Gippsland Southern Health Service

11/11/2025

Too often, commemorative days become routine:
Brief services, polite silences, and then we move on.

But for our aged care residents, these moments carry deep personal meaning.

At 11am, residents and staff at Hillside Lodge, Alchera House and Koorooman House gathered to honour Remembrance Day with reflection, respect, and shared memory.

A minute of silence — solemn and unifying — was followed by The Last Post.

At Hillside, the haunting ode was performed on violin instead of bugle.

Across all three homes, poetry was read, memories of the fallen members of the former Woorayl Shire were shared, and conversations about courage, loss, and legacy continued after the service ended.

For our residents, remembrance is more than tradition.

It’s connection — to each other, to history, and to the stories that built the communities we call home.

Lest we forget.

11/11/2025

💙 Perioperative Nurses Week 2025 💙

This week, we’re celebrating the incredible nurses, technicians, and support staff who work tirelessly behind the theatre doors.

Our perioperative teams are the heartbeat of every surgery — working with precision, compassion, and calm under pressure to keep patients safe before, during and after their procedures.

From preparing the theatre and monitoring vital signs to supporting patients through recovery, their teamwork and expertise make all the difference.

Today we say a heartfelt thank you to our fabulous perioperative team.

Your dedication, skill and the care you provide is often unseen, but always felt.

10/11/2025

GSHS congratulates Adjunct Professor Adam Horsburgh on his appointment as the inaugural Chief Executive of Bayside Health, which will officially form on 1 January 2026.

Bayside Health will unite Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health — strengthening collaboration and improving access to care for communities across Victoria’s south-east.

As our CEO, Louise Sparkes said:
“We are fortunate to have a leader who is invested in regional health and aware of our unique challenges. Adam’s appointment, along with regional representation on the new Bayside Health Board, gives me great confidence about the future of healthcare for Southern Gippsland and our wider rural communities.”

This milestone reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, connected, and equitable care — building a stronger health system for all communities we serve.

10/11/2025

Every voice matters. Every action makes families safer…

This MARAMIS Week, we’re highlighting how Victoria’s MARAM Framework brings services together to identify risk earlier and respond faster — helping protect children, young people and families from harm.

New child and youth MARAM Practice Guides are coming in early 2026 to strengthen age-appropriate, trauma-informed responses.

Together, we’re building a safer Gippsland for every child.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.vic.gov.au/maram

04/11/2025

Picture this. A client walks into GSHS for a routine check. They sit quietly, a little anxious, unsure what today might bring. Thirty seconds later, with no needles and no pain, SOZO gives them clear answers. Instead of weeks of waiting or hours of travel, they leave knowing their care is on track.

And if something is changing, we can act immediately.

That’s the power of SOZO. Relief. Reassurance. Hope.

It’s not just about detecting lymphoedema early. It’s about giving our community confidence in recovery, dignity in care, and access to the same world-class technology available in the city.

Together, we can make this story real for South Gippsland. Every donation counts. 👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250

04/11/2025

Imagine care that gives you relief and reassurance the moment you need it. Care without delay. Care without travel. Care without guesswork.

That’s what SOZO would mean for South Gippsland.

With SOZO, our team could detect lymphoedema early — long before visible swelling begins — and step in quickly to prevent long-term damage.

It also brings pride in knowing that local families have access to the same standard of care as those in the city.

For clients, it means confidence in recovery. For our community, it means world-class care, delivered close to home.

💜 Together, we can make this future possible. Every donation is gratefully accepted.

👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250

03/11/2025

Swelling. Discomfort. Long-term impact. Lymphoedema is more than fluid retention.

It is a serious condition that can develop after cancer treatment, surgery, or injury. You can also be born with lymphoedema. It causes persistent swelling, heaviness, pain and reduced mobility. Once it starts, it is lifelong.

But with the right tools, we can detect it early and step in before it becomes permanent or more debilitating. That’s where SOZO comes in.

And SOZO does more than detect lymphoedema. It also provides vital body composition data — hydration, fat mass and muscle mass.

Allied Health Manager and Dietitian, Sara Mullery explains: “Having a SOZO at GSHS would improve the service we offer by allowing us to more accurately monitor hydration status, fat mass and muscle mass. It gives a better picture of nutrition risk, helps track goals like reducing fat or gaining muscle, and keeps clients motivated. It means we can better tailor care plans to each individual.”

SOZO is about prevention, recovery and giving people the best chance to live well — close to home.

