These short videos have been developed by the Women’s Health Physiotherapy team to provide information and practical strategies for the prevention and management of pregnancy back and pelvic pain. 

They are intended for viewing by women who are receiving their pregnancy care through Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 

We have done our best to ensure the content is accurate, up-to-date and relevant, based on our knowledge and experience at the time of production.

If you have any questions about the content of the videos or have any concerns about pregnancy related back and pelvic pain as discussed in the videos, please contact the Women’s Health Physiotherapy team on 03 8345 1727.

These short videos have been developed by the Women’s Health Physiotherapy team to provide information and practical strategies to assist with your physical recovery after birth.  

They are intended for viewing by women who have received their pregnancy care through Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 

We have done our best to ensure the content is accurate, up-to-date and relevant, based on our knowledge and experience at the time of production.

If you have any questions about the content of the videos or have any concerns about your postpartum recovery as discussed in the videos, please contact the Women’s Health Physiotherapy team on 03 8345 1727.

Western Health has taken a significant step in our journey towards reconciliation by apologising for the historical forced removal practices imposed on First Nations women and babies. 

This formal apology is being made after extensive consultation with our First Nations community, and, as part of our commitment to the healing of country, equity in health outcomes and the ongoing journey of reconciliation.  

Watch CEO Russell Harrison deliver the apology in the video or read the apology in the document below.

Western Health is committed to the preservation of First Nations culture, keeping families together and respectfully listening and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Western Health will protect all First Nations women and babies from ongoing institutional racism and harm and will work to reform the system so that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait mothers and babies are safe. 

For families who experienced firsthand the impact of historical forced removal of First Nations babies in our hospitals, we encourage you to make contact with us, so we can provide you with as much information as we can about the circumstances of your delivery or birth. 

A tailored freedom of information (FOI) request form is available on our website. All fees in relation to FOI requests for medical records relating to adoption will be waived. 

So as not to cause further distress to individuals seeking access to historical medical records, please note that for reasons beyond our control we are not able to locate records for Bacchus Marsh Regional Hospital for the periods 1952-1956, 1958-1969, 1989-1992 and 1998-2000. 

The Victorian Government has established a redress scheme to acknowledge the impact of historical forced adoption practices. For more information about the Historical Forced Adoption Redress Scheme, please visit Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Scheme. 

First Nations people and their families can access services and support to address challenges and trauma experienced as members of the Stolen Generations. 

This includes inter-generational and trans-generational family members. Services available include counselling, family history services and healing programs. 

Services

These services will also help you explore your Aboriginal family history: 

Stolen Generations Funeral Fund (administered by Connecting Home) 

The Victorian Government provides the Stolen Generations Funeral Fund to support towards the funeral costs of  Stolen Generations who have passed away.

Connecting Home 

Connecting Home is a dedicated, culturally-safe support service for the Stolen Generations across South-Eastern Australia.

Koorie Family History Service 

Provides a confidential client-based genealogy research and referral service.

Link-Up Victoria 

Link-Up Victoria helps the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were removed from their families.

Public Record Office Victoria - Koorie Records Unit

The Koorie Records Unit promotes awareness about Aboriginal records within the Public Record Office Victoria collection and aims to improve accessibility of these records to the Aboriginal community.

Whistleblowing occurs when information is disclosed to us (in writing or verbally) and the discloser has reasonable grounds to suspect that the information indicates that WH may have breached the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) (Aged Care Act). A disclosure can be made anonymously.

Who can make a whistleblowing disclosure?

A disclosure can be made by any person who is:

• Accessing funded aged care services
• A supporter of someone accessing funded aged care services
• A responsible person
• An aged care worker
• An individual who becomes aware of information the disclosure of which would be protected under the Aged Care Act.

To whom can a disclosure be made?

A disclosure can be made to:

• the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) (including the Commissioner or a staff member of the ACQSC);
• the Department of Health and Aged Care (Department) (including the System Governor, or an official of the Department);
• a registered provider (including WH);
• a responsible person of a registered provider;
• an aged care worker of a registered provider;
• a police officer;
• an independent aged care advocate. 

Aged care workers and responsible persons who receive whistleblowing disclosures must report the disclosures to WH’s Public Interest Disclosure Co-ordinator via [email protected]

How to make a whistleblowing disclosure to an external body

Disclosures made to any external bodies, including the Department and ACQSC, may be made in accordance with the directions of that external body. This may include contacting them in writing through their website or calling them on their available numbers.  

