St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne St Vincent’s Melbourne, a public hospital part of Australia’s largest not-for-profit. health and aged care provider, established in 1857. Always.

Delivering better and fairer care.

This Pain Week, we’re sharing the story of Navy veteran Ashley Semmens - who lived with chronic pain for over a decade a...
24/07/2025

This Pain Week, we’re sharing the story of Navy veteran Ashley Semmens - who lived with chronic pain for over a decade after a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

With support from pain medicine specialist Dr Ramsey Jabbour at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside, Ashley underwent a targeted treatment called radiofrequency ablation - and for the first time in years, found meaningful relief.

Ashley then went on to achieve a world-first: crossing the English Channel swimming on his back using only his legs.

His story is a powerful reminder that evidence-based pain care can transform lives.

Associate Nurse Unit Manager Jess Brain is taking part in Dry July for the fifth year in a row, raising vital funds to s...
24/07/2025

Associate Nurse Unit Manager Jess Brain is taking part in Dry July for the fifth year in a row, raising vital funds to support patients undergoing cancer treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
Over the years, Jess has raised more than $5,000, and this year she’s aiming for $2,000 – with strong support from some of her Oncology and Haematology colleagues who are joining the challenge and helping fundraise.
The funds raised go directly towards providing comfort items like care packs and toiletries for patients undergoing treatment, particularly those who arrive with little or no belongings or come from a remote area.

Give a donation to show your kind support, or stop by Jess’ popular Dry July bake sale in the St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne foyer on Friday 25 July from 12pm.

Donate Here: https://bit.ly/4m62KZY

21/07/2025

For the first time, a targeted treatment for cholangiocarcinoma, otherwise known as bile duct cancer, is now listed on the PBS - offering real hope to Australians facing this aggressive disease.

St Vincent’s Sydney Associate Professor Hao Wen Sim was involved in the clinical trials and says the results are significant: “We’ve seen about a 50% reduction in the rate of death events, so quite a striking signal for this type of medication.”

Watch the full story via 9 News

21/07/2025

This , we acknowledge the one in five Australians living with chronic pain, and the impact this has on their lives.
At St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, our Barbara Walker Centre for Pain Management is taking a holistic team approach to help patients find new ways to live well.

16/07/2025

A lump that doesn’t go away.

A pain that won’t ease.

It might seem minor, but sometimes, it’s not.

It’s Sarcoma Month, and a good reminder that if something feels off, get it checked.

Sarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects people of all ages. At St Vincent’s Melbourne, our orthopaedic surgeons work alongside plastic, cardiothoracic and neurosurgical teams to remove tumours and reconstruct limbs.

We care for patients across Victoria and Tasmania, combining 3D printing, robotic surgery and decades of experience to offer world-class care.

VO₂ max has long been the gold standard of fitness, but it’s no longer just for athletes.“With the rise of wearable tech...
15/07/2025

VO₂ max has long been the gold standard of fitness, but it’s no longer just for athletes.

“With the rise of wearable tech, more of us can now peek behind the curtain and truly understand our fitness levels,” says Professor Andre La Gerche, sports cardiologist at St Vincent’s.

Measured in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram per minute, VO₂ max reflects how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise, and it’s a powerful indicator of health and longevity.

“Every single increase translates to a measurable improvement in health outcomes.”

Find out why VO2 Max matters, how to improve it, and what it means for healthy ageing in this article by The Australian 🔗: https://bit.ly/44JwODH

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
St Vincent's Institute

Not sure where your nursing career is heading? That’s exactly where Darcee started.She joined the Pathway to Specialty P...
15/07/2025

Not sure where your nursing career is heading? That’s exactly where Darcee started.

She joined the Pathway to Specialty Practice program at St Vincent’s after her grad year, unsure of her path. Rotating through cancer care gave her a clearer sense of where she belonged, and the support she needed to grow into the role.
“I felt nervous at first, but now I feel confident. I know I’ve got the right people around me.”

The Transition to Specialty Practice (TSP) and Pathway to Specialty Practice (PSP) programs offer structured support for early career nurses ready to specialise.

Find out more🔗: https://bit.ly/4nu0MEf

10/07/2025

“We know it’s a tough ask for some people who’ve experienced trauma within the healthcare system… but the work we’ve done here, it’s for you as mob”, Chris Delamont, Wiradjuri Nari Nari man and Indigenous Talent Partner at St Vincent’s Health Australia.

This NAIDOC Week, we reflect on Strength, Vision and Legacy.

