Heathcote Health

16/11/2025

Exciting news for our Heathcote based parkrun …. Let’s make the big step into a (park)run in the New Year!
Thanks for the update Healthy Loddon Campaspe

14/11/2025

🧠 Dementia is now Australia’s leading cause of death – what we need to know
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that in 2024 the condition we typically call Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) accounted for over 17,500 deaths in Australia — that’s about 9.4% of all deaths nationally. 
• Over two-thirds (68.2%) of those deaths were in people aged 75 and over. 
• Around 62.4% of dementia deaths were women. 
• Over the past decade the number of deaths attributed to dementia has increased by about 39%. 

Why is this happening?
• Australia’s population is ageing — more people are living to the older ages where dementia risk rises. 
• As deaths from other major causes (such as ischaemic heart disease) decline, dementia has moved ahead in the rankings. 
• Dementia is now a complex contributor to mortality — many of those who die “due to or with dementia” also have other conditions listed. 

What this means for Heathcote Health & our local community
• Dementia is not “just a condition of old age” — it requires dedicated attention, support, and care planning.
• For our rural and regional community, access to dementia-capable care, support for families/carers, and early planning are more important than ever.
• Raising awareness is crucial — this includes recognizing early signs, discussing care preferences and ensuring local services are prepared.

Call to action
➡ If you or someone you know is concerned about memory, cognition or dementia risk factors, contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. 
➡ Remember that Carers of people with dementia need support too, groups and services are available such as GreenConnect Dementia Respite and Heathcote Carers Support Group (Carers Victoria)
➡ Let’s also remember our older community members. Small acts — a memory conversation, helping a carer connect to support networks, ensuring our services recognise and respond to dementia — all matter.

These were the top 10 causes of death in 2024. Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) was the leading cause of death, with 17,549 deaths, followed by coronary heart disease with 16,275 deaths.

For more, see https://brnw.ch/21wXtrK

14/11/2025

🎊🎉 𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 166𝓽𝓱 𝓐𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓾𝓼! 🎉🎊
On Tuesday, 15th November 1859 Heathcote Hospital, now Heathcote Health, first opened our doors to the local community.
We started off as a tent hospital in the Gold Rush Days on Camp Hill in the Goverment Camp in 1853.
See some photos and more information in the attached image.

13/11/2025

Come and join us this morning.
Walk together and stay for some morning tea.
Connecting our Community.

Together with Heathcote Health , we hope you can join us.💛
The great circle of life ensures that most of us endure the loss of a loved one, someone we have cared for and miss often.

Grief isn't something you 'move on' from—it becomes part of your story."

We encourage you to bring along a photo, a poem, a story or artwork of someone you have lost to add to our collage of remembrance, please do so.
We will copy the item, so that you can continue to treasure the original item.

Join us for a walk and some morning tea.
Rsvp by calling us on 5433 2820 or emailing to receptionhch3523@gmail.com

13/11/2025

Our Walk for Respect and Coffee with a Cop is on again this year.
5th December 2025, from 9:30am.
At Heathcote Community House and following the Wonder Walk loop.
Heathcote says NO to violence.
More information soon.

Greater Bendigo Against Family Violence has released a calendar of events and activities for the community to get involved in during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, which runs from November 25 through to December 10.

Copies of the calendar of events are available at Library branches or you can download a copy from our website.

In Greater Bendigo, police respond to six or seven incidents of gender-based violence a day.

This campaign is about raising awareness and encouraging action. Whether it’s attending an event, learning where to get help, or supporting someone you know - every step matters.

On Friday November 28, community members are invited to Playing Our Part: A Community Conversation on Equality, Respect and Leadership. This event will feature speakers from the Carlton Respects Program, along with former AFL player Ben Brown, this event explores how sport can help build a culture of respect, equality and safety.

Many of the other events and activities are free to attend and held in a range of locations across Greater Bendigo. They include Storytime at Bendigo Library, webinars, coffee with a cop events, pop up stalls and craft activities.

The campaign will end on Wednesday December 10, which marks the global Human Rights Day.

Join the 16 Days of Activism and help build a safer, more respectful Greater Bendigo. It all starts with respect.

View the calendar: https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/events/16-days-activism-against-gender-based-violence

12/11/2025

🌟 Board Director Opportunity — Heathcote Health (Commencing July 2026) 🌟

The Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas MP, is pleased to invite applications for part time board director positions at Heathcote Health. This exciting opportunity would suit persons with an interest in making a difference in the health sector and have the knowledge and skills for ensuring health care is delivered safely and effectively, with public money used to the benefit of all Victorians.

We are seeking applicants who bring experience in one or more of the following areas:

✔️ Governance & strategic leadership

✔️ Finance, audit & risk

✔️ Clinical governance & safety

✔️ Community & stakeholder engagement

✔️ Rural health, aged care or community services



As a Board Director, you will play a key role in:

🏥 Strengthening high-quality, person-centred care

📈 Supporting a sustainable and future-focused health service

🤝 Promoting strong community partnerships

💡 Advocating for the needs of our rural community

Board Director Capability Framework and Board Positions Descriptions are available on the 'Join a Public Board' website: search Board Vacancies - Heathcote Health.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on community health and wellbeing in Heathcote and surrounding districts.

🗓 Appointment: July 2026

📍 Location: Heathcote, Victoria

🔗 Applications: see the attached Department of Health Communication

At Heathcote Health, our values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence guide everything we do. We welcome diverse perspectives and encourage applications from individuals reflective
of the communities we serve.

Help us shape a positive future for rural healthcare in Victoria.

01/11/2025

🌟 Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards & Support at Home🌟

Today marks an important step forward in aged care across Australia. The new Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and Support at Home program are now in place — helping older Australians live independently, safely and with greater choice.