How WH will investigate disclosures

All disclosures will be treated seriously and, where appropriate, will be investigated in in accordance with our procedures. 

In carrying out our investigation, we will attempt to locate evidence to support any claims or allegations made in a whistleblowing disclosure.  If our investigation does not establish a breach of the Aged Care Act, we will consider your complaint or feedback in accordance with our feedback process. 

You can find out more about our feedback process here on our feedback page.

How WH will support whistleblowers and ensure their fair treatment

We will support all whistleblowers while a disclosure is being investigated, including by: 

• maintaining the confidentiality (and anonymity, where requested) of all whistleblowers, including by:
  • redacting relevant information;
  • referring to the whistleblower in a gender-neutral context;
  • where possible, contacting the whistleblower to help identify certain aspects of their disclosure which may inadvertently identify them; and
  • having disclosures handled by qualified and appropriate staff;
• assessing the immediate welfare and protection needs of any whistleblower;
• safeguarding the interests of a whistleblower in accordance with this policy and our obligations under the Aged Care Act;
• addressing any issues or concerns of victimisation or threats of victimisation, including by:
  • educating and training recipients of disclosures to ensure they can identify victimisation and threats of victimisation;
  • taking action, including disciplinary action, against any recipients of disclosures (including staff) engaging in victimisation or threats of victimisation.   

Victimisation and threats of victimisation will not be tolerated.  

Protection from liability

Under the Aged Care Act, whistleblowers are protected from: 

• any civil, criminal or administrative liability (including disciplinary action) for making a disclosure;
• any contractual or other kind of remedy being enforced or exercised against the whistleblower on the basis of the disclosure, including termination on the basis that disclosure constitutes breach of the contract.  

What to do if you have not been protected as a whistleblower

Any whistleblowers who have a reasonable belief: 

• that they are being victimised or threatened with victimisation as a result of any disclosure (or the belief or suspicion of a disclosure);
• that their confidentiality or anonymity has been breached under this policy; or
• that they have not been afforded any of the protections under this policy,
• must report this behaviour to the Public Interest Disclosure Co-ordinator. 

The CAC has two critical roles:

1. To provide direction and leadership in relation to the integration of consumer, carer and community views into all levels of health service operations, planning and policy development
2. To advocate to the board on behalf of the community, Consumers Carers and Community members and carers.

The CAC is a high-level committee, which is appointed in an advisory capacity to the public health service board as a legislated advisory committee of the board. It has no executive authority. 

Western Health is committed to protecting the privacy of personal and health information it collects and holds. In this regard, Western Health complies with both State and Commonwealth laws that regulate the handling of personal information.

Information regarding the privacy, confidentiality and security of a patient's health information collected by Western Health can be found in the section entitled Your Rights and Responsibilities. The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights in Victoria brochure is available as an audio file, in Braille or in English and 25 community languages.

This Privacy Statement explains how your personal information (being information capable of identifying you as an individual) will be treated as you access and interact with this website.

This site uses visitor logs to automatically record non-personal data, which does not identify specific users. To the extent that any data could identify you, we will not attempt to do so unless required by law. De-identified data from the visitor logs may be used to update and improve this website and for statistical purposes only.

This site also uses "cookies" to remember options you have selected and displays those options again on your next visit. These cookies do not store any personal information and do not allow us to track your usage of the site.

Email messages and online forms you submit via this site may include personal information such as name, email address and telephone number. This information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected and will not be added to any mailing lists nor disclosed to any other party without your knowledge and consent, unless required by law.

Information is also stored and disposed of in accordance with our obligations under the Public Records Act 1973 (Vic).

Western Health has technology and security measures aimed to protect personal and health information; however, you should be aware that there are risks in transmitting information to us online. If you are concerned about conveying sensitive material to us over the Internet, you might prefer to contact us by telephone or mail.

Western Health cannot warrant the accuracy of these documents beyond the source documents although we do make every attempt to work from authoritative sources. Any representation implied or expressed concerning the efficacy appropriateness or suitability of any treatment or product is expressly negatived.

In view of the possibility of human error or advances in medical knowledge Western Health cannot and does not warrant that the information contained in these pages is in every respect accurate or complete. Accordingly Western Health is not and will not be held responsible or liable for any errors or omissions that may be found in any of the information at this site.

