52%
of residents in all residential aged care facilities have dementia
New Melton Hospital: Community information session - 8 October
We invited the community to come and see us to find out more about how we’re building your new Melton Hospital and to have your say.
The session was for drop-in at any time – no registration necessary.
New Melton Hospital: Community information session - 6 October
We invited the community to come and see us to find out more about how we’re building your new Melton Hospital and to have your say.
The session was for drop-in at any time – no registration necessary.
Designing for dementia
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Video transcript
On screen text: People with dementia account for 52% of residents in all residential aged care facilities. This number is even higher in public sector facilities. New design thinking for these facilities aims to support the independence, privacy and dignity of residents.
IMAGES: Close up shot of Creswick Nursing Home’s new dementia friendly unit, followed by drone shot of facility. Drone footage of St George’s Hospital aged care facility, followed by shot of garden pathway in Edenhope aged care facility.
Richard Blight, architect of Creswick facility: "I think in the dementia space, in the aged care space, there's a lot of really good architects working. We're all out to do the same thing, which is really improve residential aged care facilities.
Our focus is to build solutions which aren’t cookie cutter solutions. They're all custom designed for the particular community we're designing them for. It's a really exciting space to work in.
The people and their family and the carers will spend the last probably weeks, months, days in their life and to design an environment which can make these people feel more comfortable and improve the quality of their life. I think that's just a real privilege."
IMAGES: drone shots of Creswick and view upwards of St George’s apartments. Interior lounge areas and single bedroom at Creswick, drone shot of greater Creswick area.
Golden Oaks aged care facility frontage, bedroom and shared kitchen/dining spaces at St Georges
Sally Delany, Manager Design services, Victorian Health Building Authority: "Our residents are coming in more acute than they used to in the past. The most important thing is that we design flexible spaces that can adapt over time for changing needs of our community. It enhances and encourages their own independence and capacity to live as independently as they can."
IMAGES: rising drone shot of Creswick new unit, art collages on table
Richard Blight: "We were really sort of conscious to make as much effort as we can to engage with the residents. We run art therapy programs which really are a way of workshopping with residents to figure out what they think home is. We run these workshops with a sheet of paper, a drawing of a house on it, and we ask them, through the process of collage, just to stick pictures down of what they think home means to them."
IMAGES: bedroom and brightly coloured hallway at St Georges, bedroom at Creswick
Sally Delany: "One way of creating a homelike environment or also to trigger clues on where your bedroom is, is to have different colours on bedroom doors or a memory box, maybe photos of the family, so it's easier for the resident to find their actual bedroom."
IMAGES: dining table at Creswick
Richard Blight: "Making sure there's not too much contrast on the floor, making sure that the light isn't too bright."
IMAGES: bathroom and toilet with different coloured seat
Sally Delany: "We now have a different colour toilet seat to the floor. If the toilet seat is the same colour as the toilet and maybe the floor then it's very, very difficult for a resident."
IMAGES: drone shot of Creswick, followed by lounge room, and external garden
Richard Blight: "We've increased - we didn't want it to feel like a dementia facility. It's designed to be dementia-centric but it's not designed to look dementia-specific. It's a pod in itself and that forms a community."
IMAGES: drone shot of Creswick featuring integrated external courtyard, dining and kitchen area
Sally Delany: "Creswick now has a wonderful internal courtyard and it also assists with the wayfinding of the resident, as they're walking around the facility from their bedrooms to the shared kitchen and lounge areas."
IMAGES: external garden walkways at Edenhope aged care facility featuring brightly coloured bench seats
Richard Blight: "I think one of the things when designing external space is - is they need just as much consideration as internal spaces. If these spaces aren't directly connected to the interior social spaces of the facility, they just don't get used."
Sally Delany: "There's much more of a natural flow and a natural interaction between the staff and residents without residents feeling like their spaces are being invaded by staff."
IMAGES: Creswick breakout lounge, bedroom and large dining room, view of new unit from bushland
Richard Blight: "Talking to the staff is a real critical step in delivering innovation. When I'm walking around the facility, they probably think, "Oh, there's that pesky architect again. Whether it's the cleaner, I want to know whether we got the vinyl right or whether it's a nurse, I want to know how people are using the social spaces. So, I think the challenge, as a designer, is how you take all those limitations and still come up with something with something which respects the need of these residents. Make things better through understanding where it doesn't work and where it does work from a first person perspective.
