Victorian Department of Health

Victorian Department of Health Working together to achieve the best health and wellbeing of Victorians. Welcome to the official page of the Victorian Department of Health.

Read our community guidelines before posting – https://go.vic.gov.au/3vg4avW

Our vision is to continue to ensure Victoria remains a great place to live, work and play by supporting Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world. The Department of Health was established to help Victorians stay safe and healthy and deliver a world-class health system that leads to better health outcomes for a

ll Victorians. As a department, we are continually looking for ways to improve the health and wellbeing of all Victorians no matter who or where they are. Our responsibilities include supporting the Health and Ambulance Services, Mental Health and Ageing portfolios. In addition to this, we’re front and centre of the COVID response and recovery efforts. This page is monitored by Department of Health Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST. Please note, we are unable to provide individualised health advice via social media. In the case of an emergency, call 000. For non-urgent 24/7 health advice call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.

11/06/2026

Good morning to everyone with haemorrhoids...

VICTORIAN WOMEN, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! 💚The green whistle (Penthrox) is now available for IUD procedures at every Women's...
10/06/2026

VICTORIAN WOMEN, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! 💚

The green whistle (Penthrox) is now available for IUD procedures at every Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub in Victoria. All 20 of them... Hallelujah.

It's the same fast-acting, short-term pain relief often used in emergency settings. You hold it. You stay in control. The days of "just take a Paracetamol beforehand" are behind us and we're not looking back.

Hub appointments are free, and yes, that includes regional Victoria. More than 11,000 Victorian women and girls used the hubs last year, and anyone walking through those doors for an IUD insertion or removal now has access to free, effective pain relief.

📍 Find your nearest hub: https://go.vic.gov.au/4fawntb

For years, Julie has been on the other end of the line at 1800 My Options, part of a team that has supported more than 5...
08/06/2026

For years, Julie has been on the other end of the line at 1800 My Options, part of a team that has supported more than 50,000 calls from people across Victoria trying to access abortion care and reproductive health services.

Every day, Julie picks up the phone at 1800 My Options and helps someone navigate their next step. Most are trying to access abortion care. Many are doing so while extremely concerned, balancing time, cost and a system that is not always easy to understand.

“Most people start the conversation feeling worried and confused. Worried about getting an abortion in time and confused about where to access one”, Julie says.

What should be straightforward often is not. People are quoted costs they cannot afford. Others are sent in circles or given the wrong information. Some have already been turned away.

So they call, hoping someone can help make sense of it all.

“It’s all about reassuring people in the moment, sitting with any distress and supporting them in their reproductive choices” she says.

Some callers are navigating far more than the health system alone. “Many of them are also trying to navigate their lives in the face of family violence, sexual assault, complex health issues, financial distress, reproductive loss”.

“I’m always in awe of their resilience,” Julie says.

Over time, it is not just the calls that stay with her. It is the people behind them.

Because for every difficult call, there is also a turning point. A moment where confusion becomes clarity, concern becomes confidence. Where someone finds a way forward. And often, it starts with people just like Julie, doing small but incredibly powerful things.

05/06/2026

I knew it, I knew you 😭😭...

Australia is currently seeing its largest outbreak of diphtheria on record.Diphtheria can cause serious skin and throat ...
04/06/2026

Australia is currently seeing its largest outbreak of diphtheria on record.

Diphtheria can cause serious skin and throat infections.

Diphtheria is not a new or common disease in Australia. It’s been around for a long time, and there is a vaccine to prevent it.

So, should you be worried about diphtheria?

The short answer = For most people, the risk is low and vaccination remains our best protection.

The long answer = Most cases have been in the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia, and there are some cases in South Australia and Queensland. However, Victoria is stepping up our response to this outbreak by providing free vaccines for people who may travel to a high-risk area. .If you are unsure whether your vaccinations are up to date or if you are eligible for a free booster vaccine, please check with your GP, Aboriginal Medical Service, pharmacy or local health clinic.

To find out more information visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4uV4xGg

03/06/2026

Things your toddler cried about this week:

- You peeled their banana wrong
- You gave them juice when they asked for juice
- You used the wrong blue cup
- The vacuum was on (they turned it on)
- They were told to stop eating sand
- You put their shoes on
- You took their shoes off
- They got their flu vaccine
.. and only one of these will still matter after tomorrow.

