

28/10/2025

OT Week 2025

This year’s theme, Occupational Therapy in Action, celebrates the creativity, problem-solving, and compassion behind occupational therapy.

At Macedon Ranges Health, our occupational therapists work to help people live more independently, safely and comfortably.
They support you with:
✔ Home modifications & assistive equipment
✔ Strategies to manage daily tasks (self-care, household activities, work, leisure)
✔ Advice, education and tailored approaches to achieve your goals
Let’s shine a light on the vital work OTs do in our community, helping people stay engaged, active, and connected.

To find out more or book OT support, call (03) 5428 0300 or visit mrh.org.au

22/10/2025

Supporting Your Child’s Transition to Secondary School

Is your child starting secondary school next year?

Join headspace Schools & Communities for a free online parent and carer webinar to help you support your young person through this big change.

This one-hour session will explore:
✅ Understanding mental health and adolescent development
✅ Helping young people manage emotions during transition
✅ Where to seek support for you and your child

Session 1: Tuesday 28 October, 7–8pm AEDT
Session 2: Thursday 30 October, 8–9pm AEDT

💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
Register here:

Parent/Carer webinar: Supporting young people with transition from primary to secondary school. headspace Schools & Communities would like to invite you to attend a Mental Health Education Program webinar for Parents and Carers.

21/10/2025

Share your photos in this year’s Free to Be Me Photo Competition 📸

Do you live, work and play in the Macedon Ranges? Enter your photographs showing people of all genders doing things that challenge traditional gender roles - no experience needed.

📅 Entries open now and close on 2 November.

The competition is part of next month's 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, with a range of other events planned.

To enter and find out more about what's on, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/16-Days

09/10/2025

Happy Seniors Festival 2025!

During October, we celebrate the contribution of our older community members across Victoria.

This year’s theme is Connect. Create. Celebrate — a fitting reminder of the strength, wisdom, creativity, and connection our seniors bring to our communities.

At Macedon Ranges Health, we want to take this moment to say thank you:

❤ To our seniors — for your contributions, your stories, your resilience, your spirit.
❤ To those who care, support, volunteer — you help make our ageing community feel safer and more connected.
❤ To local community groups, clubs and partners — for your energy in putting on events and keeping everyone engaged.

For further information about specific Seniors Festival activities within the Macedon Ranges, visit https://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Live-Work/Older-People/Seniors-Festival-2025

Let’s celebrate together — connect, create and make this Seniors Festival one to remember!

The Victorian Seniors Festival is a major state-wide festival for and involving seniors. The festival runs from 1–31 October every year, with free and low-cost events right across Victoria.

02/10/2025

October is Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month is about raising awareness, reducing stigma, and reminding us that caring for our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical health.

This year’s theme highlights the power of connection — reaching out when it counts. Even small conversations or acts of kindness can make a big difference.

At Macedon Ranges Health, our counsellor Hugh Martin is here to support individuals, couples and families. Hugh can help with concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, family conflict, school stress and more.

To learn more about this free service or to make an appointment, call (03) 5428 0300 or visit mrh.org.au.

Let’s stay connected and support each other — because mental health matters.

29/09/2025

World Heart Day

Every year, World Heart Day reminds us of the importance of protecting our hearts and making small changes that can lead to longer, healthier lives.

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide — but the good news is that many heart events are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and early support.

At Macedon Ranges Health, we’re proud to support our community with the Heart Smart Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

This program is designed for anyone recovering from a heart event or living with a heart condition, helping you to:
✔ Understand your heart health
✔ Make positive lifestyle changes
✔ Improve or regain physical fitness
✔ Involve your family or carers in your recovery journey

Delivered by our experienced health team and recommended by the National Heart Foundation, Heart Smart combines education, practical tools and tailored exercise sessions to support recovery and confidence.

Referrals are welcome from hospitals, GPs, or you can nominate yourself to participate in the program.

Call us on 5428 0300 or visit mrh.org.au to learn more and book.

On this World Heart Day, let’s commit to making heart health a priority — for ourselves, our families, and our community.