Latrobe Regional Health

22/05/2026

A well-earned cuppa for our Community Champions volunteers Ed, Di and Chris in our Palliative Care unit.
This National Volunteer Week, the theme 'Your Year to Volunteer' has taken on special meaning at Latrobe Regional Health.
Our Community Champions have stepped into a new palliative care role, offering companionship, comfort and kindness to patients and their families at a deeply important time.
From sitting with patients so loved ones can rest, to sharing meaningful conversations, Ed, Di, Chris, Tony and Pete are making a real difference.
“It’s an honour to be there,” says Chris. And as Ed puts it: “I provide a friendly face, a hand to hold and an ear to listen… How lucky am I?”
Thinking about volunteering? You might be surprised how much you receive in return at LRH💛
📞 5173 8589 | 📧 engagement@lrh.com.au
Or catch the LRH Community Champions team tomorrow - Saturday 23 May from 9am-12pm at the Latrobe City Volunteer Expo https://latrobecity.com.au/event/volunteer-expo/
And if you'd like to learn about our plans to improve comfort and care for our palliative patients and their loved ones go to: https://lrh-palliative-appeal.raiselysite.com/

22/05/2026

Wow! Thank you 👏👏👏 What an incredibly generous effort. Want to learn more or buy the book? https://cazsclosetofcurls.myshopify.com/products/cazs-closet-of-curls-book?variant=51861005599006

Thanks to everyone’s incredible support at the Caz’s Closet of Curls book launch, we proudly raised $1,025 for the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre 💛

This included funds raised through book sales, original illustrations, and raffle tickets. Thank you to everyone who purchased, donated, and celebrated with us — your generosity and support means so much.

20/05/2026

Happy International Clinical Trials Day!

LRH’s Research and Clinical Trials Unit recently marked an important milestone with the activation of its 60th clinical trial since the program began in 2019.

More than 750 participants have taken part in clinical trials since, helping bring more healthcare options closer to home for Gippsland families.

👀Watch one of our participants David talking about how a clinical trial helped clear up his eczema.

🫁And now Gippslanders living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have access to a new clinical trial close to home.

COPD makes breathing difficult and can have a major impact on daily life.

Lung disease rates in Gippsland are at a whopping 107 per cent higher than the Victorian average, so this new trial has been launched in response to a real and growing community need.

The trial is looking at new ways to reduce the symptoms and impact of COPD, while giving local patients access to emerging treatments without having to travel outside the region.

Clinical trials are carefully monitored research studies designed to test whether new treatments, medicines or medical devices are safe and effective.

Every study goes through rigorous ethical review processes, and participants are fully informed before taking part.

For the more than 290,000 people who call Gippsland home, local research means more opportunities to access innovative care while helping shape the future of healthcare for the wider community.

Our trials program have been conducted in 13 specialty areas including cancer, cardiology, respiratory health and infectious diseases.

LRH is proud to continue our vision of “Research for change” to improve health outcomes for Gippsland.

Click here for more info: lrh.com.au/research-clinical-trials/

19/05/2026

Here’s proof that 20 cents here and there can add up to something powerful for our community. 🙌
We’ve just bought a really important piece of cancer care equipment called a rhino laryngoscope to diagnose and monitor oral cavity tumours. It features a small, flexible camera that helps clinicians examine parts of the nose, throat and voice box.
And we purchased it thanks to a staff fundraiser at AGL Loy Yang which collected $5000 from the sale of 20 cent chocolates. AGL matched the funds dollar-for-dollar, bringing the total to $10,000. 👏👏👏
General Manager AGL Loy Yang, Christo van Niekerk and staff representatives Duane Pendlebury and Ange Bogan (seated) visited Gippsland Radiation Oncology to meet Deputy Operations Manager Mat Norman and Radiation Therapy Manager Debbie Bellingham.
Ange is carefully holding the new rhino laryngoscope which is housed in a special cage to ensure none of the technology is damaged.
Christo van Niekerk said the fundraiser reflected the strong community values shared across the workforce.
“Our people are incredibly passionate about giving back. Something as simple as selling chocolates has turned into a significant contribution toward equipment that will make a real difference in cancer care for local patients. We’re proud to match their efforts and help ensure Latrobe Regional Health has the equipment it needs to support families across our region,” he said.
AGL Loy Yang staff have a long history of supporting local community organisations through workplace fundraising, volunteering, and their donation matching program, Power to Give.
Sweet as, AGL Loy Yang, sweet as. 🍫🍫

18/05/2026

Looking for career opportunities in public health across Gippsland? 👀

Why not work for the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit?

Follow the page to stay up to date and be the first to hear about new roles, projects and opportunities to make a difference in our community.

👉 Follow the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit - GRPHU page today.

