LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT HEATHCOTE HEALTH – 20 October 2026
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.
Heathcote Health CEO Jackie Kelly will leave the organisation next month to take on a new leadership opportunity in the Grampians region.
Heathcote Health’s Acting Chair Ben Yuen announced Ms Kelly had tendered her resignation to become CEO of East Wimmera Health Service, which operates five campuses from St Arnaud.
Mr Yuen said Heathcote Health was well prepared for the transition, with strong leadership arrangements in place to ensure continuity for staff, consumers and the broader community.
“I am pleased to advise that our current Director of Corporate Services Andrew Walker will step into the role of Acting CEO while the Board undertakes the recruitment process for a CEO.”
“Andrew brings to the role his extensive operational experience at Heathcote Health, along with his previous leadership of regional community service programs. He will continue to work closely with our Director of Clinical Services, Nat Retallick, and our broader leadership team.”
“Our community can be confident that it will be business as usual at Heathcote Health, with our focus remaining firmly on providing consistent, high-quality care and services to the Heathcote area.”
Mr Yuen expressed his thanks to Jackie for her contribution to the organisation and wished her well in her new role.
“Jackie has been a valued member of the Heathcote Health team, bringing a fresh perspective to the organisation and making a significant contribution to our services and standards.”
“We are grateful for her contribution and wish her every success as she takes on this new leadership opportunity. We are also pleased that her experience and expertise will remain within regional health.”
Mr Walker will commence as Acting CEO on 13 November, with the Heathcote Health Board to begin the recruitment process for a CEO over the coming months.