✅ A stronger focus on dignity, respect and person-centred care
✅ Clearer safety and quality expectations for providers
✅ More flexibility and support for people to stay living at home longer
✅ Better access to services and more say in how care is delivered

At Heathcote Health, we welcome these changes and remain committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for our older community members. 💚

If you or your loved one receives aged care services and would like more information, please contact us — we’re here to help.

The new Aged Care Act and Support at Home program have now started.

The new rights-based aged care system will put you first and give you:
✅ improved choice and control
✅ better support to make your own decisions
✅ help to stay living at home longer
✅ easier ways to speak up and be heard.

It’s all about respect, safety, dignity, and high-quality care.

For more information, see the comments below. 👇

31/10/2025

🌿 Mental Health Month – Thank You, Heathcote & District Community! 🌿

💙As Mental Health Month comes to a close, we’d like to thank our community for joining us in shining a light on wellbeing, connection and compassion.

Remember — mental health isn’t just something we think about in October.
It’s an every day commitment. 💚

🧠 Take time for rest
🤝 Reach out and connect
❤️ Be kind to yourself and others
🚶‍♀️ Move your body
🌞 Spend time in nature

Looking after your mental health doesn’t end here — it’s a journey we take all year round.

Let’s keep checking in, supporting one another, and making wellbeing a priority every day.

Bendigo Community Health Services
Heathcote Community House
Healthy Loddon Campaspe
Mental Health Australia
headspace Bendigo
Carers Australia
GreenConnect Dementia Respite

31/10/2025

✉️You’re Invited✉️
Heathcote Health’s 31st Annual General Meeting

Join us as we reflect on the past year, celebrate our dedicated staff and volunteers, and look ahead to the future of health and wellbeing in our community.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 26 November 2025

🕝 Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm (refreshments from 2:00pm)

📍 Venue: Heathcote RSL Hall, 127 High Street, Heathcote

🎖️ Awards for Years of Service, Employee of the Year, and Life Governor presentations will be made during the meeting.

Everyone is welcome — please RSVP by 19 November 2025 for catering purposes:
📧 admin@heathcotehealth.org | ☎️ (03) 5431 0900

🗳️ Questions on notice can be sent to the CEO by 14 November 2025 at hhceo@heathcotehealth.org

For more information, visit www.heathcotehealth.org

29/10/2025

💙🌿Mental Health Month🌿💙
Mental Health and the Blue Tree Project

Heathcote is showing its support of Mental Health Month with two striking Blue Trees as part of the national Blue Tree Project.

The project aims to spark conversations about mental health and reduce stigma in the community. By painting or lighting trees blue, communities create a visible symbol of hope, support, and the message that it’s okay to speak up.

This year, two Blue Trees are on display in Heathcote:

Outside Heathcote Health:
A living tree wrapped in bright blue lights, shining as a reminder of mental health awareness, kindness, and support .. as seen in the video

Heathcote Primary Health Clinic Reception:
A painted Blue Tree, covered in leaves written and decorated by the community.
Community members are encouraged to visit the GP Clinic to collect a paper leaf. On the leaf, people can:
🖌️Write or draw a message of encouragement about looking after mental health
🤲Share a thought about kindness, hope, or support
💙Or simply write something that helps them feel good – such as a favourite activity, a calming word, or a reminder to check in with friends.

Leaves are also available at Heathcote Community House.

Once completed, the leaf can be coloured in and added to the painted tree. Together, these leaves will form a powerful display of collective support, with the message:
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲”

By participating in the Blue Tree Project, Heathcote is joining thousands of Australians who are working to break down stigma, start conversations, and support mental health in their communities.

For more information about the Blue Tree Project, visit bluetreeproject.com.au.

We thank Sandra Kirby at Heathcote Artists Inc. for her amazing work in painting our blue tree now located in Heathcote Primary Health Clinic Reception.

Thank you to Dulux for their special support of the Blue Tree Project, donating this lovely shade of blue.

Bendigo Community Health Services

28/10/2025

🤩 Our very own Heathcote Health Chef, Jenny, presenting with Michael Nam from Maggie Beer Foundation

Michael Nam, Senior Chef Trainer, is presenting at the 42nd National IHHC Conference!
Michael will be co-presenting with catering manager Jenny Casey from Heathcote Healthcare sharing the highlights from 12 months in the trainer Mentor Program. Michael will also discuss areas around key topics such as kitchen workflow, food forums, and recipe development.

Morgan Pankhurst from Flinders will also be on stage sharing Food Satisfaction of Residents, Families and Staff of Aged Care Homes: Baseline Findings from a National Survey

Stay tuned for updates!

27/10/2025

🌿Mental Health Month🌿

‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’.
This beautifully simple checklist introduces ways to improve your psychological and emotional health, based on extensive international research.

A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body for your overall wellbeing. Like physical fitness, you can strengthen your psychological health in lots of small day-to-day ways.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing can lead to improved mental health. They are:

👀 TAKE NOTICE
Take notice of your thoughts and feelings, use your five senses to become mindful of what’s around you.

🫀🧠 BE ACTIVE
Start simple, find physical activities that you enjoy. Being active keeps your body and your mind working well.

🤲 GIVE
Helping others can boost happiness and life satisfaction. Anything from giving a smile to volunteering.

👥 CONNECT
Connect with those around you. Socialising with people and developing strong relationships contributes to good health and wellbeing

📖 KEEP LEARNING
Set yourself a new challenge. Learn something new or rediscover an old interest.

Bendigo Community Health Services has some great ideas for Mental Health Month, check out their Website here - https://www.bchs.com.au/mental-health-month-your-way-to-wellbeing-and-coffee/

Heathcote Community House
Healthy Loddon Campaspe