Illawarra Medical Centre

24/11/2025

Today is White Ribbon Day - a global movement to help end violence against women and girls by bringing attention to and responding to violence against women as a public health, gender equality and human rights issue.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared domestic and family violence (DFV) as a global public health issue. In Australia, 1 in 4 women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous partner since the age of 15 and, on average, one woman is killed by an intimate partner every 11 days.

DFV can have a number of health impacts, including:
- assault-related injuries
- traumatic brain injury
- mental health conditions
- self-harm and suicidality
- sexually transmitted infections
- reproductive health problems, including miscarriage

For more information and support, visit https://whiteribbon.org.au/

24/11/2025

A few of the IMC team kicked off the festive season early and took to the greens at Holey Moley over the weekend for the inaugural IMC Cup 🎄⛳

Congratulations to Alea and Di, who putted up a storm and were joint winners of the prized trophy 🏆

22/11/2025

This week is World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, which aims to raise awareness and increase understanding of AMR and to promote global action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents and results in antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents becoming ineffective. This makes infections more difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

You can help in the fight against AMR by knowing the do's and don'ts when it comes to antiobiotic use.

For more information, visit https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-amr-awareness-week/2025

21/11/2025

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with ~800 Australian women diagnosed annually with the disease.

The World Health Organization has put a strategy in place to help eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem globally. Australia is at the forefront of this fight and has one of the lowest rates of the disease in the world.

Read more in our latest blog below>>

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and Australia is helping lead the charge to eliminate the disease globally. More>>

20/11/2025

This National Skin Cancer Action Week is a great reminder for us all to take action and book in for our annual skin check!

More than 2,000 Australians die each year from skin cancer and two in three Australian’s will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.

With Perth being one of the sunniest cities in the world and home to the largest number of cancers diagnosed in Australia each year, early detection through regular skin checks with your GP or dermatologist is key to tackling skin cancer.

Dr Dhruva Ramachandran runs weekly skin checks at Illawarra Medical Centre every Tuesday morning. To make an appointment, contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

18/11/2025

Today is International Men's Day, a day to reflect on some of the social issues that men and boys face and how we can better support them - whether it's boys struggling at school or men struggling with their mental health.

Statistics show that men will die on average 4.9 years earlier than women and for reasons that are largely preventable. Some simple steps to support men and boys with their health, include:

👨‍⚕️ encourage regular check ups and screenings
💬 check in with them on a regular basis and promote open conversations about their mental and physical wellbeing
🥗 encourage them to foster healthy habits, including regular exercise and good nutrition

For more information, visit https://www.amhf.org.au/

18/11/2025

It's Sugar Awareness Week, which aims to help raise awareness of the damaging effect of too much sugar in our diet.

Eating foods with too much added sugar can contribute to heart disease and weight gain and obesity, which can lead to further complications such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and some cancers.

The World Health Organization recommends that sugar should only make up 10% or less of your daily energy intake. This equals ~12 teaspoons (50 grams) of sugar per day for an adult. Reducing your intake to less than 5% of your daily energy intake (i.e. 6 teaspoons or 25g) would provide even more health benefits.

If you need assistance to help manage your sugar intake or any dietary related health conditions, consider making an appointment with Accredited Practising Dietitian - Kelly McKimm.

Kelly is available for appointments at Illawarra Medical Centre every Tuesday. Book online or contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

17/11/2025

It's Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, which aims to raise awareness of cervical cancer and highlight Australia's commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. In Australia, around 800 women are diagnosed annually.

Vaccinating both males and females against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes the majority of cervical cancer cases, as well as regular screening for for women and those with a cervix from age 25–74 years, are key to eliminating cervical cancer.

Find out more at https://accf.org.au/

14/11/2025

13/11/2025

Today is World Diabetes Day, which aims to raise awareness, spread knowledge and create lasting change for all affected by diabetes.

Diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood.

In Australia, diabetes affects almost 1.9 million Australians, with more than 300 Australians developing the disease every day.

Find out more at https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

12/11/2025

This World Kindness Day is a good reminder that compassion and understanding have the power to make the world a better place for everyone.

Studies show that kindness benefits both the giver and the receiver by:

⭐Boosting empathy, confidence, and self-esteem
⭐Reducing stress and promoting emotional well-being
⭐Encouraging co-operation and stronger social bonds
⭐Building inclusive, compassionate communities

So today, remember to be kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world ✨

11/11/2025

Today is World Pneumonia Day, aimed at reducing deaths from the single, biggest infectious killer of adults and children.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs usually caused by bacteria or a virus. It can cause mild to life-threatening illness in people of all ages, however it is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide.

Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially for babies 12 months and under, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and people older than 70 years.

Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended and funded for children under 5, older people with medical conditions, Aboriginal people with medical conditions, and those aged 65 years and over.

Find out more at https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pneumonia

To book in for your pneumococcal vaccine, contact us on (08) 9208 6400 or book online at https://illawarramedical.com.au/