Victorian Healthcare Association

01/12/2025

Last week, the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local opened in Melton. Led by Mind Australia in partnership with IPC Health, Thorne Harbour Health and Western Health, the service will offer walk-in services to the Melton community - with no fee, Medicare card or GP referral required.

Congratulations to Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs on this milestone. Read more here

The Allan Labor Government is making it easier for Victorians to get free mental health care, with the official opening of the permanent Melton Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt today celebrated the opening of the new Melton site – chosen and developed along...

28/11/2025

The VHA would like to extend congratulations to the winners of the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards for 2025.

It's fantastic to see these services recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities, and the health of Victorians across the state. Learn more about the award winners here

Read about the achievements of the 2025 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards winners and finalists.

27/11/2025

Not long to go until the first issue of the VHA magazine lands in our subscribers’ inboxes.

Don’t miss this issue packed with insights on the Aged Care sector including policy updates and insights into service innovations.

Subscribe now https://ow.ly/FruB50Xyvh9

20/11/2025

The Victorian Agency for Health Information has released the Health Services Performance Data for Q1 2025-26. The data shows Victoria’s public hospitals are achieving stability and performance improvements across key metrics, including record numbers of same-day discharges.

Read more in the VHA’s media release https://ow.ly/3JrT50Xv9bF

20/11/2025

Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember the lives of transgender and gender-diverse people lost to violence and injustice. It’s a day to reflect, raise awareness, and recommit to building inclusive, safe, and supportive workplaces and communities for all.

19/11/2025

Each issue of VHA Healthcare InFocus will spotlight a different area of the health sector. For our inaugural edition, Aged Care is InFocus.

Learn more about how services across the state are adapting to reform and implementing innovative services and programs to meet the needs of their communities.

The first issue is released next month, subscribe now to recieve VHA Healthcare InFocus straight to your inbox https://ow.ly/v8Y050XuqVO

18/11/2025

Secure your place at Australian Healthcare Week 2026.

Australian Healthcare Week is the premier event for healthcare professionals, bringing together over 10,000 industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of healthcare delivery.

Why Attend:
- Explore the latest trends in healthcare innovation from 500+ expert speakers
- Network with the entire health ecosystem at the biggest healthcare event in the southern hemisphere
- Discover cutting-edge solutions to today’s most pressing healthcare challenges through workshops and demos

Join us and be part of the conversation transforming healthcare.

To find out more and register for FREE click here: https://ow.ly/qq7A50XtfN6

17/11/2025

We’re so excited to share the cover of the first issue of the VHA magazine, coming December 2025.

VHA Healthcare InFocus will shine a spotlight on critical sector updates and elevate the experiences of VHA members and healthcare organisations across the state.

Subscribe now to receive Healthcare InFocus straight to your inbox : https://www.vha.org.au/about/item-two/vha-magazine/

17/11/2025

It’s Inclusion at Work Week (17–21 Nov)!
This week we celebrate the organisations, leaders, and practitioners driving real change, making workplaces across Australia safer, fairer, and more inclusive so everyone can thrive.

From ideas to initiatives, this week shines a light on the practical steps organisations are taking to make workplaces inclusive for all.

13/11/2025

This week's member engagement tour saw Leigh Clarke (CEO), Amber O'Shea (GM - Sector Capability) and Tom Walsh (Policy Advisor) visit 10 services across the East Gippsland region.

Many of the services visited provide care to remote communities, spread out over large geographical distances. It was great to hear about the innovative ways services are collaborating to serve the diverse needs of their communities.

Thank you to the CEOs and executive teams that took time out of their busy schedules to share insights and provide tours of their facilities.

10/11/2025

The VHA welcomes last week’s release of the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report, which was informed by 13,000 submissions, including our organisation (Read our submission here https://ow.ly/Eaiw50Xp7qk). The report makes 27 recommendations across 7 areas, including:

- Focused funding for women’s health services
- Improvement in cross-sector information sharing and;
- Enabling a person-centred care model.

This is consistent with our submission – which called for implementation of evidence-based models of care, training and education for healthcare professionals and system planning and mapping for women’s based on population need.

We are pleased to see the Victorian Government intends to respond to key recommendations, including introducing a statewide standard for women's pain care and piloting the use of Penthrox for IUD insertion - a non-opioid pain reliever commonly known as 'green whistle'.

We are looking forward to seeing the Women's Pain Action Plan which will be developed in consultation with women across the state, and to seeing greater support for the 20 women’s health clinics already committed to and other virtual care programs that would better support women experiencing pain. Read more in the Inquiry report here https://lnkd.in/eakxZBp9 and the Victorian Government’s media statement https://lnkd.in/g7GmW2aJ.