Ballarat Community Health

07/09/2026

In need of discreet and anonymous STI testing? The Ballarat Library is now hosting an STI-X vending machine where you can access free STI test kits.

Dispense a free kit (available for both male and female ge***al anatomy) then self-collect at home to test for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV. Once complete, pack the sample using the pre-addressed, reply-paid packaging and drop it off at any Australia Post box.

Results will be sent to you directly and discreetly.

📍 178 Doveton St N, Ballarat Central (in the upstairs accessible toilet)

For more information, visit: medicine.unimelb.edu.au/cersh/projects/sti-x/sti-x-campaign

In partnership with Department of Rural Health at UniMelb

04/09/2026

Our CEO, Sean Duffy, joined other health leaders in Ballarat last week to discuss the rising issue of timely access to mental health support in Ballarat.

Ballarat is the third largest in-land regional city in Australia and one of the fastest growing regional centres in Australia.

With that growth comes an opportunity to shape the kind of community we want to become. We want a city where people feel connected, supported and able to access help close to home when they need it. A Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is more than an investment in services. It is an investment in our people, our families and the future wellbeing of Ballarat, and would provide an essential and currently missing element of mental health support for the Ballarat community.

Ballarat remains the only major regional centre in Victoria without one, which provide free treatment, care and support for those with mental health concerns.

🔗 https://links.acm.media/xfFIHg
✍ Nick Powell

04/09/2026

At Ballarat Community Health, we believe everyone should be free to choose the sexual and reproductive health services and supports that are right for them. Whether that is cervical screenings, contraception, termination of pregnancy, STI testing or menopause, our Sexual Health Nurses and GPs are here to support people of all ages and backgrounds.

This World Sexual Health Day, we’re celebrating our incredible team who are dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, confidential, and compassionate sexual and reproductive health services to our community. You can discover more about their work and how they can assist you through the images below.

To learn more about our sexual and reproductive health services at B*H, visit our website: https://bchc.org.au/service/information_and_advice_on_sexual_health/

31/08/2026

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. In Ballarat, 168 people lost their lives to overdose between 2009 and 2025. To honour these lives and create a space to reflect and remember, an artwork consisting of 168 pairs of hands has been erected in the foyer at the B*H Lucas site. This display reminds us that every life matters and that overdose prevention, compassionate care and access to harm reduction and treatment remain as important today as ever. The display will be up all of this week if you would like to visit.

This year marks 25 years since the first International Overdose Awareness Day. Held annually on August 31st, this day serves as a global call to action to reduce the stigma associated with drug-related deaths and to promote harm reduction strategies.

This year’s theme, ‘25 years on. Still needed’, reflects a shared global truth: overdose continues to affect people from every walk of life. Behind every statistic is a person – someone loved and valued. And behind every loss is a ripple felt by families, friends, and communities everywhere.

Today we also acknowledge the dedication of those who work in overdose prevention and harm reduction, especially our harm reduction coordinator at B*H, Kate Davenport, who tirelessly advocates for timely access to care, support, education and life-saving interventions. We also acknowledge the harm reduction/harm minimisation work of B*H Customer Service Officers, volunteers, the AOD team and the Pharmacotherapy Harm Minimisation Team. All are working towards a future where fewer lives are lost and where support is available for everyone.

12/08/2026

Our creative therapy programs are designed to support safety, recovery and reconnection for women who have experienced family or domestic violence. Referrals are now open for the next round of programs beginning in September.

Both the Art Therapy Group and the Pathways Group take place in a small, supportive setting. You can participate at your own pace, with no pressure to share unless you feel comfortable.

Through participation, you can:
• Feel more steady and grounded
• Build tools to manage overwhelm
• Improve emotional awareness and regulation
• Explore boundaries in a safe and supported way
• Reconnect with your sense of self and self-worth
• Grow confidence in safe relationships

Each group is carefully formed to support safety and compatibility and programs are trauma-informed and recovery oriented, with a focus on safety, stability, and rebuilding.

Groups are facilitated by qualified staff with specialist experience in family violence and play/art therapy.

To express your interest or learn more, contact the B*H Mental Health intake team: [email protected]

04/08/2026

Today, 6,000 origami houses will be on display at the Lake Wendouree foreshore, part of the 60,000 origami houses displayed across the state that represent the number of additional social homes needed to meet the current need in Victoria. This event is coordinated by the Central Highlands Homelessness Alliance (CHHA) for Homelessness Week (August 3rd – 9th).