A sliding transition screen then displays the Victorian Government logo and Victorian Health Building Authority logo and web address vhba.vic.gov.au
End of transcript
What is dementia-friendly design?
Dementia-friendly environments are created using a flexible approach that maximises people’s freedom and involvement through supportive, familiar, meaningful and safe surroundings.
Dementia-friendly design works to maximise independence and safety using intuitive and ergonomic design. It supports people with a broad range of functional needs such as reduced mobility, sensory losses and a wide variety of complex conditions.
The design approach carefully considers both physical and social environments. It looks at people’s unique needs and abilities, and how they maintain a sense of purpose through familiarity and connection.
Sally Delany, Manager Design Services, Victorian Health Building Authority‘Dementia-friendly design enhances wellbeing by creating environments that are welcoming and meaningful. It enables the resident to freely navigate their home indoors and outdoors. It promotes independence by creating safe and intuitively engaging spaces – maximising helpful stimulation and minimising unhelpful stimulation that may lead to increased levels of disorientation and anxiety.’
Homelike environments
give residents choice and independence
Private bedrooms
provide dignity and the ability to personalise
Outdoor spaces
provide connection to the natural environment
Creating a homelike environment
A homelike environment is key to dementia friendly design. While home environments can take many forms, they all share certain domestic qualities.
A homelike environment:
- allows people to continue the tasks of daily living
- uses their existing skills
- gives choice and independence with familiarity and comfort.
Richard Blight is a Director at Blight, Blight & Blight – the architecture firm who designed the $3.2 million dementia-friendly unit at Creswick Nursing Home. Richard explains how their team engages with residents to establish what home means to them.
Richard Blight, Director, Blight, Blight & Blight‘We run art therapy programs which are a way of workshopping with residents to figure out what they think home is. We run these workshops with a sheet of paper that has a drawing of a house on it – and we ask them through the process of collage to stick pictures down of what they think home means to them.’
When building an aged care facility, design strategies to create a homelike environment include:
- a small household model
- private bedrooms that can be personalised
- easy access to outdoor areas
- a diverse range of common areas.
Small household model
The completed $55.57 million St George’s Hospital aged care facility (Berengarra) was the first stage of the Victorian Government’s Modernisation of Metropolitan Melbourne Public Sector Residential Age Care Strategy.
The 90-bed facility is made up of two separate three-storey houses, with pitched roofs and brickwork to create a homelike feel. Each floor is divided into small households, creating a familiar environment that is easier to navigate. Key facilities such as dining and lounge areas are close by – also assisting those who cannot travel long distances due to frailty.
A communal living room within the Creswick Nursing Home dementia friendly unit
Private bedrooms
Individual bedrooms and bathrooms provide dignity and independence to residents in aged care. The $6.3 million Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital redevelopment included the construction of 18 private rooms and ensuites. This replaced the existing shared rooms, allowing providing privacy to residents.
Easy access to outdoor areas
Easy access to outdoor areas is important when creating a homelike environment. These areas need to be welcoming, engaging and safe.
At the dementia-friendly unit at Creswick Nursing Home, rooms are clustered around a central courtyard that can be sealed off from the rest of the facility. This allows residents to circulate freely and safely. Two outdoor seating areas encourage residents to spend time outdoors, while raised wheelchair-accessible garden beds allow residents to garden.
The outdoor space provides residents with choice. They can enjoy the outdoor space actively, or simply spend time on their own. The courtyard design also means that outdoor areas are visible from indoors, increasing a sense of connection to the natural environment.
Richard Blight, Director, Blight, Blight & Blight‘One of the things when designing external spaces is that they need just as much consideration as internal spaces. If these spaces aren’t directly connected to the interior social spaces of the facility – they just don’t get used.’
The safe garden space at Mountview Home, Maldon Hospital, has improved the experience of residents living with dementia by creating a walking path and accessible garden within an enclosed courtyard
A diverse range of common areas
A diverse range of common areas facilitate choice and lifestyle options for residents. It also supports them to maintain family and community connections.
For example, once construction of the $81.58 million new Wantirna residential aged care facility is complete in 2022, the facility will include multipurpose common areas, as well as a community room, sacred space and café. This will give residents greater choice, with access to areas for socialising, activities or quiet time alone.
Michael Walker, Principal Advisor, Universal Design, Victorian Health Building Authority‘The more we get away from the institutionalised approach to aged care, we’re going to have better outcomes. When we make environments more homelike, people feel welcome, they feel safe and they feel included.’
What’s next?