You are encouraged to consult other sources in order to confirm the information contained in any of these pages and in the event that medical treatment is required, to take professional, expert advice from a legally qualified and appropriately experienced medical practitioner.
Links

This website includes links to third party sites. These links are provided for convenience only and do not signify that Western Health endorses such websites or their content. Western Health takes no responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by anyone using the linked websites or as a result of using the information from any of the pages of the websites.

The forms and email links are provided on this site to support communication with Western Health. Western Health cannot vouch for the security of information sent from this website and takes no responsibility for any damage or loss incurred as a result of using the forms or email links on this website.

Western Health may make improvements and/or changes in the materials contained in or described on this site at any time without notice.

Western Health (ABN 61 166 735 672) is a Victorian Public Health Service established under the Health Services Act 1988 (Vic) that manages a range of health services including acute hospitals, day hospitals and community health centres.  We are also a registered provider of residential aged care services under the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).
 

Western Health recognises the importance of your privacy and understands that the security of your personal information is important to you.  This Information Privacy Policy (Policy) explains how Western Health manages the information that we collect, store, use and disclose and how to contact us if you have any further queries about our handling of your information.

By providing your information to us, you consent (to the extent that we require your consent under privacy laws to do these things) to Western Health collecting, holding, using and disclosing your information in accordance with this Policy.
 

Policy Details

Background

Western Health is required to ensure that its handling of information of patients, employees, healthcare professionals, contractors, volunteers, students and visitors is in accordance with the relevant legislation, including the:

• Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (PDP Act);
• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act);
• Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) (Health Records Act);
• Health Services Act 1988 (Vic) (Health Services Act);
• Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) (Aged Care Act);
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic) (Mental Health Act);
• Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act),
• Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) (FVP Act);
• Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (Vic) (CWS Act);
   Public Records Act 1973 (Vic) (PRA Act).
   

Together, the Relevant Legislation.
 

Commonly used Terms relevant to Information Privacy

Personal Information:

• Personal information is defined in the PDP Act as information or an opinion (including information or an opinion forming part of a database), that is recorded in any form and whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion, but does not include information of a kind to which the Health Records Act applies.
   

Sensitive Information:

• Sensitive information includes information about an individual's race or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, membership or a professional or trade association, sexual preferences and criminal history.
   

Health Information:

• Where Western Health collects your health information, the collection or handling of that information is subject to the Health Records Act and Health Services Act, including if you are an employee of Western Health.
   

In this Policy, references to information may include personal, sensitive and health information unless indicated otherwise.

The Terms of Use of our website outlines what information is collected by us about visits to our website and in online forms, and the purposes for which we collect that information,

If you have subscribed to receive news and communications about Western Health, you may contact us at any time to unsubscribe from those communications. Please visit the Contact Us page of the website and contact us via the online form.
 

Fundraising

Unless you have told us not to, Western Health may share limited information about you with the Western Health Foundation for the purpose of contacting you about our fundraising network, including asking for a donation.  If we have shared your contact details with Western Health Foundation, you may request not receive contact about fundraising at any time by contacting [email protected].  The Western Health Foundation Privacy Policy can be found at whfoundation.org.au/privacy-policy/

 Information Collection Notice

Our Information Collection Notice, published on our website and available across our sites where we collect information from you, summarises the aspects of this Policy focused on the purpose for which Western Health collects your information and how we will use and handle that information.

If you would like a hardcopy of this Policy or our Information Collection Notice posted or emailed to you, please Contact Us using the online form on our website.
 

How Western Health handles complaints

If you have any concerns or complaints about the manner in which your information has been collected or handled by Western Health, please advise us of your concern or complaint through the Contact Us page of the website, send it our feedback team at [email protected] or mail to Patient Representatives, Sunshine Hospital, 176 Furlong Road, St Albans 3021.  Your concern or complaint will be considered or investigated and we will respond to your complaint as soon as practicable.
 

If you remain dissatisfied with our response and your concern or complaint relates to your health information, you may contact the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC). The HCC responds to complaints about health services and the handling of health information in Victoria. Their service is free, confidential and impartial.
 

To lodge a complaint with the HCC:

• Fill out a complaint form online at http://hcc.vic.gov.au; or
• Phone 1300 582 113 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday to discuss your complaint.
   

