Grampians Health Ballarat

23/11/2025

Help us make rehab a happier place for kids like Cody this Christmas 🎄

This year, our Christmas Appeal is shining a light on Cody — a bright, funny 14-year-old who has been visiting our Paediatric Rehabilitation Hub since he was just two.

Cody lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and works with an incredible team of specialists through the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (VPRS) — from physios and OTs to dietitians and neuropsychologists. He loves swimming and brain puzzles, and at home he’s kept busy by Titan and Winter (his mischievous Burmese cats) and Abby the dog.

But there’s one thing he wishes were different: the space where his rehab takes place.

“Going to the rehab centre feels cold and dreary. It’s not like going to the Children’s Hospital where it’s much more welcoming.” — Cody

His mum, Sarah, sees it too, “The environment really does affect his mood and motivation… it’s paediatric rehab but it doesn’t feel like it.”

This Christmas, we want to change that — for Cody and the 500+ children from across Western Victoria who come through our doors each year.

Your donation will help us transform our Paediatric Rehab Hub into a bright, uplifting, child-friendly space with warm paint and welcoming design, purpose-built furniture, safe modern flooring, interactive toys and devices, and specialised equipment to help every child reach their goals.

Cody told us he can’t wait to see the transformation:

“It’ll be pretty special to go back to rehab when it’s all fixed… I’ll be really proud to know I helped be part of it.”

You can help make that happen.

Donate today: https://ghb-xmas-appeal-2025.raiselysite.com/

22/11/2025

The Christmas Fun Run by Ballarat Run Club, happening Sunday 14 December is proudly supporting Grampians Health Ballarat (via the BHS Foundation) and Ballarat Foodbank.

With distances from 3.2km to 13km, plus a Micro Marathon (420m) for kids aged six and under, there’s something for every runner, walker and little mover. It’s the perfect way to get active in the xmas season and give back two important local causes.

Find out more or register here: https://www.ballaratfunrun.au/

21/11/2025

📢 Free sanitary products now available across all campuses!

We’re proud to support a Victorian Government initiative providing free pads and tampons across Grampians Health.

New vending machines have been installed in accessible non-gender toilets at our Ballarat, Horsham, Stawell, Dimboola and Edenhope campuses thanks to our Support Services team – helping remove barriers, reduce stress and support a more inclusive experience for everyone.

Chief Redevelopment and Infrastructure Officer Veronica Furnier said the project represented an important step toward building a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.

“By offering free pads and tampons in convenient locations, we’re helping to normalise menstrual health, reduce stigma and ensure that no one is placed under unnecessary stress because they don’t have access to essential products,” Veronica said.

📍 Located in the toilet near the café at the Ballarat Base Hospital and toilet near the main reception at our Queen Elizabeth Centre.

Read more here: https://my.gh.org.au/4oVwhYr

📸 Chief Redevelopment and Infrastructure Officer Veronica Furnier and Acting Manager Environmental Services Ballarat Bec Bond pictured with the new vending machine at the Ballarat Base Hospital.

20/11/2025

Last April, our Grampians Health Ballarat Murray to Moyne team — the B’rat Pack — took on riding 520km in 24 hours from the Murray River to the Moyne, all to raise vital funds for new rehabilitation equipment for the Peter Heinz Rehabilitation Centre.

Thanks to their huge effort and the generosity of our community donors, we’ve been able to purchase two Reformer Pilates machines, an upright exercise bike and a treadmill. This equipment is already making a real difference, helping patients recover from conditions such as arthritis, stroke and chronic pain with targeted, effective exercises that support their return to daily life.

Made up of staff from across our organisation — including Theatre, IT, Fundraising and the Executive Office — the B’rat Pack went the distance to support better outcomes for our patients.

A big thank you to everyone who donated and cheered them on. 🚴‍♀️

15/11/2025

🚨ALERT🚨
The Ballarat Base Hospital Emergency Department is experiencing high demand and long wait times.

If your condition is NOT life threatening there are free (and faster) care options available to you:
https://www.gh.org.au/emergency-and-urgent-care/

☎️ If the condition IS life threatening call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

All calls for an ambulance and all visits to Emergency Departments are triaged (most serious patients are attended to first) and if your condition is not life threatening you may instead be connected to one of the urgent care options listed on our website. Get started now on www.gh.org.au/emergency-and-urgent-care/

15/11/2025

November 9–15 is Perioperative Nurses Week 💙

We’re celebrating the incredible nurses who care for patients before, during, and after surgery.

