South Metropolitan Health Service

04/02/2026

Rockingham General Hospital is excited to be the first in WA Health to roll out the VELYS robotic system for knee replacements 🦵

This clever technology gives surgeons real-time precision without needing a pre-operative CT scan, meaning fewer appointments, less radiation and potentially quicker recoveries for our patients.

Read more on how this technology is contributing to delivering better patient-centered care closer to home 👉 https://www.rkpg.health.wa.gov.au/News/2026/02/04/Rockingham-General-Hospital-introduces-VELYS-robotic-technology-for-knee-surgery

02/02/2026

After 6 months, Lachie and Joe (also known as ‘Peanut’) walked out of our State Rehabilitation Service on Friday afternoon to a sea of staff, fellow patients, friends, and family cheering them on 👏

Both sustaining spinal cord injuries playing sport, the pair became an integral part of each other’s rehabilitation journey.

Watch the full Channel 7 news coverage 👇

01/02/2026

Kicking off our ‘We are SMHS’ segment for 2026, meet Dr Penny Keogh, Nurse Director of Education at Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (FSFHG), who is wrapping up an incredible 42-year nursing career!

You might be surprised to learn that Penny once studied fine arts and worked as a graphic designer 🎨 before she “accidently” fell into a career in nursing.

Working in hospitals across Sydney and Perth as a surgical and ICU nurse, she soon found her niche in nursing education and staff development 👩‍⚕️

Providing education opportunities to our nurses and midwives, Penny helped build a brand-new education model from the ground up at FSFHG, focused on nurturing not only the scientific clinical skills of our staff, but their unique strengths and human skills.

“The model I’ve created to holistically educate and support our nurses has taken me 13 years – the biggest painting I’ve ever done. I trust the incredible people I’ve worked alongside to take it from here and make it theirs, but my painting is finished. It’s my time to go.”

From all of us at South Metro Health Service, we wish you a happy retirement Penny! 💜

30/01/2026

Congratulations to Dr Daniela Vecchio on being a finalist at the 2026 Australian of the Year awards in Canberra over the long weekend. What an incredible way to be recognised for her dedication and impact on a national scale!

Her work leading Australia’s first publicly funded Gaming Disorder Clinic at SMHS is pioneering treatment for our patients living with digital addiction and gaming disorders and it’s an absolute honour to have her in the SMHS family 💜

We can’t wait to see what she does next!

You can read more about Daniela’s personal experience at the prestigious awards ceremony here 👉 https://smhs.health.wa.gov.au/News/2026/01/30/Australian-of-the-Year-finalist-cherishes-once-in-a-lifetime-awards-experience

29/01/2026

Did you catch our junior doctors in The West Australian yesterday?

Ainsley and Ahmed spoke to The West about what it’s like to start in the biggest ever cohort of junior doctors at SMHS and how our Doctors Support Unit is helping them kickstart their careers.

The Doctors Support Unit is the first of its kind service in Australia, purpose built to elevate the wellbeing, culture and professional experience of junior doctors across SMHS.

Created in response to real workforce challenges, it’s a one stop shop giving junior doctors everything they need to deliver exceptional patient centered care – from wellbeing care and education to rostering, leave and overtime admin support.

Read more 👉 https://thewest.com.au/news/health/south-metropolitan-health-sees-record-cohort-of-medical-interns-after-introduction-of-first-of-a-kind-support-c-21358386

A first-of-its-kind support service for junior doctors has improved workforce shortages at one of the State’s biggest hospital service providers.

Link in comments for full story.

28/01/2026

Did you know we have a bank of free, comprehensive health advice on our website?

You can access podcasts from experts in their field, anytime, anywhere.

Here are some of the topics we’ve covered recently:

👉 The ageing eye: seeing the years clearly – challenges, myths, and solutions

👉 Heart health and cholesterol: Keeping your heart in top shape

👉 Fatty liver: Why it matters and what you can do about it

👉 Menopause matters: Everything you need to know

Find the recordings on our website 👉 https://smhs.health.wa.gov.au/Our-community/Engaging-with-our-community/Fiona-Wood-Public-Lecture-Series

24/01/2026

Peel Health Campus (PHC) is now adorned with a timeline of the hospital’s history, complete with nostalgic sepia photographs and black-and-white newspaper clippings 🗞️

The mural is particularly special for our veteran staff who have been at PHC since it opened in 1987 – some of them can even stop by and see photos of their younger selves.

A big thank you to the PHC Friends of the Hospital volunteer group who made the project possible by sharing their photos and archives 💜

21/01/2026

Heading to one of our hospitals soon? Consider popping a reusable coffee cup and water bottle into your bag.

All of our great on-site coffee outlets are happy to take your clean reusable cup.

Every refill helps cut down on single use waste, keeps our spaces cleaner, and supports a healthier environment for everyone.

Small choices add up - thank you for supporting our efforts to reduce waste and to care for our community and our planet 💚

19/01/2026

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting severe heat in Perth and WA this week, with daytime temperatures to reach the high 30s 🥵

In a heatwave, we need to take extra steps and plan accordingly to keep ourselves safe:

👉 Avoid exercise and outdoor work in the hottest parts of the day
👉 If you need to go out, take a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water with you
👉 If visiting one of our hospitals, choose indoor or shaded dining areas
👉 Drink water frequently unless your doctor usually limits your fluids
👉 Check in regularly with elderly neighbours or vulnerable people

See more heatwave advice from WA Health 🔥 https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Extreme-heat-and-heatwaves/Extreme-heat-and-heatwave-resources-for-the-community

18/01/2026

We're proud to celebrate our six International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have successfully completed the Work-based Assessment (WBA) program at Rockingham General Hospital and will continue to work with us this year 👩‍⚕

An Australian Medical Council accredited pathway, the WBA program allows IMGs to demonstrate their skills through supervised clinical practice instead of a single high-pressure exam.

Throughout their 12 months in the program, they develop their skills through supervised practice, real-time feedback and reflective learning.

This experience helps them grow in confidence, refine their clinical reasoning and deliver high quality patient centred care 💜

Congratulations to you all 👏

Read more 👉https://www.rkpg.health.wa.gov.au/News/2026/01/13/From-Pakistan-to-Rockingham-Hareems-journey-through-the-WBA-Program

15/01/2026

It was an emotional morning as our Rottnest Island Nursing Post staff reunited with Jeremy and Patricia Connor, who survived the seaplane crash at Rottnest Island just over a year ago.

Jeremy and Patricia generously shared their story and thanked all the emergency responders who assisted on the day, whilst honouring those who tragically lost their lives.

They also presented staff with a special plaque, to be displayed on Rottnest Island, to commemorate the incident.

We are incredibly proud of our team for their bravery and compassion during such a challenging time 💜

14/01/2026

14-year old Abby Ralston is embracing a whole new world of sound following her cochlear implant surgery 👂

A patient with our Audiology Service at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Abby featured on Channel 9 news to share in her excitement at hearing the complete sounds of Christmas for the first time.

Recently representing WA on the hockey pitch, Abby is looking forward to all the opportunities that will now open up as she continues on her hearing journey 💜

Learn more about how the cochlear implant is improving Abby’s quality of life 👉 https://www.fsfhg.health.wa.gov.au/News/2025/12/23/The-sound-of-Christmas