The Andrews Labor Government will establish five new GP-led Priority Primary Care Centres to give Victorians the care they need while easing pressure on our busy emergency departments (EDs). Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that Priority Primary Care Centres will be established close to five hospitals – giving Victorians an alternative to visiting an ED.
The Andrews Labor Government has recruited hundreds of new paramedics this year – delivering another boost to our health system and helping our ambulance services meet the record levels of demand being seen Australia-wide. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Wendouree Station to announce that more than 150 paramedics have already joined crews in regional Victoria this year – with more on the way.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering another boost for regional Victoria’s health system, as part of a comprehensive plan to make sure patients are getting the quality care they need while there is record demand on the national health system. Premier Daniel Andrews today visited Ballarat Hospital to meet with nurses and other hospital staff who will benefit from the additional resources and staff announced as part of the latest $162 million health support package – to make sure patients are getting the quality care they need.
Ballarat will benefit from state-of-the-art hospital services as the massive hospital redevelopment starts to take shape. Minister for Health Martin Foley today unveiled a first look at the Ballarat Base Hospital’s new support services building and central energy plant which forms part of the second stage of the $541.6 million redevelopment.
The Andrews Labor Government is giving young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians access to additional wellbeing support services located at safe spaces in western Victoria. Minister for Equality Martin Foley today met with young LGBTIQ+ Victorians who will benefit from $3.2 million in funding in the Victorian Budget 2022-23 to support the design and delivery of LGBTIQ+ safe space services.
Casual and contract workers in Ballarat and Western Victoria are being encouraged to sign up to the Andrews Labor Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee before flu season takes hold – giving them a safety net if they become sick and miss work or need to care for a loved one. Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt today visited Federation University to encourage more people to sign up to the Sick Pay Guarantee and to meet with casual workers who are already benefitting from the program.
Ballarat and Grampians patients will have better treatment closer to home for cancer therapy, surgery and mental health as part of the major expansion of health care announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest over $12 billion to put patients first, with a Pandemic Repair Plan for more staff, better hospitals and first-class care.
In addition to building state-of-the-art theatres, a women and children’s hub and a new emergency department, the Andrews Labor Government will boost accessibility and safety at the Ballarat Base Hospital by creating two new entrances separating emergency vehicles and the public.
The Andrews Labor Government’s new nursing training ward has officially opened at Australian Catholic University in Ballarat, ensuring local graduates have the skills they need to hit the ground running in healthcare jobs in regional Victoria and across the state.
More regional Victorians recovering from drug and alcohol dependency now have specialised court services and support closer to home with the opening of a dedicated new Drug Court in Ballarat.
The Andrews Labor Government today announced that a Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Service will be established in Ballarat and its doors will be open from mid-2023.
The Victorian Government is bringing vaccines to the areas that need them most, by launching a massive community pop-up vaccination program targeting 100 priority postcodes across the state.
The Victorian Government is ensuring people living in Ballarat and the Western region have access to the world-class healthcare they deserve close to home.
More families in Ballarat and around regional Victoria are joining Australia’s largest-ever child and parent research project, helping drive better health outcomes for the next generation of young Victorians.
The local Ballarat community is being encouraged to have a say on the Victorian Government’s $541.6 million redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital.
On the advice of the Chief Health Officer, the seven-day lockdown in the City of Ballarat will lift at 11:59pm tonight, 22 September, with public health officials increasingly confident that the spread of cases in the city is under control.
Support for licensed bars, cafes, hotels and clubs across regional Victoria will continue through September, and other businesses in regional areas will also be supported where ongoing restrictions severely affect operations. With the City of Ballarat entering a seven-day lockdown, all eligible businesses in that local government area will receive Business Costs Assistance Program and Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payments for the last two weeks of September – along with more than 100,000 metropolitan businesses.