If you wish to make a complaint about how we have handled your personal or sensitive information in the context of mental health and wellbeing services provided at Western Health, you may contact the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner (MHCC).
 

To lodge a complaint with the MHCC:

• Fill out a complaint from online at www.mhwc.vic.gov.au; or
• Phone 1800 246 054 to discuss your complaint; or
• email [email protected].
   

If you wish to raise your concern or complaint about how we have handled your personal or sensitive information with an external body, you may contact the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC). OVIC responds to complaints about the handling of information by Victorian public sector organisations. Their service is free, confidential and impartial.

For information about how to lodge a complaint with OVIC please visit the OVIC website: Privacy Complaints - Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (ovic.vic.gov.au).
 

Further information

Further information about the application of the PDP Act and the FOI Act can be found at the website of the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner at www.ovic.vic.gov.au.
 

Further information about the application of the Health Records Act and Health Services Act can be found at the website of the Health Complaints Commissioner (Victoria) at www.hcc.vic.gov.au.
 

Further information about the application of the Mental Health Act can be found at the website of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (Victoria) at www.mhwc.vic.gov.au.
 

Changes to our Information Privacy Policy

This Policy is effective from July 2024. As this Policy is updated from time to time, to obtain a copy of the latest version at any time, please visit our website at https://www.westernhealth.org.au/.

For Western Health to provide healthcare services (including hospital, diagnostic imaging, outpatient and residential aged care services), conduct clinical trials and research activities, employ and train staff, we need to collect personal information or health information (including CCTV) (Information) about our patients, our staff and other individuals.

By providing your Information, you agree that it will be collected, stored, used and disclosed by Western Health in accordance with this statement and our Information Privacy Policy, available on our website.

We may also collect Information about you from third parties such as our service providers, treating healthcare professionals and government agencies. 

If you do not provide your information us, we may not be able to provide you with the services you request of us, employ you or otherwise work or transact with you.

If you are a patient, we may disclose your Information to other parties, including your treating healthcare professionals, your emergency contact/next-of-kin, organisations funding the provision of our services to you (such as TAC or WorkCover) and government departments such as Medicare.

We will also disclose certain Information where we are required to do so by law about patients who have specific conditions to the Victorian or Commonwealth Government, their departments or agencies and to organisations that maintain a health or disease register.

We may disclose your Information to third parties who provide products and services to us or through us to you and otherwise in accordance with our Information Privacy Policy. We may disclose your Information outside of Victoria and/or overseas.

Where you consent, we may contact you with updates about Western Health. Unless you have told us not to, we may share limited Information with the Western Health Foundation for fundraising purposes.

If you no longer wish to receive communication from us, you may opt out at any time in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Our Information Privacy Policy contains more information about we handle your personal information, your rights of access and how to contact us. 

To find out more about Western Health's feedback process please click here.

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The Western Health Public Affairs team is the first point of contact for all media enquiries and requests relating to all Western Health sites and services. You can contact the team via our switchboard on (03) 8345 6666.

Care provision, and the privacy and safety of our patients, their families and staff are our main priority. 
 

When providing information about a patient to the media we are governed by the Health Services Act 1988 at all times. This legislation limits the amount of patient information we may release without written consent from a patient or, when appropriate, their next of kin. 
 

Without expressed and informed consent, we are unable to provide information about a patient’s injuries, clinical care or prognosis.  
 

When providing a patient condition, we categorise the condition using the following descriptors: 
 

• Discharged – the patient has left our hospital. This could mean they have been sent home or transferred to another facility.
• Stable – the patient is stable and vital signs are within normal limits. They are likely to be on a regular ward (not high dependency or intensive care). We will only approach patients for interviews once they are ‘stable’.
• Serious but stable – the patient is still likely to be in the intensive care unit or acute ward. Their vital signs are stable and within normal limits.
• Critical but stable – the patient has vital signs that are within normal limits. The patient is stable but may be unconscious. Their condition is life threatening.
• Critical – the patient has an injury or illness that is life threatening. The patient is unstable. The patient may be unconscious.  

Under no circumstances will we:

•  Confirm a patient death
• Provide identifying details such as name or age of a patient
• Confirm specific injuries or illnesses of a patient. 

Enquiries about patient deaths will be referred to Victoria Police Media on (03) 9247 5205.  
 