💜 Help us bring SOZO to South Gippsland. We’re inching closer to our $18k goal, but we need your support. All donations are gratefully accepted here:

👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250

30/10/2025

Lymphoedema: The Myths & Fact

Myth: “You can always see lymphoedema — swelling makes it obvious.” Fact: Lymphoedema often starts silently, before you can see or feel it. Once it progresses, it’s hard to reverse.

Myth: “Lymphoedema only affects cancer survivors.” Fact: It can also develop after surgery or injury — and once it starts, it’s lifelong.

Myth: “Managing lymphoedema is simple.” Fact: It can mean daily compression garments, skin care and therapy, a constant reminder of a chronic health condition and a heavy burden on day to day life.

That’s why early detection matters. And that’s where SOZO comes in.

This quick, non-invasive machine detects lymphoedema before visible swelling begins and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. It gives clients the chance to start treatment early and live with less stress, more confidence, and stronger independence.

Right now, GSHS is getting close to our $18,000 goal required to bring SOZO to South Gippsland. Every donation counts.

👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250



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30/10/2025

🎃 Halloween at Hillside Lodge, Korumburra – Tomorrow! 👻

Get ready for a night of fun, frights, and family-friendly festivities right here in Korumburra!

Join us tomorrow at Hillside Lodge from 4pm for spooky treats, costumes, and plenty of community spirit.

Bring the kids, dress up, and enjoy celebrating Halloween with friends and neighbours.

Let’s make this a night to remember — Korumburra style!

🕷️ See you there, if you dare... 🕸️

29/10/2025

SOZO can detect lymphoedema early, before visible swelling begins. But that’s only part of the story.

SOZO also measures body composition: tracking muscle, fat and fluid. That means better care for people managing chronic disease, recovering from cancer, or rebuilding strength in rehabilitation.

It’s prevention. It’s progress. It’s peace of mind.

As physiotherapist Mandy Fletcher explains: “You’re not just funding a machine — you are giving someone the chance to live well with lymphoedema without the fear of it taking over their life. SOZO gives hope of regaining quality of life.”

This is about more than one condition. It’s about equipping GSHS with the tools to deliver world-class care, closer to home.

As we move towards our fundraising goals, we ask you to consider supporting this essential equipment.

💜 Every donation helps us to help our community. 👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250

Let’s Bring Lifesaving Detection to South Gippsland Help Us Raise $18,000 for a SOZO Machine We’re calling on our incredible community to help bring a game-changing piece of technology to Gippsland So

28/10/2025

Early detection isn’t optional. It’s life-changing.

Right now, GSHS relies on an L-Dex machine for detecting early lymphedema and monitoring lymphoedema treatment. However this machine is nearing the end of its life. It also can only give results for one arm or one leg. The SOZO can give results for any body part.

That means that currently, clients with more than one arm or leg affected are waiting until symptoms are obvious, or they may travel long distances to access the assessment they need.

But with SOZO, the story changes. ✅ Accurate, instant measurements every time ✅ Care that starts earlier, before swelling becomes permanent ✅ Confidence in monitoring and adjusting treatment

For clients, it means less stress, better outcomes, and fewer trips away from our community.

SOZO transforms lymphoedema care from reactive to preventative.

That’s the future our community deserves. GSHS is actively fundraising to purchase SOZO, and every donation helps us get there.

👉 https://www.mycause.com.au/campaign/374250

Let’s Bring Lifesaving Detection to South Gippsland Help Us Raise $18,000 for a SOZO Machine We’re calling on our incredible community to help bring a game-changing piece of technology to Gippsland So

27/10/2025

At GSHS, we believe community voice is the foundation of person-centred care.

Last Friday, our Community Advisory Committee (CAC) (represented by John Davies and Sue Fleming) presented at the Bayside Health Consumer Workshop, sharing how genuine local engagement continues to shape healthcare across South Gippsland.

Formed in 2023, the GSHS CAC brings together community representatives from Leongatha, Korumburra and surrounding districts, alongside Board and Executive members. It provides a direct link between our consumers, our Board and our Executive team, ensuring decisions reflect local needs and lived experience.

From the refurbishment of the Faith Quiet Room and enhancements to hospital gardens, to community-driven projects like the Blue House, Memorial Walk and the creation of the GSHS Avatars, the CAC’s work shows how local ideas can spark lasting change.

As John said during the presentation:
“We listen to what matters to our communities and bring that directly into the room where strategy and service planning happen.”

Sue echoed the same sentiment:
“We’re not outside observers — we’re part of the same communities that rely on GSHS. We see people in the supermarket, at sport, at Probus meetings or the Men’s Shed. That’s where real conversations about healthcare happen.”

As GSHS moves toward the Bayside Health merger in January 2026, one thing remains clear: our communities will continue to shape the health service they call their own.