Making public sector aged care facilities dementia-friendly is part of the Victorian Government’s work to modernise public residential aged care facilities.
The interim report released on 31 October 2019 by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Royal Commission signalled the need for fundamental system reform to better support quality and safety. This includes a focus on building design.
We’re working with the Department of Health’s Aged Care Branch to update our Public sector residential aged care (interim) facility design guidelines to respond to some of the recommendations from the Royal Commission. The updated guidelines will also be informed by our recently released Universal design policy and charter.
The Department of Health will also be updating its dementia-friendly environments guidance and resources in consultation with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including people living with dementia.
Valda Groves, Manager Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services Infrastructure & Planning, Commissioning & System Improvement Division, Department of Health‘This collaboration has been important in developing a whole design approach and investment strategy to enhance environments to enable people with dementia to continue living a life of meaning and value and maintain connections with loved ones in a familiar and supportive home. This approach also assists staff to deliver a person-centred model of care.’
Continued investment in aged care
As part of the Modernisation of Metropolitan Melbourne Public Sector Residential Aged Care Strategy, the Victorian Government is investing:
- $81.58 million for a new 120-bed facility in Wantirna
- $134.6 million for a 150-bed facility at the Kingston Centre in Cheltenham
- $900,000 to deliver the first phase of designing and planning a new 90-bed public residential aged care facility in Coburg.
For rural and regional Victoria, $65 million was announced as part of the 2021-22 State Budget to modernise and upgrade public residential aged care services:
- $57.11 million to redevelop the Glenview Community Nursing Home in Rutherglen
- $4.95 million to design and plan a 36-bed facility within Camperdown Hospital.
- $2.93 million to design and plan a 16-bed residential aged care facility as well as eight acute beds in Cohuna.
The Victorian Government has also established the $10 million Rural Residential Aged Care Facilities Renewal Program. The program enables rural and regional residential aged care services across Victoria to invest in modern infrastructure and equipment.
By delivering dementia-friendly residential aged care facilities, we’re ensuring access to high quality public aged care close to home. This will support older Victorians to remain independent and keep well for as long as possible.
This article was originally published on 17 March 2022.
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Across Victoria, 100,000 people are living with dementia – and this number is predicted to nearly double in the next 20 years.
Public sector residential aged care services play an important role in supporting access to services for people who:
- have complex support needs
- are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage
- live where there are no other alternatives.
These services aim to promote residents’ independence, choice and dignity to support their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
People with dementia account for 52 per cent of residents in all residential aged care facilities. This number is even higher in public sector residential aged care services.
As the largest public provider of residential aged care in Australia, the Victorian Government has committed to modernising public sector residential aged care. This includes replacing outdated public aged care homes with purpose-built, modern facilities. It also includes updating, refurbishing and redeveloping existing aged care services.
As part of the modernisation of public sector aged care in Victoria, we have worked closely with the Department of Health’s Aged Care Branch to develop our public sector residential aged care (interim) facility design guidelines.
The guidelines provide an outline on how to deliver residential aged care services that are homelike and familiar, while enabling contemporary and innovative models of aged care. They also include information on how to design dementia-friendly environments.
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Building a new hospital for Melton
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The Victorian Government has committed more than $900 million to deliver a new Melton Hospital in Cobblebank, which will transform Melbourne’s booming outer west, giving the community access to better healthcare facilities closer to home.
The fully electric hospital will deliver 24/7 emergency, at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, maternity and neonatal services, mental health services, radiology services and outpatient care.
Once completed, Melton Hospital will have capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.
Works are expected to get underway in 2024 and be finished in 2029.
This landmark project for Melbourne’s outer west is being delivered by VHBA in partnership with Western Health which will operate the hospital.
Key questions
Why does Melton need a new hospital?
Melton is one of the fastest growing communities in Australia. The new Melton Hospital is being built to meet the growing demand for health services in Melbourne’s outer west, driven by population growth, increasing use of hospital services and the high proportion of young families in the area.
Will the hospital be a public hospital? Who will operate the new hospital?
The new Melton Hospital will be a public hospital. This much-needed project is being delivered in partnership with Western Health, who will operate the hospital.
What will be delivered?
The new Melton Hospital will include:
- a 24-hour emergency department
- 274 beds
- an intensive care unit
- maternity and neonatal services
- mental health services, radiology services and ambulatory care
- a new education and training hub for doctors and nurses in Melbourne’s west.
Where is the new hospital being built?
The new hospital will be built at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank, within the future Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre.