To provide you with the correct condition of a patient, we require the appropriate details and information to ensure we are referring to the correct person. When contacted about a patient whose name you do not know, we are guided by the information you provide. The more information you can offer that will help us to identify the patient, the more likely we can assist you quickly. 
 

Information commonly provided by reporters to our Public Affairs team when making an enquiry includes: 
 

• Nature of injuries
• Location of accident or incident if relevant (suburb, street or freeway name)
• Time incident happened, or time brought to hospital
• Condition the patient was brought to us in (stable, serious, critical)
• Gender and approximate age. 

If we are able to identify the patient, we will provide a generic condition for you. We are unable to confirm name, age or any other details about that person. If a patient’s next-of-kin requests that we do not release a condition, we will not do so.  

Interview requests to individuals on Western Health property for media purposes must be managed through Western Health's Public Affairs team. 
 

Any request for access to persons on Western Health property for media purposes, such as requesting comment from family or friends of a patient, must be submitted to Public Affairs. We will not commonly approach a patient’s relatives or friends for media participation on the day of their admission. Family and friends of patients need to feel safe and secure when in our care.  
 

News or media representatives are not permitted to enter our hospitals or other sites to find and approach family or friends of patients without prior approval from Public Affairs.  
 

Once approval has been gained the visit will be overseen by a Public Affairs representative.  
 

For more information on patient or family interview requests, contact Public Affairs via Western Health Switchboard on (03) 8345 6666. For non-urgent enquiries, send your email to [email protected].  

Western Health operates a range of mental health services in Melbourne's west. Requests for patient condition reports are unlikely to be granted given the strict privacy requirements of the Health Records Act 2001 and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. Media enquiries relating to the operations of our services can be made via Western Health Switchboard on (03) 8345 6666.

If you wish to film at a Western Health site, please contact our Public Affairs team on [email protected]. Requests will be considered and fulfilled where possible. Film crews shooting at our hospitals and other sites and services must be respectful of the privacy of patients and their carers at all times, and take care not to obstruct staff from doing their jobs. If required, Public Affairs will cancel a shoot if there is operational or clinical reason to do so. 

Non-urgent filming requests, or requests other than those relating to news or current affairs, should be submitted in writing to [email protected].
 

For more information, contact Western Health Public Affairs on (03) 8345 6666. 

If you wish to do a live cross outside any of our sites, please consider notifying Western Health's Public Affairs team prior to the live cross to ensure that security is aware and the cross proceeds smoothly. Please be mindful that our site entrances are frequently used by patients and families, so please be respectful of patient privacy. 

Any further questions relating to media can be emailed to [email protected] noting that we do not respond to emails outside business hours, or answered by our media on-call service via Western Health Switchboard (03) 8345 6666.

Medical questions should not be submitted via the below form.  Your General Practitioner (GP) should be able to answer your medical questions.

If this is an emergency, please dial 000 or go to the hospital emergency room nearest you.

The Western Health Public Affairs Team is the first point of contact for all media enquiries and requests.

The team can assist media outlets and journalists with:

• Patient condition updates
• Interviews with patients and staff
• Facilitating and escorting film crews and photographers
• Providing experts for medical opinion
• Permissions for filming on hospital grounds.

Western Health also provides an on-call media service. Journalists are welcome to contact our media advisor on-call via Western Health Switchboard on (03) 8345 6666. Please note that our team do not respond to emails received on public holidays or outside of regular business hours.

Western Health provides healthcare services to the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre. Media enquiries regarding the Correctional Centre or requests for condition reports related to care provision at the Correctional Centre should be directed to the Corrections Victoria Media Team on 1300 481 978.

Journalists are directed to our Media Enquiries page for further information. 

For patients requiring a copy of your recent discharge summary, please call the Western Health switchboard on (03) 8345 6666 and ask to be transferred to Medical Records.

For all other requests for medical records, please visit accessing your medical records. 

If your enquiry is related to cancelling or changing your Adult Specialist Clinic (Outpatient) appointment, please click the Adult Specialist Clinics referrals Contact us page.

If you suspect Western Health has breached the Aged Care Act, you can speak up and stay anonymous. Find out more on our aged care whistleblowing page

Refer to our feedback page to let us know about your experience. You can take tell us about your experience, make suggestions on how to improve our service, share a compliment about our staff and services, or make a complaint.