Our Ballarat team celebrated in the sweetest way: with a show-stopping cake baked by Libby Fenton, one of our talented Perioperative Nurses (and clearly a master baker!). This wasn’t just any cake, it was a layered chocolate, red velvet, white chocolate and raspberry masterpiece featuring caricatures of the entire theatre team, complete with their unique scrub caps!

Libby said it best: “I like making a cake to celebrate our amazing team and give everyone a chance to enjoy the week together.”

A big thank you to Libby and all our Perioperative Nurses across campuses for their care and dedication every day. You truly make a difference!

14/11/2025

This Christmas, we’re asking our community to get behind our Kids’ Rehab Appeal — raising funds to transform our Paediatric Rehabilitation facilities into vibrant, welcoming spaces where local kids can thrive.

While many think of the Children’s Ward or Special Care Nursery when it comes to kids’ healthcare, our Ballarat campus is also home to the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (VPRS) for Western Victoria. Together with our allied health colleagues, we care for more than 500 children each year, supporting those with serious injuries, cerebral palsy and other conditions that impact their daily lives.

One of those kids is Cody, a 14-year-old who’s been coming to our rehab hub since he was two. Cody told us, “Going to the rehab centre feels cold and dreary. It’s not like going to the Children’s Hospital where it’s much more welcoming.”

With your help, we can change that. Your tax-deductible donation will help create bright, safe and engaging spaces that bring hope and joy to every child and family who walks through our doors.

Donate today: https://ghb-xmas-appeal-2025.raiselysite.com/

13/11/2025

🚨ALERT🚨
The Ballarat Base Hospital Emergency Department is experiencing high demand and long wait times.

If your condition is NOT life threatening there are free (and faster) care options available to you:
https://www.gh.org.au/emergency-and-urgent-care/

☎️ If the condition IS life threatening call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

All calls for an ambulance and all visits to Emergency Departments are triaged (most serious patients are attended to first) and if your condition is not life threatening you may instead be connected to one of the urgent care options listed on our website. Get started now on www.gh.org.au/emergency-and-urgent-care/

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13/11/2025

Ted’s made some friends for Christmas — but they won’t be hanging around for long! 🧸

Pop into the Base Gift Shop and grab a Christmas teddy before they’re all gone. Perfect for gifting (or keeping for yourself 😉).

Every purchase helps raise vital funds for Grampians Health Ballarat. This month, proceeds support Pete’s Place, our paediatric rehabilitation space that’s getting a much-needed makeover.

📍 Visit us Monday to Friday, 10am–2pm. Next to the café in the main foyer — enter via Drummond St and turn left.

12/11/2025

🎙️ Big thanks to LJ and Alex from 103.1 Power FM Ballarat for having Kieran Smith from Hop Temple and Kathryn Kosloff from Grampians Health Ballarat on air this morning!

They chatted all about this weekend’s Hopathon — a community event helping raise funds to refurbish our children’s therapy spaces right here at the Base.

It’s all part of our 2025 Christmas Appeal, supporting local kids like Cody Burnett to shine bright this festive season.

Get behind the cause, grab your tickets and join the fun this Saturday: https://shorturl.at/JJhey

11/11/2025

Our new website is live! 🎉

We are pleased to announce that our new Grampians Health website went live as planned on 29 October.

This site has brought together five websites (from Ballarat, Edenhope, Dimboola, Horsham and Stawell). We have also developed microsites for Research, Fundraising and Aged Care.

For the past twelve months, we have worked with community members (thank you!) from across the region to ensure we captured information in a way that makes your search as simple as possible.

However, a website is never ‘complete’. It requires constant updating and checking as information and services evolve. So, if you notice anything that doesn’t work, or doesn’t seem right (about any of the sites listed below) please let us know here: https://my.gh.org.au/43ozYNB

https://my.gh.org.au/4qTiwLb
https://my.gh.org.au/4oLNPWA
https://my.gh.org.au/4oFJnJ6
https://my.gh.org.au/489tjt9

11/11/2025

🎉 We have our winners! 🎉

The Cancer Wellness Centre Raffle was drawn yesterday — and all our lucky winners have been notified!

Thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket, we’ve raised over $17,000 to support free programs at the Cancer Wellness Centre, including counselling, massage, exercise and support groups for people affected by cancer.

A special thank you to our amazing supporters - Barry Plant Ballarat, AOK Transfers and Tours Ballarat, Frank Ford Travel, Helloworld Travel, Dell Technologies, Sovereign Press, Lucy’s Lane and Raptor Building Solutions.