Benefits to this site location include:
- close to the Cobblebank train station and Western Freeway
- ease of access to retail, sports and school zones
- opportunity for future expansion and development of the site
- local access to services for the residents of Melton and surrounds.
It will provide an essential link with services at other public hospitals in the western region – including Sunshine Hospital and the new Footscray Hospital.
How will the new Melton Hospital be delivered?
The new Melton Hospital will be delivered as a public private partnership (PPP) under the Partnerships Victoria Framework.
Melton Hospital will be a public hospital, with all clinical health services operated and provided by Western Health.
What is a public private partnership (PPP)?
The PPP model involves an extensive and competitive tender process to bring together a private consortium to design, construct, finance and maintain the new facility for up to 25 years.
We have an excellent history of successful hospital PPP projects here in Victoria, notably:
- the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
- the Royal Women’s Hospital
- the Royal Children’s Hospital
- Casey Hospital
- Bendigo Hospital.
The new Footscray Hospital and Frankston Hospital redevelopment currently both under construction are also being delivered as PPP projects.
$900 MILLION+
INVESTMENT
274
BEDS
24/7
EMERGENCY CARE
2024
WORKS START
2029
HOSPITAL OPENS
Location
Building your new Melton Hospital
As one of the most significant new hospital projects in the State, it takes a lot of planning and meaningful engagement with the local community and a range of stakeholders to help shape the services, priorities and look and feel of a new hospital.
It’s a complex job but we’re well on our way…
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1. Health Service Plan (2018 - 2019) Health service planning professionals work together to determine the current and future health needs of Melbourne’s west, including Melton and surrounding communities, and how those needs can best be met.1. Health Service Plan
(2018 - 2019) Health service planning professionals work together to determine the current and future health needs of Melbourne’s west, including Melton and surrounding communities, and how those needs can best be met. -
2. Business case (2019 – 2021) In 2019, the Victorian Government invested $2.4 million to begin planning for the new Melton Hospital. This planning work included commencing a business case for consideration by government, including the proposed location, size and range of services the hospital will offer. An additional $5 million was provided for further planning in the 20/21 Budget.2. Business case
(2019 – 2021) In 2019, the Victorian Government invested $2.4 million to begin planning for the new Melton Hospital. This planning work included commencing a business case for consideration by government, including the proposed location, size and range of services the hospital will offer. An additional $5 million was provided for further planning in the 20/21 Budget.
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3. Land acquisition (2021) In November 2020, the Victorian Government announced that $70 million would be allocated in the 20/21 Victorian State Budget to secure the land and undertake necessary early works. In July 2021, the Minister for Health announced the new Melton Hospital would be located at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank.3. Land acquisition
(2021) In November 2020, the Victorian Government announced that $70 million would be allocated in the 20/21 Victorian State Budget to secure the land and undertake necessary early works. In July 2021, the Minister for Health announced the new Melton Hospital would be located at 245-267 Ferris Road, Cobblebank.
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4. Project funded (2022) In the 22/23 State Budget, the new Melton Hospital was fully funded, with more than $900 million committed to deliver the hospital by 2029.4. Project funded
(2022) In the 22/23 State Budget, the new Melton Hospital was fully funded, with more than $900 million committed to deliver the hospital by 2029.
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5. Preparation for early works (Mid-2022 onwards) Site preparation works are underway. VHBA is undertaking extensive engagement with Melton City Council and relevant utility authorities to deliver all the necessary power, gas, stormwater drainage and other utility infrastructure (as well as road access including Bridge Road, Coach Street and East Road) to the site in time for the start of construction. Geotechnical, geothermal and site surveys have now been completed, while VHBA has recently submitted its planning permit application to allow for subdivision for the delivery of Coach Street and East Road. Melton City Council will also soon start on the construction of Bridge Road following a competitive tender process later this year. These connections will not only service the new Melton Hospital site but also the broader precinct. The government intends to financially support the development of precinct infrastructure. Development and approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will occur later this year.5. Preparation for early works
(Mid-2022 onwards) Site preparation works are underway. VHBA is undertaking extensive engagement with Melton City Council and relevant utility authorities to deliver all the necessary power, gas, stormwater drainage and other utility infrastructure (as well as road access including Bridge Road, Coach Street and East Road) to the site in time for the start of construction. Geotechnical, geothermal and site surveys have now been completed, while VHBA has recently submitted its planning permit application to allow for subdivision for the delivery of Coach Street and East Road. Melton City Council will also soon start on the construction of Bridge Road following a competitive tender process later this year. These connections will not only service the new Melton Hospital site but also the broader precinct. The government intends to financially support the development of precinct infrastructure. Development and approval of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan will occur later this year. -
6. Community consultation (From September 2022 onwards) Now is an important time for the community to have their say. We want community input to help shape things like key family and public spaces, accessibility and more. Opportunities for input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the Community Consultative Committee, information sessions and online surveys.6. Community consultation
(From September 2022 onwards) Now is an important time for the community to have their say. We want community input to help shape things like key family and public spaces, accessibility and more. Opportunities for input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the Community Consultative Committee, information sessions and online surveys.
