Central West Hospital and Health Service

15/10/2026

🍎 Supporting National Nutrition Week 🍇

Food nourishes more than our bodies. 🥩

🫂 It is connection, culture, learning and enjoyment.

It contributes to our physical health, mental wellbeing and relationships. 🫶

🤗 We are proud to be supporting National Nutrition Week 2026.

🍓 A time to celebrate the role food plays in bringing people together while advocating for a future where everyone can access nutritious, affordable and sustainable food.

☺️ Here at Central West HHS, our dieticians provide expert individual nutrition and diet advice for people of all ages relating to specific health condition and treatments, as well as tailored advice to optimise your nutrition status and help you recover from injury, illness or surgery.

Together, we can create a future where everyone is connected and nourished. 🍌

👉 Visit the website for more information: nutritionaustralia.org

14/10/2026

🤷‍♀️ It Can't Hurt to Ask ... about Death and Dying 🗣

🤔 There can be a lot of people involved in end-of-life care, and in this Queensland Health podcast, we're finding out who's who and what they do.

🎙️ In this episode of It Can't Hurt to Ask ... about Death and Dying, Lauren meets with staff from across the state (and here in the Central West!) who help care for people who are dying, to find out what their jobs are and what they love about their work.

🫶 From the role of doctors and nurses in palliative care settings, to allied health professionals and a geriatrician, we're finding out how many different disciplines can come together to support a person's quality of life in their final months, weeks and days.

❓ What's the most common request a palliative care music therapist gets? How does a geriatrician explain ageing? Central West HHS occupational therapist Jas Sutton explains why she might talk to a patient's neighbours.

👉 This episode is part of the It Can’t Hurt to Ask: Death and Dying podcast: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/newsroom/podcasts/it-cant-hurt-to-ask/death-and-dying

13/10/2026

🤩 It’s Allied Health Professionals Day! 🥳

🫶 On 14 October 2026, we celebrate Allied Health Professionals Day, recognising the important contribution our Central West HHS allied health team makes across our communities.

This year’s theme, “Allied health: For everyone, everywhere”, highlights the vital role they play in improving health and wellbeing for people of all ages and backgrounds across our district. 🙌

🤝 Central West HHS Executive Director of Regional Health Services Craig Carey said allied health staff are essential members of our wider healthcare team.

“Here at Central West HHS we have allied health professionals working across various teams and services supporting prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, and ongoing care,” Craig said.

“Their work helps people to build independence, manage chronic conditions, recover from illness or injury, and achieve better health outcomes.

“Thank you to our allied health team for delivering expert, person-centred, connected care with compassion and commitment.”

12/10/2026

💙Tambo tree turns blue for mental health awareness 🩵

🌳 For years, hundreds of trees all over Australia have been turning blue for a good cause, as part of the Blue Tree Project.

These powerful, standing symbols of mental health awareness are there to spark a question that can change everything. 🗣️

🎨 At a recent community gathering in Tambo, locals played their part in kicking the stigma of mental health by painting a tree at the Grassland Art Gallery precinct an eye-catching shade of blue.

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Team as well as our Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Service were proud to support the event, and pick up a paintbrush! 🖌

🫶 Well done to the Tambo community and Blackall-Tambo Regional Council for coming together for mental health awareness.

11/10/2026

🙌 Central West Hospital and Health Board Chair Jane Williams said the 2025–2026 financial year had been one of successes and challenges for the health service.

📝 The Central West HHS 2025–2026 annual report was tabled in Queensland Parliament on 25 September.

“Over the past year, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for all members of our population,’’ she said.

“From enhancing chronic disease management and mental health support to expanding telehealth services and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health initiatives, our focus has been on delivering equitable health outcomes."

👀 You can read the annual report here 👉 https://www.centralwest.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/publications-and-reports/annual-reports

🗞️ Read more of the Board Chair's recap 👉 https://www.centralwest.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/a-year-of-achievements-for-central-west-health2

Central West Hospital and Health Board Chair Jane Williams said the 2025–2026 financial year had been one of successes and challenges for the health service.

08/10/2026

🧠 Take stock of your mental health and look after others this Mental Health Week from 3–11 October! 🧠

🫂 The Central West Hospital and Health Service’s Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs Service has multiple events to mark the week in Longreach, with World Mental Health Day also to be observed on 10 October.

📍 Outside the Hub, 107 Eagle Street in Longreach
📆 Friday 9 October 2026
⏰ 9 am to 12 pm

❗️ Don't miss our free pottery class at the Longreach Arts and Crafts Centre on Sunday 11 October from 1 pm! Please register using this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/aQrGMgmk9n

Read more 👉 https://www.centralwest.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/building-community-and-wellbeing-this-mental-health-week

08/10/2026

🤩 Mental Health Week School Poster Competition winners! 🏆

🤗 As part of Queensland Mental Health Week (3 to 11 October 2026), the Central West HHS Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) invited school students from across the region to design posters that explore how the people, places and activities within their community contribute to improving their mental health.

🎨 We received dozens of colourful and creative entries from across the district, and would like to thank everyone who sent posters in.

👩‍⚖️ The posters were anonymously judged by members of the eCYMHS psychiatry team in Brisbane who decided on a winner and runner up for the 2 categories of primary and high school students. 👨‍⚖️

🥳 We would like to congratulate the following winners, who have earned gift cards for their efforts:

High school
🥇 Erika from Longreach State High School
🥈 Ashley from Aramac State School

Primary school
🥇 Sean from Bedourie State School
🥈 Frankie from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School

07/10/2026

✨ It’s Operational Recognition Week! ✨

🤩 The unsung heroes of our facilities, kitchens, grounds, and storerooms are front and centre this Operational Recognition Week (5 to 9 October 2026).

🏥 Operational staff play an important role supporting the delivery of quality and effective healthcare across the state, and in our facilities here at Central West HHS.

🙌 While we recognise their invaluable contributions year-round, this week is a chance to acknowledge and raise awareness of the variety of services performed by operational teams within Queensland Health.

🤗 Thank you to our operational services officers!

06/10/2026

☀️ As another Central West summer approaches, make sure your emergency kit is stocked with essential items like:

🌡️ personal medical supplies specific to you
🩹 first aid kit
🪫 enough batteries or chargers for medical devices
😷 personal protective gear like a face mask
💊 a 7-day supply of any prescription medicines you need
📜 documents such as prescriptions, Medicare card and health care contacts.

🔥⛈️ When emergencies happen, it’s important you and your family have everything you need to stay healthy.

To learn more about how to prepare for extreme weather, visit https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/emergencykit.