At St Vincent’s, that means listening, walking alongside community, and creating culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to receive care, connect to culture, and feel safe.

Chris is helping lead that work, not just through employment pathways and cultural education, but through art, relationships, and truth-telling.

“It’s not tokenistic. It’s not just talk, it’s action.”

10/07/2025

Yesterday, we celebrated NAIDOC Week with a barbecue at St Vincent’s Melbourne. Staff, patients and visitors were invited to come together, share a yarn, and enjoy a sausage.

Why a sausage? It was a small gesture, but an important one. Hospitals haven’t always felt like safe places for First Nations people. Creating a space to connect, listen, and spend time together helps build trust and makes sure everyone feels entitled to better and fairer care. Always.

⚫️🟡🔴

09/07/2025

St Vincent’s Sydney has carried out the world’s ‘first-in-human’ implant of a new generation of life-saving heart technology: a French-invented device which uses a revolutionary approach to help pump blood around the body and prevent heart failure until a donor heart for long-term transplant can be found.

The CorWave Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) device uses unique, undulating ‘membrane technology' – inspired by the swimming motion of aquatic animals – to restore blood flow and mimic the natural beating and pulse of a healthy heart.

The undulating membrane technology, under development since 2012, aims to preserve the physiological balance of the cardiovascular system, unlike currently-used rotary LVAD pumps that deliver a continuous and fixed flow rate.

The CorWave device was implanted on 28 May in a procedure led by St Vincent’s cardiothoracic and transplant surgeon, Dr Paul Jansz.

After several weeks in the ICU, followed by observation in the ward by St Vincent’s clinicians, led by Professor Chris Hayward, patient Michael Smith – a 67-year-old grandfather and former food processing worker from Leeton in southern NSW – is about to return home and will live with the device until a donor heart is identified for transplant.

The implant is the first of around 20 that will take place over three years as part of a clinical research study to test the effectiveness of the CorWave LVAD with six hospitals participating. Four of the hospitals are in Europe, with St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and The Alfred in Melbourne the only non-European partners.

Michael said he couldn’t thank the St Vincent’s team more highly. “Since the operation, I feel good. There's no tiredness. I don’t feel run down or anything. I feel really good, I feel like I'm 21 again"

09/07/2025

Aunty Crystal Love is a sistergirl from the Tiwi Islands, a beloved performer, cultural advocate, and unapologetically proud trans elder. During her recent stay at St Vincent’s, she reflected on healing, community, and what it means to feel safe in care.

“It was a bit scary coming to this ward after knowing everyone at first,” she said, “but the nurses, like Chanel Number Five Angela, were just beautiful.”

As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 and its theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’, we’re reminded that safety in healthcare is about connection, dignity and trust.

“I’m a sick lady,” she told us with grace and candour. “I have diabetes and kidney problems… but you get good things, bad things, and you put it together. It makes you who you are.”

Staying true to Crystal’s voice, we’re committed to building a health system where all patients receive better and fairer care. Always.

“Compassion - it comes from my upbringing. In my culture, we’re matriarchal. You’re taught by your grandmother and the w...
08/07/2025

“Compassion - it comes from my upbringing. In my culture, we’re matriarchal. You’re taught by your grandmother and the women in your family. My nan was a strong, strong woman. That strength has been passed down. You don’t walk past someone - especially someone elderly or scared - and not be moved. You stop and help.”

Wendy is one of the first faces you’ll see at St Vincent’s Clinic in Sydney, where she works as a receptionist. She’s a proud Kamilaroi woman from Moree in Northern NSW, and she brings warmth, strength, and deep cultural wisdom to her role every single day - ensuring patients feel safe, seen, and cared for from the moment they walk through our doors.

“NAIDOC Week, for me, is a celebration of our culture, our resilience, and our survival. We’ve been knocked down again and again - but we’re still here. We’re the oldest race in the world. That is something worth celebrating,” Wendy says. “For a long time, language and history were beaten out of our people. Now, young ones are reconnecting - they’re asking questions, finding community, learning who they are.”

Wendy has seen the power of cultural identity in the hospital setting, where staff and patients alike have discovered their Aboriginal heritage - sometimes for the first time. “When that happens, it’s emotional - there are tears, anger, joy. But it’s healing. We still need more cultural care. Elders are afraid to go into hospitals - they fear they won’t come out. That’s why we need more visible Aboriginal staff. Not just people who want to help, but people they identify with. That’s how we build trust.”

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East Melbourne, VIC

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