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7. Industry briefing and Expressions of Interest (Late 2022 – Early 2023) The government invites the industry, including potential bidders to a briefing on the project. This ensures the industry has clarity and understanding of the project requirements before the competitive tender process begins. Following the industry briefing, the government releases an Invitation for Expressions of Interest, calling suitable consortia to present their capabilities and expertise for delivering the new Melton Hospital.7. Industry briefing and Expressions of Interest
(Late 2022 – Early 2023) The government invites the industry, including potential bidders to a briefing on the project. This ensures the industry has clarity and understanding of the project requirements before the competitive tender process begins. Following the industry briefing, the government releases an Invitation for Expressions of Interest, calling suitable consortia to present their capabilities and expertise for delivering the new Melton Hospital.
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8 Shortlisted bidders and Request For Proposal (Mid-2023) After evaluating expressions of interest, the government provides a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a shortlist of bidders that sets out the State’s detailed requirements for the project. It’s now time for the shortlisted consortia to prepare detailed proposals to deliver the new Melton Hospital in the most innovative and cost-effective way. This is a highly competitive and detailed process where bidders will do their own research and community engagement as they look to put their best foot forward.8 Shortlisted bidders and Request For Proposal
(Mid-2023) After evaluating expressions of interest, the government provides a Request for Proposal (RFP) to a shortlist of bidders that sets out the State’s detailed requirements for the project. It’s now time for the shortlisted consortia to prepare detailed proposals to deliver the new Melton Hospital in the most innovative and cost-effective way. This is a highly competitive and detailed process where bidders will do their own research and community engagement as they look to put their best foot forward.
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9. Winning consortium chosen (2024) After the consortia have submitted their detailed proposals, government begins an extensive evaluation process to identify a preferred bidder and a proposal that will deliver the best value-for-money outcome.9. Winning consortium chosen
(2024) After the consortia have submitted their detailed proposals, government begins an extensive evaluation process to identify a preferred bidder and a proposal that will deliver the best value-for-money outcome.
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10. Design release and start of works (2024) With contracts finalised the winning design of the new Melton Hospital is released, and works will begin on site. We’ll keep the community updated every step of the way, celebrating project milestones and keeping our project neighbours informed of what’s happening on site.10. Design release and start of works
(2024) With contracts finalised the winning design of the new Melton Hospital is released, and works will begin on site. We’ll keep the community updated every step of the way, celebrating project milestones and keeping our project neighbours informed of what’s happening on site.
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11. Design development (2024-2029) While works take place, special user groups made up of health care staff and other experts will get to work with the winning consortium to finalise the design of the hospital, including the design of clinical spaces to ensure they are fit for purpose. Before the design is finalised, clinical prototype rooms will be built to allow these user groups to walk through the spaces and provide further feedback.11. Design development
(2024-2029) While works take place, special user groups made up of health care staff and other experts will get to work with the winning consortium to finalise the design of the hospital, including the design of clinical spaces to ensure they are fit for purpose. Before the design is finalised, clinical prototype rooms will be built to allow these user groups to walk through the spaces and provide further feedback.
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12. Commissioning and completion (2029) Once the new hospital is complete, commissioning takes place: this is where all parts of the new hospital are clinically cleaned, tested and approved in readiness for the hospital to open. Once everything has passed, the building surveyor delivers the appropriate certifications and staff move in, ready to open for patients!12. Commissioning and completion
(2029) Once the new hospital is complete, commissioning takes place: this is where all parts of the new hospital are clinically cleaned, tested and approved in readiness for the hospital to open. Once everything has passed, the building surveyor delivers the appropriate certifications and staff move in, ready to open for patients!
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13. The new Melton Hospital opens (2029) The most exciting part – the new Melton Hospital is fully operational! Your new Melton Hospital is expected to open in 2029.13. The new Melton Hospital opens
(2029) The most exciting part – the new Melton Hospital is fully operational! Your new Melton Hospital is expected to open in 2029.
