Western Health

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Western Health

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Welcome to Western Health. We’re proud to provide a combination of in-hospital and community-based health services in Melbourne's west.

Our team of more than 11,000 staff, with support from more than 700 volunteers, enable us to deliver best care to our community. We have a strong philosophy of working with our local community to deliver excellence in patient care. We’re responsible for Footscray, Sunshine, Williamstown, Bacchus Marsh and Sunbury Day Hospitals, as well as Melton Health, Caroline Springs Community Health and Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care. We welcome open discussion across our social media channels but ask you abide by our terms and conditions. These can be found at https://westernhealth.org.au/patients-and-visitors/social-media-terms-use

01/11/2026

A place to call home 🏡

For the residents of Grant Lodge, Western Health’s aged care home, a refurbished room means more than a fresh new look. It means a comfortable place to relax, spend time with family, enjoy activities and feel at home.

Grant Lodge now features 30 single rooms with ensuites, quiet sitting areas and dedicated therapy spaces. Work is also underway on a sensory garden and outdoor activities area.

Residents helped shape the refurbishment from the very beginning, with their feedback informing the design and helping create spaces that reflect what matters most to them.

“Our residents know this home better than anyone, so listening to them was essential,” says Operations Manager Andrea Locke.

Careful planning allowed residents to remain at Grant Lodge throughout the staged refurbishment, which began in March 2025 and reached final sign-off in October 2026.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Grant Lodge a more welcoming place for residents to call home. 💚

30/10/2026

Check out the exciting construction progress on the Melton Hospital site! 🏗️🏥

This hospital will make a significant impact for our growing local community, ensuring the people of Melbourne’s west get the care they need, close to home.

Melton Hospital construction is on track for completion in 2029.

A big thank you to our project partners, the Victorian Health Building Authority and Exemplar Health, including Capella Capital and Lendlease.

28/10/2026

🔬 Another Research Week at Western Health has wrapped up, with $917,500 in grants and fellowships awarded!

Congratulations to all our clinicians and researchers whose work directly improves care for our community in Melbourne’s west and contributes to research with global impact. Thank you to our University partners Victoria University, Melbourne Australia, The University of Melbourne, Deakin University and La Trobe University.

The closing Research Recognition and Awards Ceremony, hosted by Western Health Foundation and the Office of Research, celebrated this year’s recipients, including the prestigious Arlene Wake Chronic Disease Fellowships.

These awards were made possible through the generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors. Thank you to the Stroke Foundation, Erica Foundation, Fernwood Fitness, BankVic, Maxxia Australia, Plenary Group and Medtronic for helping support research that makes a real difference to people’s lives.

🏆 Find out more and see the full list of award recipients via the link in the comments.

14/10/2026

Western Health was proud to be named as a finalist in the Premier’s Large Health Service of the Year and Excellence in Aged Care categories at last night’s Victorian Public Healthcare Awards ⭐

Although we did not take home an award this year, we are grateful that our work has been recognised and we thank our staff for their commitment to our patients and community 💛

Congratulations to everyone across our hospital, community and home-based services who have worked so hard to improve access, strengthen safety and quality, support our priority populations, and deliver high-quality care while preparing for future growth.

Congratulations to all finalists and award winners. The standard of nominations is an inspiring reflection of the incredible work happening in healthcare across Victoria.

14/10/2026

Happy Allied Health Professions Day to our wonderful allied health professionals! 🫶

At Western Health, more than more 1,500 allied health professionals work across more than 27 professions, performing an incredibly diverse variety of roles. Allied health professionals are a crucial part of our team, and an essential part of the care we provide to our community.

Allied health professionals support diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and the restoration of function, helping people to live as independently and fully as possible. They are there from the very beginning of the patient journey. From imaging and pathology that help us understand what is happening, through to pharmacy, therapy, rehabilitation, nutrition and other specialist services that support treatment and recovery.

The contribution of our allied health professionals is fundamental to the care we provide to our community, and the impact is felt by our patients, and their families and carers every day.

Happy Allied Health Professions Day and thank you for the enormous and essential contributions you make in helping people live well and supporting the whole person, every step of the way.

08/10/2026

✨ Celebrate Diwali and support a great cause!

Join us for the inaugural Diwali Charity Gala at Seasons 5 Resort in Point Cook on Saturday 10 October.

Hosted by the Western Health Foundation and Thogai Charitable Trust, the evening will bring together the wonderful diversity of Melbourne’s west with:

🪔 Fine dining
🎶 Live entertainment and music
🛍️ Colourful stalls
🎆 Fireworks
🔨 A fundraising auction
🎤 An address from special guest Karambir Singh Kang

Karambir is known around the world for his extraordinary leadership during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, when he helped save more than 1,500 lives. His story is one of courage, service and hope.

Importantly, every ticket helps support Western Health research into the health of culturally and linguistically diverse communities across the West, as well as the building of hospitals in India to bring healthcare to some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Come along in your favourite traditional attire and celebrate Diwali with our diverse western Melbourne community.

📅 Saturday 10 October 2026
⏰ From 6.30pm
📍 Seasons 5 Resort, Point Cook
🎟️ Tickets now on sale!
🍽️ Ticket price inclusive of all food and drinks

Book via TryBooking https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/WH-diwali-charity-gala-1634026

See you there!

07/10/2026

Western Health’s new roving team of specialist nurses is helping patients get the care they need with intravenous devices more quickly and comfortably. 💙

Our Vascular Access Team (VAT) was launched as a pilot program in July. 🚀

And in the three months since, the two-nurse VAT team has provided bedside support for hundreds of patients at Sunshine Hospital and Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s.

Using ultrasound and ECG-guided technology, they provide specialist support for adult patients who need IV devices – including cannulas, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), arterial lines and midlines – to receive medicines, fluids and other treatments.

The service is particularly valuable for patients whose veins can be difficult to access, helping reduce delays, discomfort and the need for multiple needle insertions. ❤️‍🩹

Meet Nash and Jaycee – the dynamic duo providing this new service. 👋💙

06/10/2026

15+ years of wagging tails at Western Health.

For more than 15 years, Lort Smith volunteers and their therapy dogs have been bringing comfort, connection and joy to our patients and staff.

Today, 12 therapy dogs visit our sites, providing around 250 hours of visits each year.
For patients, a visit can be a welcome break from the hospital routine. For staff, it’s a chance to pause, reset and enjoy some four-legged company. 🐶❤️

Find out more: https://lortsmith.com/

01/10/2026

⚠️Emergency Departments at Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals may be impacted ⚠️ today, Thursday 1 October due to protected industrial action resulting in long wait times for patients with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call triple zero (000) for urgent help.

We want you to be seen as quickly as possible, so if you need care and it is not an emergency, please consider these alternative pathways to care:

➡️ For mild to moderate conditions, consider using the free video-based healthcare service Virtual Emergency Department at https://ved.vic.gov.au/
➡️ Telephone NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24

These services are free for people of all ages and clinicians provide comprehensive assessment and immediate support for anyone with minor illnesses or injuries.

Patient safety remains our highest priority. If your care is affected, you will be contacted by us as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements.

In a life-threatening medical emergency, please call Triple Zero (000) or attend the Emergency Department.

✨ Celebrate Diwali and support a great cause!Join us for the inaugural Diwali Charity Gala at Seasons 5 Resort in Point ...

12/09/2026

Address

89 Ballarat Road
Footscray, VIC
3021

Website

http://www.westernhealth.org.au/

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