18/05/2026

As volunteer drivers over the past 20 years, Mike and Dianne have helped countless patients get to and from vital treatments and therapy appointments. And they don't just offer a ride to the hospital - patients get kindness, reassurance and a friendly face when it matters most.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, we're incredibly proud to recognise these two outstanding members of our Community Champions volunteering program.
Mike and Di received a certificate, commemorative pin and a little gift from our Board Chair Linda McCoy, during a special lunch today with our hospital volunteers, drivers, op shop team and community advisors.
Thank you to all of our Community Champions who embody the best of what volunteering is all about!
If you reckon it's 'Your Year to Volunteer' (the National Volunteer Week theme), catch up with 50 organisations who'd love you to join them, at the Latrobe City Volunteer Expo, this Saturday from 9am-12pm outside the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon. We'll be there! Come and say hi. 👋

13/05/2026

✨You're invited to something truly special.✨
This is Maggie McMillan and her debut picture story book for adults, Caz’s Closet of Curls, a beautiful tribute inspired by her vibrant and much-loved friend, Caroline 'Caz' Greenwood.
Caz was diagnosed with breast cancer and sadly passed away in November, before she could see this book come to life. In her spirit, Maggie, alongside illustrator Karen Allen, continued the journey to bring this joyful project to the community. 💛
📚 Join Maggie for the book launch!
🗓 Saturday 16 May
⏰ 2:30pm
📍 Momo, 103 Seymour Street, Traralgon
In an incredibly generous gesture, Maggie and her team will be donating 50% of all book sales to the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre, the very place where Caz was treated.
They’d love your support as they celebrate this meaningful milestone. Expect a warm, uplifting afternoon surrounded by wonderful people. And in honour of Caz’s colourful spirit, feel free to wear a bright, bold, fun wig!
🎟 Get your tickets here:
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1567394
Come along, celebrate, and help make a difference to people receiving cancer care. 💕

13/05/2026

Meet our dietitians.

Hospital dietitians sometimes fly under the radar, but play a crucial role in helping you recover from, or manage chronic illness.

They work closely with doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health to coordinate patient care with correct nutrition advice, adjusting patient diets, and educating staff on nutritional related issues .

Our dietetics team got together to enjoy a tasty platter to celebrate the collective impact they make at LRH for Dietitians Week.

The team routinely revamps the LRH kitchen menu for certain patients. And this also includes taste testing dietary supplements!

They recently created a new dialysis menu to help inpatients manage chronic kidney disease, as well as rejigging the McAlister menu for our aged care residents and dietary fluids for surgical patients.

12/05/2026

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️For Jane McCormick, being a registered nurse at LRH is about helping people through their hardest days and making sure they never face them alone.

This International Nurses Day, we’re celebrating nurses like Jane from our Hospital in the Home team, which has been caring for Gippslanders for the past 13 years.

“When people are having a bad day, I can really make a difference,” Jane said.

“I also love the camaraderie with my colleagues. We help each other get through our days.”

Hospital in the Home helps patients recover where they’re often happiest, in their own home.

Jane and the team travel through the Valley each day caring for patients at home. She does things like administering IV antibiotics, infusions, wound care and provides ongoing support.

“It allows people to get out of hospital earlier than they otherwise would be,” she said.

“People tend to do better when they’re in their own home. They’re sleeping better, eating the food they know, and surrounded by loved ones.”

Jane is a born and bred Traralgon woman and said caring for people in her own community makes the role even more special.

“It’s really nice to be in your hometown. Sometimes you meet patients who knew your family and you get to share those memories together.”

Jane started nursing later in life, beginning her career at 45 and has never looked back.

“Nurses are so essential to healthcare, we are the first point of call when you enter hospital and are by your side to relay issues to the doctors,” she said.

“We chase things up on your behalf and we'll always advocate for you.

“Just do it, if you are considering becoming a nurse. It’s flexible, rewarding, and you’re always helping people.”

09/05/2026

Check out our super mum and daughter duo Cathryn and Anna who both work as midwives in our Thomson ward. We are so proud 💝

Cathryn Heywood has spent nearly 40 years delivering babies. She never expected that one of them, her own daughter Anna, would one day be doing it alongside her.

This Mother’s Day, the Maternity Unit Manager and midwife duo from Latrobe Regional Health will support women who are hours, sometimes minutes, away from the most important moment of their lives.

“Watching someone become a mother on Mother’s Day together, knowing what that relationship is going to turn into," Anna says “makes it that little bit more special”.

Anna grew up listening to her mum’s stories about the pride of being in the room when a child enters the world, moments that are emotional, intense, and unforgettable.

There are times when Anna spots her mum across the room and feels it all return: the admiration and the quiet reminder that this is what she is meant to do.

“You never ever lose that thrill, that honour, of bringing a baby into the world,” Cathryn says. “It’s the best job in the world,” she added.

Cathryn was Anna’s supervisor on her first day and held her hand through the nerves. Since then, she's played various roles alongside her including as second midwife and a responder when Anna called a neonatal code blue.

“I burst with pride every time I walk past and see my daughter here. To see the skills she has,” Cathryn says, pausing. “You can't teach some of that.”

When asked if it was awkward working together, the two echoed the same sentiment, “it just works”. It took new staff a little while to figure out why these two seemed suspiciously close but once they did, it just made people laugh.

“We spend more time together than most” jokes Anna... and they’ll go home together too.

Happy Mother’s Day to every mum, the new ones, the ones deeply missed, and especially the ones spending today caring for someone else’s children. We see you.

07/05/2026

How to say thanks to hungry healthcare workers?

A huge thank you to the amazing peeps from for putting on a free BBQ for our hardworking staff today ahead of International Nurses Day.

What a great way to recognise the dedication and hard work our teams show every day, from our nurses and doctors to allied health, support services and everyone in between.

In case you didn't know, Rapid Relief Team provides support and volunteer services, including meals, disaster relief, and community assistance, to people facing hardship, emergencies, and crisis situations around the world.

But, today, we were incredibly grateful for the smiles and tasty burgers!