Community engagement
It takes a lot of planning and many conversations to work out what the right hospital for your community will look like.
Throughout the process, we engage with service users, people with lived experience, staff, experts and the local community to identify the new hospital’s requirements to ensure we deliver an asset that reflects the community it serves.
Architects, engineers, health planners, hospital staff and community advisory groups all contribute to shaping the design, by considering things like how the patient will move through the hospital.
Opportunities for community input will be provided in multiple ways to ensure everyone can have their say, such as through the community consultative committee, information sessions and online surveys.
Community input will be captured and provided to shortlisted bidders, with the opportunity to be reflected in the design and operation of the new hospital.
We’re committed to keeping you informed and involved in the development of your new Melton Hospital.
Keep up-to-date
Sign up to get the latest news, announcements and updates about the New Melton Hospital Project, delivered straight to your inbox.
Industry briefing
Major infrastructure partners were invited to attend the New Melton Hospital Project’s inaugural industry briefing on 6 October 2022.
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New North West Women’s Prevention and Recovery Care centre opens
Construction complete on new mental health facility at the McKellar Centre in Geelong
Meet your new Melton Hospital community consultative committee
Let’s talk about women’s health
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Livia Cremona-Bellizia, Clinical Psychologist and Business and Service Improvement Lead at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's HospitalAll women need to have avenues for support, and opportunities to feel heard and validated. If you think you need mental health support, reaching out to loved ones or professionals helps to normalise the challenges.
‘We know that the perinatal period is a high-risk time for women as it’s a stage of significant change and adjustment. It can trigger old wounds or open new ones.
‘This is all the more important when there’s a baby in the mix, because we want mothers to have the capacity to meet their baby’s practical and emotional needs, so be sure to ask for support if you need it.’
According to perinatal anxiety and depression not-for-profit organisation PANDA, up to one in five expecting mums will experience anxiety and depression during pregnancy and the first year of their baby’s life.
About Women’s Health Week
Women's Health Week was launched in 2013 by Jean Hailes for Women's Health, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving women’s health. Hailes established Australia’s first women's health clinic in 1971 – one of the inaugural menopause clinics in the world – dedicated to midlife and menopause.
Now in its 10th year, Women’s Health Week is a celebration of women from all walks of life and is recognised as the biggest week for women’s health and wellbeing in Australia.
For more information and resources, visit the Women’s Health Week website.
Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital
The $200 million Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, on the Sunshine Hospital site, opened in May 2019 to meet the demand for world-class maternity and paediatric services in Melbourne’s west.
Learn more about the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital via our dedicated project page.
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This Women’s Health Week, 5-11 September 2022, we asked women’s health experts why it’s time to start talking.
This year’s themes focus on health checks, menopause, mind health, pelvic health and getting active – topics centred on improving women's health and helping women make healthier choices.
Here we explore two topics and chat to experts about why it’s important to talk about women’s health, so that more women feel confident to seek out specialist advice and services.
Why is pelvic health important?
Pelvic floor health can be hard to talk about, though seeking help can make a real difference to helping women to live active, engaged and social lives, says Kerry O’Sullivan, Women’s Health Physiotherapist at the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Melbourne’s west.
This is because the muscles of the pelvic floor help maintain bladder and bowel control. These muscles also contribute to sexual enjoyment.
‘If you’re experiencing issues such as pelvic pain, painful sex, pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence, you should speak to your GP,’ recommends O’Sullivan.
‘We run an advanced practice Women’s Health Physiotherapy clinic, which means GPs can refer women directly to us – as can pelvic floor, gynaecology and maternity units within the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
‘Pelvic health physiotherapists assess and prescribe exercises and advice to improve symptoms. In most cases pelvic health conditions can be successfully treated or better managed,’ adds Sullivan.
Get informed with the Pelvic power section of the Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week website.
Or listen to The Jean Hailes podcast, where women’s health physiotherapist, Heba Shaheed explains why treatments like pelvic physiotherapy can be life-changing but are often overlooked or unknown to women.
Dealing with anxiety
Have you ever felt anxiety, battled brain fog, or had trouble sleeping when stressed?
If you’ve experienced any of these common symptoms, there are simple changes you can make to support improved mind health.
‘It’s important to start the conversation about mental health”, says Livia Cremona-Bellizia, Clinical Psychologist and Business and Service Improvement Lead at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital.
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Last updated: 19 August 2025