South Gippsland Hospital

06/01/2026

We have a forecast of a severe to extreme heatwave through to Friday.

Protect your health:
☀️Heat can make anyone sick.
☀️People over 65 years old, the very young and those with a pre-existing medical condition are most at risk.
☀️Back-to-back days of extreme heat, coupled with high overnight temperatures, can interfere with your body’s natural ability to cool down and can cause heat illness, including cramps and heat exhaustion. If left untreated, this can lead to heatstroke, which is a life-threatening illness.
☀️Stay cool on hot days: Use an air conditioner or a fan, wear light and loose clothing, or splash or spray cool water onto your skin.
☀️Keep hydrated: Always take a drink bottle with you.
☀️Check in with family, friends and neighbours: Let people know you are OK or check in on those at increased risk including people over the age of 65, young children and babies, pregnant women, people with acute or chronic health problems and people who are socially isolated.
☀️Plan ahead: Cancel or reschedule activities for a cooler time of the day and check the weather forecast regularly.
☀️Heat can stress pets. Provide cool, clean water and shade for your pets and animals.
☀️Know the symptoms of heat-related illness and monitor your health.

More information about keeping safe here:
Extreme heat: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/extreme-heat
Heat-related illness: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/heat-related-health-problems

06/01/2026

With more pollen in the air, many people are noticing an increase in hay fever and asthma symptoms. This time of year also brings a higher risk of thunderstorm asthma, which can come on suddenly and be life-threatening. ⚠️

Knowing asthma first aid could save a life. Here’s what to do if you or someone else is having an asthma attack:

Asthma First Aid – 4 Key Steps (12yrs +).

Step 1: Sit yourself / the person upright

Step 2: Using a blue/grey reliever puffer (and a spacer, if you have one): shake the puffer, put 1 puff into the spacer, take 4 breaths. Repeat 4 times. Remember: Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths.

Step 3: Wait 4 minutes. If breathing does not return to normal, take 4 more separate puffs of blue/grey reliever.

Step 4: If breathing still does not return to normal dial triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Take 4 separate puffs every 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives.

Call 000 immediately if:
• Breathing becomes difficult
• Symptoms get worse quickly
• There is no reliever available

For more information visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4aTP5D0

04/01/2026

Thanks to those that have recently donated their festive season drink cans and bottles, under the Victorian Container Deposit program!

South Gippsland Hospital is registered as a charity recipient and will be grateful to receive any donation😊

When you get to any container refund point, please tap the screen, use code C2000023562 and tap complete.

THANKS 🤸

31/12/2025

18/12/2025

New Director of Nursing is joining us soon

Kylie Osborne will be joining the team on Monday 5 January 2026, as the Director of Nursing (DoN) and Chief Midwife.

For the last six years, Kylie has held a senior leadership and management role at Latrobe Regional Health as the General Manager Quality and Innovation, whilst concurrently associated with Safer Care Victoria, as an Academy member of the safety branch.

Prior to these roles, Kylie was the Gippsland Regional Midwife Consultant, supporting birthing services, including ours, and was the Chair of the Australian College of Midwives (Gippsland) for a period of time.

In addition to her management and clinical experience, Kylie comes to SGH with a Bachelor of Nursing, Masters of Clinical Midwifery (Major Education) and a Graduate Certificate in Consumer and Community Engagement.

Kylie looks forward to meeting and working with the SGH staff and the community, to contribute to the collective effort of serving and improving the health and wellbeing of the Corner Inlet Communities and more broadly, Gippslanders.

“I’m thrilled to be joining SGH in this capacity. I have enjoyed working with the capable team at SGH in various roles from outside the organisation and it is exciting to become an active member of the healthcare team in the new year.” Kylie said.

“I look forward to continuing the great work that Lilli Lush undertook as the interim DoN for ten months following Claire Kent’s 5-year tenure in the role.” Kylie acknowledged.

CEO, Paul Greenhalgh is equally thrilled.

“SGH is fortunate to appoint Kylie into the role. She comes with the requisite experience, knowledge and skill required for this critical senior leadership role, and the whole team are already very supportive of her joining us next month.”

18/12/2025

Marion popped in today to receive her 10-year badge! Thanks for all your dedicated service over many roles. Pictured with Lil, Interim Director of Nursing 😎

16/12/2025

This afternoon we celebrated several staff who have reached milestone years of service.

The staff recognition awards are held annually and this year we had 15 staff acknowledged.
😏5 years (9)
😏10 years (1)
😏15 years (2)
😏20 years (1)
😏25 years (2)

Pictured with Damon Stynes (Board Chair) are the staff available to attend the function.

THANK YOU ❤

10/12/2025

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10/12/2025

Bunjil Garden is officially open, with our four Totem Poles now completed.

SGH Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Kane Horvath, and SGH Director of Community Care, Samantha Park, joined representatives from Fish Creek Primary School, Foster Primary School, Foster Secondary College, and Toora Primary School, to address the small gathering of a broad section of the community, to mark the special occasion.

Samantha opened and closed the occasion. Here's some of what she said.

"We are here to celebrate the unveiling of these four Aboriginal-inspired totem poles that now stand proudly on our hospital grounds. These poles represent more than the art on them—they carry stories, shared efforts, community partnership and a deep respect for the land and its people.

Each of the four poles has its own message and its own presence, but together they form a connection: between young and old, past and future, culture and community, nature and healing. Our local primary and secondary school students worked in collaboration with their Marrung leaders and Kane to paint the poles with various symbols of renewal, resilience and healing. And it feels especially fitting to have placed them here, at our hospital—a place where healing happens every day.

It is now my great pleasure to officially open this Aboriginal Totem Pole installation. May these poles stand strong, may they inspire reflection and respect, and may they also remind us always of the power of community and culture.""

Thank you to all who participated in the project and who came out today ❤🖤💛. Special thanks to Dan at Amber Creek Sawmill and Andrew from Resurrected Timber.

Check out the -times next week for the full story - hearing from others who spoke on the day ❤🤸😏

09/12/2025

Well done to five Year 8 students from Korumburra Secondary College who developed the winning campaigns as part of the South Coast Smoke and Vape-Free School Challenge!

They recently received a gift card for their efforts.

Secondary students in Bass Coast and South Gippsland shires were invited to create campaigns that promote a smoke and vape-free future for everyone.

128 students from 3 secondary schools took part in the challenge.

The challenge was run by our South Coast Prevention Team - the Health Promotion workforce of Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service and South Gippsland Hospital.

Secondary schools can express their interest to participate in the 2026 Smoke and Vape-Free School Challenge by contacting prevention@basscoasthealth.org.

Click the link to learn more about the challenge www.basscoasthealth.org.au/news/students-lead-way-smoke-and-vape-free-future

05/12/2025

Today we held our AGM, highlighting the key achievements of FY25 and outlining the focus for this Financial Year.

We acknowledged all of the team that make SGH such a great place to be; where we care for patients and clients across the hospital settings, in our Community Health and Respite Centres, as well as, in people's homes.

A sound financial result to boot, with a small $20,000 operating surplus.

Two honorary Life Governors were acknowledged:
❤Frances McGlead and
❤Noleen McGlead

We also had our Annual Report available, which you will find on our website, next week.

https://southgippslandhospital.com.au/financial-reports-2/

If you can't wait, it's available on the Parliament website, now.

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/tabled-documents-database?page=1&pageSize=10&sortType=15&term=South%20Gippsland%20Hospital%20

Pictured are the Chair, Treasurer and CEO speaking, along with some slides from the CEO report today and our Hon. Life Governors (pictured with Damon Stynes, Board Chair)