Gippsland Southern Health Service, 66 Koonwarra Road, Leongatha (2025)

24/09/2025

From scrubs to scarves in a single week, our people turned pre-party prep for this year’s AFL Grand Final into a burst of colour, laughter and community. It started small. A few jerseys. A cheeky playlist in the break room. Then the pies, sausage rolls and hot diggity dogs brought the crowd.

Joy and a little banter is part of good care. Today, our teams chose to lift together, comparing guernseys, debating the best (& worst) club theme songs and pondering what Saturday will bring to the ‘G.

Will Snoop Dogg crip walk? Will Dangerfield live up to his name and absolutely dominate? Will Charlie get the crowd singing ‘Country Road’ while he revs his Brisbane Harley?

Culture has a way of sneaking into the everyday. For some it was footy stats and Brownlow red carpets. For others it was dressing in all black, mourning their team’s season. And for plenty, it was joining in just to be part of the fun. Every now and then though, a few people take it to the next level.

At Korumburra, Director of Nursing Carol Pontil took out Best Dressed honours, bringing serious flair to the campus celebrations. And at Leongatha, Suzanne (Suz) Tucker from the Palliative Care Team was crowned Best Dressed for her mighty-mighty Hawk ensemble. Full commitment. Full festivities. Full heart. ❤️

21/09/2025

At GSHS, we know Alzheimer’s is a daily reality for many caregivers and residents in our care.

This World Alzheimer’s Day marks a moment when we know more than ever about the disease.

Landmark research is deepening our understanding of risk, diagnosis and treatment. But there is still so much more to learn.

Carol Pontil, Director of Nursing overseeing our residential aged care facilities, says:

“Every day we walk alongside residents and families living with Alzheimer’s. Effective care is about awareness. It’s about being compassionate and creating a safe place where our ageing community can continue to live well.”

Awareness matters because the signs are often subtle.

Five early warning signs to watch for include:

✅ Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting recent information.
✅ Challenges in planning or solving problems, like keeping track of bills or recipes.
✅ Difficulty completing familiar tasks, including navigating to known places.
✅ Confusion with time or place, such as losing track of dates or seasons.
✅ New problems with words or finding it hard to follow conversations.

World Alzheimer’s Day reminds us that recognising these signs early can change outcomes, ease the burden on families and improve quality of life.

Awareness fuels understanding, and together, we can build a future of better care, stronger support and lasting hope.

💜 On this World Alzheimer’s Day, we invite you to share your voice.

Leave a comment to show support for those living with Alzheimer’s, their families and the caregivers who walk beside them every day.

Every word of encouragement helps build awareness, connection and hope.

19/09/2025

🍼✨ Clean Bums for Little Ones – Final Tally! ✨🍼

Do you remember our May campaign with The Nappy Collective? We’ve got some wonderful news…

💛 Our community donated an incredible 2,272 nappies to support local families!
And the good news doesn’t stop there — GSHS is now a permanent year-round drop-off point for nappies.

📍 Drop off at Leongatha or Korumburra main reception anytime during the year.
✅ All sizes welcome
✅ Brand new packets
✅ Opened packets your little one has sized out of
✅ Even brand-new, unused reusable nappies (still in packaging)

Together with the Maternal and Child Health Nurses at South Gippsland Shire Council, we’re making sure families can access nappies when they need them most.

💡 Want to help even more? If you’re part of a local group or organisation that would like to become a community access point, head to 👉 thenappycollective.com/become-a-community-partner.

Thank you to everyone who donated. Your generosity makes a real difference for local families.

17/09/2025

At GSHS, we’ve learned that safety isn’t an annual event.

It isn’t just about technology, policies or hospitals.

It’s about making informed choices in high-stakes moments.

Sally Phillips, Best Care Manager at GSHS, lives this every day, confirming that:

“Safety is never a one-off policy. It’s the discipline of our team to make careful choices, every single day.”

Sally works alongside our clinicians and caregivers to ensure safe systems, supported staff and engaged voices. Her leadership makes high-quality care close to home possible in South Gippsland.

Prioritised patient safety shows up in clear handovers, in quiet pauses to double-check, in the strength to voice uncertainty before it becomes a risk.

The impact is real:
✅ More staff speaking up, knowing their voice matters.
✅ More confidence in shared accountability.
✅ More trust in systems that learn, adapt and continuously improve.

