Austin Health

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Heidelberg, VIC
Austin Health

Austin Health is the major provider of health services, health professional education and research in the northeast of Melbourne.
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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research in the northeast of Melbourne. Austin Health is world-renowned for its research and specialist work in cancer, transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation. Austin Health comprises Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.

28/07/2025

“Talking to your family about your wishes is just as important as registering - when your family truly understands what is important to you when you die, they can make the right, enduring decisions for you, in line with your wishes.”

This DonateLife Week, we’re shining a light on Dr Kim Pollack - Emergency Physician and Emergency Department (ED) Liaison to the Austin Tissue and Organ Donation team.

Kim plays a key role in helping to educate and empower ED staff to support organ and tissue donation at end of life.

💗 Read her story: bit.ly/45p9pZK
💗 Register to be a donor: donatelife.gov.au

24/07/2025

“Don’t give up. Your body will tell you to – but once you get over that hard hurdle, it’s amazing.” – Yuli, 19

Born with a rare condition that left her unable to digest food, Yuli spent most of her life fed through a central line and too unwell to go to school.

At 18, she received a multi-organ transplant at Austin Health and it changed everything.

Now, just over a year later, she’s back on her feet and planning her next steps in life.

Her story is one of resilience, expert care, and hope.

👉 Read more about Yuli’s journey and how Austin Health’s world-class transplant team helped give her a second chance > bit.ly/4m8GiQ7

22/07/2025

Our wonderful Horticultural Therapist Sue brings the healing power of nature into the Brain Disorders Unit with her creative and calming sessions.

From crafting beautiful mini gardens to creating artwork using plant materials, Sue helps our patients connect with nature and create something meaningful they can enjoy in their rooms and even take home. 💚

18/07/2025

Last week, little beats brought big calm to our Paediatric Ward! 🎶

As part of the school holiday program, our music therapists Jean and Lucy helped soothe this 19-month-old patient with gentle tunes while he waited for surgery.

His parents (pictured) were so grateful for the moment of peace - and we are too 💙

This fantastic program is led by Paediatrician, Dr Suba Rudolph and Leisure Therapist, Lotti Stein.

16/07/2025

Paracetamol is safe when used correctly, but it’s also one of the most common medications involved in accidental poisonings in children. 💊

If you’ve given or taken too much - or you’re just not sure - don’t wait.

📞 Call our friendly specialists at the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (VPIC) on 13 11 26. They’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

15/07/2025

Meet Sam Lieberman, former Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) at Austin Health and a current patient.

Sam was born with a rare genetic muscle disease called Congenital Fibre Type Disproportion (CFTD), a lifelong condition that affects muscle strength and movement.

From a young age, Sam became familiar with the challenges faced by people with disability when navigating the healthcare system — challenges that shaped not only his journey as a patient but also inspired his future as an advocate and a professional in this space.

Read Sam’s story > bit.ly/44J8fH8

14/07/2025

Small swaps, big impact 🍽️

Managing blood glucose levels starts with the choices we make every day - and food plays a huge role.

This , we encourage you to check in with your health, and that includes what’s on your plate.

Simple changes like choosing wholegrains over refined carbs, fresh fruit over juice, or lean proteins instead of processed meats can help you manage blood sugar levels and support your overall health.

Need a hand getting started – or just some inspiration? Check out the Diabetes Australia website for helpful recipes: https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/recipes/

11/07/2025

Thank you to Sukin for the generous donation 💜

Our Ngarra Jarra team has been handing out the products to patients and the feedback has been beautiful. Sometimes, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference.

09/07/2025

100 kidney transplant perfusions and counting.

Austin Health’s Australian Centre for Transplantation Excellence and Research (ACTER) has hit a major milestone: 100 kidney transplant perfusion cases!

In late 2023, we became the first health service in Australia to offer hypothermic (cold) oxygenated kidney machine perfusion, and the first to provide it as a statewide service for Victorians and Tasmanians.

This technology helps preserve donated kidneys better and for longer, enabling more transplants with better outcomes.

A heartfelt thank you to:
💙 The individuals and families who give the gift of organ donation
💙 The generous philanthropic donors who made purchasing this equipment possible
💙 Our retrieval teams, working tirelessly behind the scenes
💙 Our partners at transplant centres across the state and DonateLife Victoria
💙 The Victorian Department of Health for supporting the program

We look forward to growing this program to support even more kidney transplants in the years ahead.

Read more > bit.ly/3GydlOm

08/07/2025

Our Leisure Therapy team has proudly hosted Morning Tea for Culture to support the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (V***A) since 2020, and this year the event was extra special.

For the first time in six years, Austin Health hosted the morning tea as an official Ambassador of V***A!

V***A, Victoria’s peak voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, provides support to children, young people, families, and community members; and our partnership with V***A aligns with our commitment to reconciliation, cultural safety, and closing the gap in health outcomes.

Jimmy Kyle, proud Thungutti Goori man, lead singer of the band Chasing Ghosts, public speaker and educator, joined us as guest speaker.

“Hosting these morning teas has become more than a fundraiser for us —it is a celebration of culture, community, and continuous learning,” shares Sal Dema, Manager Leisure and Creative Therapies. "I encourage everyone to host their own Morning Tea for Culture. It is a fun way to connect and increase understanding of Aboriginal culture."

Read more about the event here > bit.ly/4lb2Pvz

07/07/2025

Happy NAIDOC Week! ❤️🖤💛

We were honoured to have Gunnai/Kurnai Elder Michael join us this morning to conduct a Smoking Ceremony, a traditional cultural practice of cleansing and connecting people to Country.

During this time Gunnai/Gunditjmara Woman Tamara delivered an Acknowledgement of Country, recognising the Traditional Owners of the land and paying respects to Elders past and present.

With this ceremony, we mark the beginning of NAIDOC Week, reminding us all of our shared responsibility to walk alongside First Nations Peoples in truth, respect, and action.

Address

Heidelberg, VIC

Website

http://www.austin.org.au/

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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research in the northeast of Melbourne. Austin Health is world-renowned for its research and specialist work in cancer, liver transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation. Austin Health comprises Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.