Back in 1949, parenting support looked very different.When the O’Connell Family Centre in Canterbury opened in 1949, the...
02/06/2026

Back in 1949, parenting support looked very different.

When the O’Connell Family Centre in Canterbury opened in 1949, the baby boom was underway, family life was changing fast, expectations on mothers were extremely high, and many were navigating early parenthood without the support that did not yet widely exist.

Founded by Sister Maude O’Connell, the O’Connell Family Centre recognised something deeply important. Supporting parents was essential to children’s health. Care focused on providing supportive services for new parents and providing reassurance and practical help when it mattered most.

Today, that same understanding lives on through Early Parenting Centres across Victoria.

Families with children from birth to four years can access free, nurse led early parenting support, including help with sleep and settling, feeding, parent-child attachment, understanding child behaviours, and family health and wellbeing.

What began at the O’Connell Family Centre continues today through Early Parenting Centres across Victoria.

To find out more about the Victorian Early Parenting Centres service network visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4cIUYU0

Do you know which Urgent Care Service to use? Lucky there’s a family guy to help guide you through. ⬇️Not every health c...
28/05/2026

Do you know which Urgent Care Service to use? Lucky there’s a family guy to help guide you through. ⬇️

Not every health concern needs an emergency department. In Victoria, when it’s urgent you have free options that are fast and easy to access.

Here's your quick guide:

Not urgent: See your GP or community health service for day-to-day and ongoing care.
If it’s urgent but not life-threatening and you can't wait for a GP:

• Nurse-on-Call: free 24/7 phone advice from a registered nurse on 1300 60 60 24 (Peter might call when he falls over and isn’t sure how deep the cut is)

• Urgent Care Clinic: walk in with no appointment needed, open 7 days early to late across 38 clinics in Victoria (would’ve been suitable for that time Peter hurt his knee)

• Virtual Emergency Department: free video call with an emergency doctor or nurse, available 24/7 (Louis getting on a video call when Stewie breaks out in hives)

Life-threatening emergency: Call 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately.

Urgent Care Services are open to everyone.
Save this post so you know exactly where to go when it matters most.

Ahead of flu season, we asked Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, a paediatric infectious diseases physician: “What does the flu look...
26/05/2026

Ahead of flu season, we asked Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, a paediatric infectious diseases physician: “What does the flu look like for some kids?”

For some families, it’s just a rough week. For others, it can mean hospital.

“Many people think of the flu as mild, a runny nose, feeling a bit off. But we see a different reality every winter.”

“What we see… is that young children can become quite unwell.
Even those with healthy immune systems can end up in intensive care and have complications.”

That’s why vaccination matters, not just for your child, but for the people around them too. It helps protect families, classrooms and communities so kids can spend more time at school, kinder and doing the things they love this winter.

“The flu strains and the virus change every year. So, what we're doing every year is we're giving ourselves a booster to make sure that we are going to prevent ourselves from getting overly unwell and ending up in hospital.”

In Victoria, the flu vaccine is free for children aged 6 months to under 5 years when delivered by a GP, local council immunisation service or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

Children aged 5 years and over can also get vaccinated through these providers, as well as participating pharmacies (standard fees may apply, so it’s best to call ahead to check costs).

Don’t wait for the flu to hit.
Protect them, and your community.

For more information, visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/4tzyWZ8

Ferrari has unveiled its new electric sedan, the Ferrari “Luce”. Sporting a N95 respirator mask, this prevention diva ha...
26/05/2026

Ferrari has unveiled its new electric sedan, the Ferrari “Luce”. Sporting a N95 respirator mask, this prevention diva has become the internet’s most expensive addition to flu season awareness.

While Ferrari continues to dominate headlines, as a health department, we are here to remind you that influenza doesn't care what you drive.

Flu prevention remains unchanged:

• Face masks help reduce flu transmission, especially in indoor or crowded settings

• Flu vaccine recommended for those 6 months+

• Hand hygiene remains effective in reducing the spread of influenza

• People at higher risk of serious illness should seek medical advice early if flu-like symptoms develop

So remember, stay FULYS1CK with vibes not with the flu (AKA take flu prevention measures like Luce) xx⚡😷

Address

Melbourne, VIC

Telephone

+611300650172

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Victorian Department of Health posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category