This World Patient Safety Day, GSHS celebrates these strengths.

Today, the World Health Organization reminds us that safer care depends on strong, well-designed systems, supported staff and engaged caregivers to keep our community safe.

👉 Every voice counts. What does patient safety mean to you?

To learn more about World Patient Safety Day, visit: https://www.who.int/

15/09/2025

💛 R U OK? Day at GSHS 💛

Last Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 September, our People & Culture team brought staff together to pause, connect, and check in for R U OK? Day.

For our P&C team, culture isn’t just a word, it’s lived every day.

“What we enjoy most about working in People & Culture is being part of such a supportive team. We’re always looking out for one another, sharing a laugh and creating a positive environment where everyone feels backed and encouraged. Oh, and coffee. It’s as important to us as oxygen!”

There’s a misconception that HR only shows up when something goes wrong.

But the truth is that our P&C team is here every day, building connection, supporting growth, and creating moments where staff across our organisation feel seen and valued.

That’s why R U OK? Day matters so much.
“It reminds us to pause and check in — not just with our patients, but with each other. It’s about making sure no one feels alone in what they’re going through.”

Thank you to our People & Culture team for bringing our staff together last week — reminding us that trust, compassion, and laughter are just as vital to a healthy workplace as the care we provide to our community.

04/09/2025

Final call — last chance to donate is tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the final day to catch the Lifeblood Van in Leongatha!

If you've been thinking about donating, now’s the moment.
💪 It’s easy. It’s safe. It saves lives.

📍 Leongatha Hospital – Koorooman House Carpark
🩸 Donating blood takes less than an hour — and could help save up to three lives.

Book now and be someone’s lifeline: lifeblood.com.au

02/09/2025

Gippsland Southern Health Service is excited to be part of the newly-formed Bass Coast - South Gippsland Food System Alliance.

The Alliance is a partnership aiming to make fresh, locally grown fruit and veg easier to access and more affordable.

Funding from VicHealth's Local Partnerships for Food First grant program will help coordinate four locally-led projects in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.

This will improve our regional food system, making communities healthier by connecting more people to fresher, more sustainable food, caring for our soil and sharing essential food education.

The Alliance unites passionate organisations including: Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, South Gippsland Hospital, Gippsland Region Public Health Unit, Bass Coast Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council, Community College Gippsland, Manna Gum Community House, Buckley Park Community Farm, Grow Lightly, and The Commons/Leongatha Community Garden.

Learn more about the Alliance here
www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/funding/local-partnerships-for-food-first

02/09/2025

💜 This Women’s Health Week, it’s time to say yes to you

When women thrive, the whole community does too.

Whether it’s a quick chat with your GP or a lifesaving screen, every health check counts.

Key checks for every woman:
🌼Blood pressure: Every 2 years from 18
🌼Breast health: Self-check regularly; mammograms every 2 years from 50
🌼Cervical screening: Every 5 years from 25 to 74
🌼Mental health check-in: Anytime you feel off, flat, or overwhelmed
🌼Heart health: From 45 — or earlier for First Nations women
🌼Type 2 diabetes: From 40, or from 18 if First Nations
🌼Bone health: From 50 — talk to your GP
🌼Bowel cancer screening: Every 2 years from 45
🌼Skin, STI, dental and eye checks: As needed — don’t put them off

👉 Not sure what’s due?
Try Her Health Check — a free tool designed by health experts to help women in Australia stay on top of their health. It gives you a simple, personalised guide to what checks you might need and when.

🔗 https://checks.jeanhailes.org.au

02/09/2025

📣 This week is Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week 💜

At GSHS, we’re proud to support Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week — a national moment that puts women’s health in the spotlight.

Too often, women put their own wellbeing last. This week is your reminder: your health matters.

We’ll be sharing practical tips, and trusted resources to help you take control of your health — your way.

Explore more at jeanhailes.org.au

31/08/2025

For the past 14 years, Wayne has been a familiar and reliable figure in the GSHS maintenance team — the kind of person who can be counted on when something needs fixing, no matter how unusual the situation. His path here began with a decision to leave Telstra after years in the telecommunications industry. “I heard the hospital was a good job to get into,” he says, and it turned out to be the right move.

Over the years, Wayne has learned “so much about everything” — a testament to the variety of tasks that come with keeping a hospital running smoothly.

