About us
Heathcote Health is a leading small rural health service located 90 minutes north of Melbourne via the Northern Highway, and 40 minutes south-east of Bendigo via the McIvor Highway. We are a 9-bed public facility which provides public and private acute care, 24 hour urgent care, district nursing, and a broad range of community and home-based services. Heathcote Health also has a 42-bed residential aged care facility.
Our catchment provides services to the Heathcote community and its surroundings. Heathcote Health is one of the largest employer in Heathcote with over 200 staff caring for our community.
Our Vision
Good health and wellbeing for our local community.
Our Mission
To deliver integrated health and wellness services that help each person be their best.
Our Values
We believe in the following values which are reflected in our daily practices and throughout our service provision: C.A.R.E
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Excellence
Smoke Free
Heathcote Health has a responsibility to provide an environment that is free of tobacco related risks and to provide leadership in promoting the health benefits of a smoke free workplace. Heathcote Health provides a smoke free environment for employees, consumers, contractors, volunteers and visitors. Thus reducing health hazards associated with smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. As part of our commitment to a smoke free health service, we have implemented a Smoke Free Workplace policy. This means that smoking is not permitted on the grounds of Heathcote Health, including all buildings.
Equity and Inclusion
As an organisation Heathcote Health communicates an organisation-wide approach to gender equality diversity, inclusion and cultural safety that ensures the needs of all individuals within the Heathcote Health community (consumers, carers, staff and volunteers) are met in an appropriate and responsive manner that respects their diverse requirements and backgrounds. As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion, we have implemented a Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Safety Policy. This means that Heathcote Health staff have a responsibility to provide culturally safe, person-centred, inclusive care that is individualised to the needs of the child and family in the context of diversity.
Family Violence Information
Heathcote Health commitment to providing high quality care, support and referrals for individuals who have experienced, or who are at risk of experiencing family violence. If you or anyone you know is experiencing family violence, Heathcote Health is a safe place you can come to be connected to the services and support you need.
Commitment to Child Safety
As an organisation Heathcote Health is commitment and legislated responsibilities to ensuring duty of care and safety for children and young people across the Service as a hospital listed in Schedule 1 to the Health Services Act 1988. As part of our commitment to Child Safety, we have implemented a Child Safety Policy. This means that Heathcote Health systems and processes provide for the protection of all children and are understood and embedded in the organisation’s culture.
Governance
Heathcote Health is a public health service funded by the Victorian Department of Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The service operates under the provisions of the Victorian Health Services Act 1988.
Governance includes the processes by which public health services are directed, controlled and held to account. The core purpose of good governance in health services is ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe and effective person-centred care.
Heathcote Health’s Board of Directors and Executive Team support good governance of the health service’s financial, risk, compliance and integrity management functions, in addition to strategic oversight and monitoring of the health service’s performance.
Heathcote Health’s Board of Directors Governance Policy and Procedure outline the framework, systems and processes which support good governance across the health service.
Gifts, Benefits & Hospitality
As an organisation Heathcote Health is committed to maintaining high standards of integrity, conduct and governance through adherence to the Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC) gifts, benefits and hospitality policy and the Standing Direction 2018 under the Financial Management Act 1994. As part of our commitment we have implemented a Gifts, Benefits, Hospitality Policy and Procedure. Should you wish to view this policy please contact.
Additionally in the aim of transparency should you wish to view the Heathcote Health Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality register please contact.
Procurement
Heathcote Health is committed to compliance with the Department of Health mandated purchasing requirements through HealthShare Victoria (HSV) and is also guided by the Victoria Governments Social Procurement Framework.
Heathcote Health partners with suppliers that are adaptable and creative, who take responsibility and can provide genuine and sustainable value. The Heathcote Health procurement activity plan is aligned with organisational priorities and strategies to effectively and efficiently procure goods and services, ensuring the best value for money and economies of scale.
When sourcing goods and services from the market, Heathcote Health is committed to open, fair, and transparent sourcing processes.
Please click here for the Annual Procurement Activity Plan 2025-26.
For further information, please refer to the HealthShare Victoria website: healthsharevic.org.au.
Information for Suppliers
Supplier Code of Conduct
Heathcote Health will only engage with suppliers who attest to behave in accordance with the Government’s Supplier Code of Conduct located here.
Procurement Complaints Procedure
Heathcote Health has a Procurements Complaints Procedure, please contact our us for more information.
Standards
Child safe standards
There are eleven Child Safe Standards. These Standards commenced on 1 July 2022 and replace the Child Safe Standards that were established in 2016. The Child Safe Standards aim to protect children and young people, by requiring organisations to put policies, procedures and processes in place to prevent and respond to abuse. As an organisation Heathcote Health is commitment and legislated responsibilities to ensuring duty of care and safety for children and young people across the Service as a hospital listed in Schedule 1 to the Health Services Act 1988.
National Standards
The National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards were first approved in September 2011 and release the following year. The second edition of the NHSQS standards came into effect in May 2021 were developed by the Commission in collaboration with the Australian Government, states and territories, private sector providers, clinical experts, patients and carers. The eight NSQHS Standards provide a nationally consistent statement of the level of care consumers can expect from health service organisations. Heathcote Health follows robust processes to ensure we not only meet these standards, but strive to exceed them.
Heathcote Health is accredited by the Australian Council on Health Care Standards (ACHS) and is accredited until __________.
Aged care standards
The existing Aged Care Quality Standards came into effect on July 1, 2019, and the strengthened standards will come into effect on July 1, 2025, in line with the new Aged Care Act. In Australia, residential aged care homes are required to meet all eight Aged Care Standards, and be accredited to receive Australian Government subsidies. Our residential aged care facility, provides exceptional care to our residents and is continually monitored by Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) to ensure we meet the resident needs.
Heathcote Health’s Aged Care Facility is accredited until ____________.
NDIS Standards
The new NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators came into effect for existing registered providers in November 2021. The standards are broken down into modules that include core modules, supplementary modules and verification modules. Heathcote Health is a registered NDIS provider, offering support and services to NDIS participants. The following areas of Heathcote Health are included in the registration: Community Nursing, Allied Health and Residential Aged Care.
Heathcote Health’s Community Nursing, Allied Health and Residential Aged Care is accredited until ________.
Risk Management
OH&S
Our History
When the McIvor Creek gold rush struck in 1853, the newly established Government Camp included a tent hospital on this site. By the time tenders were called for a building in December 1858, the rest of the Camp had long been accommodated permanently and the tent hospital’s conditions were grim. Community donations contributed towards the building’s cost of some £1000, with Henry Branscombe winning the tender and James Crowle supervising the works. Constructed of local sandstone in the Regency style with a slate roof, the 12-bed hospital opened its doors to patients on 15 November 1859. At the building completion the Hospital Committee received further assistance towards running and maintenance. A new wing was added in 1934 doubling the floor space, and a nurses home was built in 1957. Since then numerous upgrading works have been undertaken, with the Helipad at the rear of the hospital being constructed in 1990. The then Premier Jeff Kennett officially opened the nursing home and aged-care hostel additions on 5 February 1998. A community appeal contributed to this $3.8 million upgrade, securing the future of the hospital. Unfailing community support has ensured that the Heathcote hospital (now known as Heathcote Health) has continued to expand and serve for over 150 years, allowing it to meet all challenges it has encountered during this time.
Today the original stone façade and the foundation stone, dated 1859, remain as significant and historical connections to the past.
