Victorian Aboriginal Health Service -VAHS

08/10/2025

Our Preventative Health Unit launched its new Community engagement strategy at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd junior and senior netball and football carnivals 🏉🏐

More than 1,000 Community members wrote a personal message to the to***co industry, saying loud and clear "stop killing our Mob, we will not be your future customers" 🚭

We will be sending these messages directly to industry, telling them enough is enough ✉️

07/10/2025

The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc Victorian Aboriginal Elders Summit will be held October 28-29 🗓️

Join the second gathering since the inaugural summit in 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) to reflect, connect, and celebrate with Elders from across Victoria 🖤💛❤️

VACCHO has free tickets for Elders and their carers/companions, but they're going quickly! Get yours now - http://bit.ly/3VVgkED

Tickets are selling fast!

Get your ticket to the 2025 Victorian Aboriginal Elders Summit.

The Summit will bring together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and the Aboriginal Aged Care sector to explore the theme: Dreaming of our past to shape our future.

The Summit will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, cultural activities and moments of reflection – all focused on elevating the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.

The details:
→ 28 – 29 October 2025
→ Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre – Naarm
→ Discounted tickets are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and their carers, Community members and ACCO staff.

Lean more and grab your tickets here > https://events.humanitix.com/victorian-aboriginal-elders-summit-2025

07/10/2025

Con-graduation to our St Albans Practice Manager Shainayer Peachey (Wiradjuri, Wailwan) on completing the Diploma of Leadership and Management through Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc 📜

Shainayer is a valued member of the VAHS family and we are incredibly proud of her dedication to strengthening leadership within the Aboriginal health sector 🎓

With nearly 10 per cent of VAHS staff recently beginning the Diploma of Leadership and Management at RMIT University in recent weeks, we look forward to having more of our team joining Shainayer in achieving this milestone 🎉

06/10/2025

We're hiring!

VAHS is recruiting a Health Informatics Officer to work in system administration and data entry across all VAHS sites 📈

To find out more about the opportunity, read the position description: http://bit.ly/3Wou76N 🔗

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to employment@vahs.org.au before 9pm Sunday 19 October ⌛

02/10/2025

💭 “Mindset is everything. The difference between a good and a bad day is your attitude. Your mind is a powerful thing – when you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change.”

This is the quote chosen to reflect the heart of the VAHS Women’s Group, who have been busy creating a caring, culturally grounded space to ensure our women feel supported, heard and empowered 🫱🏾‍🫲🏿

Recent Women’s Group sessions have included a visit Annique from not-for-profit Styling Salon Melbourne for a styling session and celebrating Aunty Flo’s birthday 🎂

If you’re an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women and you want to join our Women’s Group, come along to VAHS Preston from 11am-2pm on Wednesdays 🗓️

30/09/2025

VAHS Men’s Group has something for everyone, almost every day of the week! 🙌🏾

Join us in October for our upcoming activities:

👨🏾 Yarning Circle, VAHS Fitzroy, alternating Thursdays (October 2nd, 16th, and 30th)

🪃 Artifacts Workshop, Your Community Health Reservoir, Mondays (October 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th)

🎶 Didgeridoo Sessions, VAHS Preston, Fridays (October 3rd, 10th, 17th , 24th, and 31st)

🏃🏾‍♂️ Exercise Program, Aborigines Advancement League Thornbury, Tuesdays (October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th)

👨🏾 Yarning Circle, VAHS Preston, alternating Thursdays (October 9th and 23rd)

Come and get creative, active, or just for a feed and a yarn with likeminded men in a culturally safe space 🖤💛❤️

Reach out to Darah on 0478 734 938 or email mensunit@vahs.org.au for more information.

30/09/2025

📢📢Bunjilwarra's phone lines will be switching from YSAS to VAHS today, as part of the service transitioning fully to VAHS 📢

If you need to reach Bunjilwarra, from 12pm today, the correct number is (03) 8658 6440 ☎️

Anyone contacting the old number will be prompted to contact the new one. Thank you for your continued patience as we manage this transition.

29/09/2025

📢 Event cancellation 📢

Unfortunately, our October Moondani Murrup Grief and Loss Support Group session scheduled for this Friday, 3 October is cancelled due to staff illness.

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes, and look forward to seeing you at our session on Friday 7 November 📆

29/09/2025

September is Sexual Health Awareness Month 🍑

As September comes 😏 to an end, it’s important to keep thinking about sexual health all year round.

We know this can be a touchy subject 👉👌 but VAHS is a safe, shame-free space, and our sexual health nurses Eidan and Aisleen are there for you at VAHS Fitzroy for a yarn and a sexual health checkup. Everything we talk about is kept private and confidential.

Here’s some tips 🍆 on sexual health and what to expect from a sexual health check at VAHS.

Stay lubly – get tested! 🧪

25/09/2025

Our October Sista Stuff session for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander women aged 15-25 will be led by proud Wadawurrung artist Alisha Fagan🧶

Join us as Alisha teaches traditional weaving to create earrings, and baskets, while having the opportunity to connect and share Culture with sisters in a supportive space 🖤💛❤️

The session is from 11am-2pm next Thursday, 2 October at Bridge Darebin. To RSVP, fill in the form: http://bit.ly/4m663Qy

24/09/2025

Baker Boy with the Fitzroy Stars Football & Netball Club premiership trophy? Now THAT'S Cool As Hell! 🏆

The Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land caught up with VAHS staff members Mungara and JT ahead of his big performance at the AFL Grand Final this weekend 🏉

It looks like he was as on Cloud 9 about the Stars win as we are! ☁️

23/09/2025

Are you a young Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander with ideas on how we can do things better at VAHS? 🖤💛❤️

We're holding a Youth Focus Group at VAHS Preston on Wednesday 1 October for you to let us know how we can improve our services for youth💡

If you'd like to come along, fill in the form - https://bit.ly/4lPHiIb - you will be incentivised for your time.