If there’s a misconception he’d like to set straight, it’s that the job is easy or all about the pay. In reality, it requires skill, adaptability, and a readiness to tackle the unexpected. His advice to anyone considering a career in the field? “Expect the unexpected — you don’t know what’s going to come through the door.”

Outside of work, Wayne enjoys to play golf, listening to music, and indulging his unique hobby — collecting Dr Seuss memorabilia and of course, his family and grandkids. If given the chance to step into another department for a day, he’d choose Theatre, a space he’s already had a glimpse into through his work.

His years at GSHS have also shaped how he sees the world. “Caring for people in all stages of life,” he reflects, is something he’s come to value deeply — a quiet reminder of the role every person, even behind the scenes, plays in supporting patients and the community.

31/08/2025

Almost a year into his role at GSHS, David has quickly become known for more than just his skill with tools — it’s his easy-going nature and genuine respect for those around him that stand out. Coming from a background far removed from hospital corridors, David spent two decades as a Telecom (Telstra) technician before moving into research and development at Rinnai for another 20 years.

“Treat everyone with the same level of respect that you would want them to have for you,” he says, a piece of advice that has shaped his approach to work in every setting.

Since joining GSHS, David has been struck by the warmth and camaraderie of his colleagues. “The friendliness of my work colleagues would be the stand out,” he says, reflecting on what’s stayed with him most so far. While the maintenance role has allowed him to expand on the skills he already had, it’s also given him a front-row seat to the inner workings of the hospital. “Seeing the inner workings of the multitude of medical and care departments has given me a greater understanding of hospitals in general,” he shares.

His days are anything but predictable — something he notes is often misunderstood. “Not understanding the sheer scope and diversity of what can happen day to day” is a common misconception about his job. From fixing essential equipment to keeping facilities safe and functional, no two days are quite the same.

Outside of work, David is happiest outdoors — at the beach, on his bike, camping, or stand-up paddleboarding. And when the mood strikes, he’s not afraid to lean into his “nerdy” side, geeking out over the things he loves. If given the chance, he’d love to step into another department entirely — “I think departments like medical imaging or theatre would be intriguing places,” he says with curiosity.

In a role where patience, adaptability, and respect go a long way, David brings all three — along with a readiness to pitch in wherever needed. It’s that mix of skill, openness, and genuine connection that makes him an invaluable part of the GSHS team.

30/08/2025

For more than a decade, Donald has been the steady hand guiding GSHS’s maintenance team, first as a Maintenance Officer for four years and then as Maintenance Manager for the past ten. A qualified Boilermaker by trade, his shift into healthcare maintenance wasn’t just a career change — it was a conscious choice to take greater control of his own health and well-being.

It’s a role that, as Donald knows well, is often misunderstood. “A lot of people think maintenance is just fixing things when they break,” he explains. “But most of our job is about preventing problems before they happen.” From ensuring medical equipment and building systems run smoothly, to conducting checks and planning ahead, his team’s work underpins the ability of clinical staff to focus on what matters most — patient care.

One moment that stands out in his career was the 2020 storm, which caused a prolonged power outage. “It was a challenging situation that required a lot of close teamwork,” he recalls. “We had to ensure backup systems were functioning, maintain safety across all sites, and keep essential services running.” That night, the importance of the maintenance team’s behind-the-scenes role was clearer than ever.

Over the years, Donald has added a new skill set to his already extensive trade knowledge — managing compliance and documentation in a highly regulated healthcare environment. “Coming from a trade background, this was new to me,” he says, “but it’s been a valuable shift in mindset that’s improved my organisation and leadership skills.”

His work has also reshaped how he sees the bigger picture. “Most people only notice doctors and nurses, but I’ve learned that every part of the system matters. Something like a broken HVAC or a delayed repair can affect patient comfort, safety, and recovery.”

Outside of work, Donald enjoys walking — preferably around the golf course — and is a passionate Collingwood supporter with a love for all things sport. If given the chance to explore another department for a day, he’d choose Radiology. “The technology they use is incredibly advanced,” he says. “It would help me better appreciate the importance of the systems we support.”

For those considering a similar path, Donald’s advice is simple: “Make sure it’s something you truly care about. Choosing a path that aligns with your strengths and passion will make all the difference.”

Gippsland Southern Health Service

24/09/2025

21/09/2025

19/09/2025

17/09/2025

15/09/2025

04/09/2025

02/09/2025

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02/09/2025

31/08/2025

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30/08/2025

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