Community
21 February, 2025
New patients welcome at SWH
SOUTH West Healthcare (SWH) has welcomed a wave of new faces this summer, allowing the service to open its books to new patients.
Making an appointment to see a local GP is now a little easier thanks to an influx of new faces at the healthcare service over summer.
Among the latest arrivals was new registrar, Dr Ziad Sameer.
“We are very fortunate to have a strong team at present,” South West Healthcare executive director (primary and community services) Kerryn Anderson said.
“We know that people who are new to the region have trouble finding a GP and that other GP clinics are full to capacity.
“Hopefully with our current staffing numbers this allow us to open the books again and help some of those people and families to access healthcare.”
Also new to the team are an additional three doctors who joined the clinic in 2024 (Dr Sylvie Gjerde, Dr Joanne Ryan and Dr Yang Chen).
South West Healthcare has also welcomed 15 new medical interns, 35 nursing graduates, 10 post-graduate nurses and seven allied health graduates to the service to bolster its staff in 2025.
“It’s a great sign for our industry and for the health of our community to see new faces and graduates coming into the service in these numbers,” chief executive officer Craig Fraser said.
Three nurses from the 2025 intake will be taking part in the midwifery grad program, with students coming from Federation Uni, University of South Australia, Deakin, ACU, Victoria University and Griffith University.
Each will do two six-month rotations across 12 areas at the health service, with a rotation taking place on the paediatrics ward for the first time.
Of the 15 medical interns, three studied at Deakin in Warrnambool, with others coming from universities both in Victoria and interstate.
Their two-year internship at South West Healthcare will see them undertake a general medicine, general surgery, emergency department, sub-acute and psychiatry rotations.
“Without a doubt we are seeing more interest from medical graduates and interns now that we are accredited to offer training in more specialist areas, such as plastics and paediatrics,” Mr Fraser said.
In the allied health space, the health service has also welcomed an additional dietician, two physiotherapists, two occupational therapists and one social worker.
“We are seeing a lot of interest from early career professionals in coming to Warrnambool, despite the challenges health services are facing across the country with recruitment,” Mr Fraser said.
“It is my hope that while they are here the community and their colleagues can make them feel welcome and appreciated so that they choose to stay on and continue their careers with us.”
To make an appointment at the South West Medical Centre phone 5563 4370.