At B*H, we focus on addressing the needs of homeless individuals in our community and advocating for better health outcomes through our programs:

Homelessness Access Program (HAP):
With four nurse-staffed clinics per week, monthly podiatry clinics, outreach services, and access to a range of other supports, the Homelessness Access Program helps break down barriers and improve access to health care and well-being for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The HAP Clinic is held on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9am to 12.30pm at Uniting Drop in Centre, 101 Albert Street, Ballarat. This is a free service.

Innovative Health Services for Homeless Youth (IHSHY):
This program addresses the physical and mental health needs of homeless and at-risk young people by collaborating with networks and services in the Ballarat community, working together to develop programs and initiatives that deliver optimal services and outreach.

This week, IHSHY will be working with primary schools within the Central Highlands and Grampians communities to raise awareness of homelessness in our school communities.

For more information on these services, visit our website:

HAP Clinic: https://bchc.org.au/service/homelessness-access-program/
IHSHY: https://bchc.org.au/service/innovative-health-services-for-homeless-youth/

To learn more about CHHA's 'Houses at the Lake' event, visit: https://www.chha.info/event-details/homelessness-week-houses-at-the-lake

(Pictured: origami houses at the 2025 'Houses at the Lake' event)

30/07/2026

National Pain Week (26th – 31st July 2026) is Australia’s annual awareness campaign for chronic pain to improve understanding, reduce stigma and advocate for better access to care.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than three months and is often referred to as an ‘invisible illness’, where a person can feel constant pain, while not appearing unwell to others.

Dealing with chronic pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach. At Ballarat Community Health, our team of Chronic Disease Management Counsellors are well equipped to work with people experiencing chronic pain, among many other chronic conditions. This service is focused on mental health and care management from a wellness and rehabilitation perspective, and can include:

• Pain management
• Counselling
• Stress management
• Health coaching
• Advocacy
• Psycho-social support

“One of the most meaningful parts of my work is seeing people beyond their pain. Chronic pain can feel all-consuming. I do believe that it may be a part of someone’s story, but it is never their whole story. It is a privilege to walk alongside people and remind them that they do not have to carry it all alone.” – B*H Chronic Disease Management Counsellor

To find out more about our services, visit our website: https://bchc.org.au/service/integrated-chronic-disease-management-counsellor/

29/07/2026

Join Ballarat Community Health for Dental Health Week at Parent Place!

Little ones will love this fun community learning session, including:

• Story time
• Teeth cleaning demonstration with our friend Al-E-Gator
• Free toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Play time with dental puppets
• Q&A for parents and carers

When: Wednesday 5th August, 10:30am – 11:30am
Where: Parent Place Central (39 Sturt St, Ballarat)

27/07/2026

Today is World Hepatitis Day, a chance to raise awareness and encourage everyone to take the next step for their health, no matter where they are in their journey.

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person with Hepatitis C enters another person’s bloodstream. In Australia, the most common way it is transmitted is through sharing injecting drug equipment.

At Ballarat Community Health, we offer services for Hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that affects your liver. Without treatment, Hepatitis C can cause liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring) and liver cancer.

Our Integrated Hepatitis C Nurse, Ingrid (pictured), works with a range of health and support services to provide testing, treatment and education for those living with Hepatitis C across the Grampians region.

This is a FREE service.

Testing is as simple as a finger prick, with same-day results, and continual support is provided throughout the treatment process.
To book a Hep C test or learn more, visit https://bchc.org.au/service/hepatitis-c-education/

Ballarat Community Health’s Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) plays an important role in preventing Hepatitis C by providing free sterile injecting equipment and safer injecting education to reduce the risk of blood-borne virus transmission.

The Needle and Syringe program is available at all B*H sites.

We also run a mobile harm reduction service, Checkpoint, which delivers Hepatitis C point-of-care testing, NSP, naloxone, education and resources to communities across the Central Highlands and Wimmera Southern Mallee regions.

To see when and where the Checkpoint van is visiting, scan the QR code on the Checkpoint flyer (pictured) or visit https://bchc.org.au/service/harm-reduction-services/

20/07/2026

Get down to earth with Little Food Explorers gardening activities this Ballarat Biodiversity Week (1st – 7th August).

Guided by Little Food Explorers program facilitator Amanda Collins, these garden-friendly activities are perfect for children aged 3–6 years.

Get squiggly – build your own mini worm farm
Get sprouty – grow your own sprouting greenhouse
Get soggy – construct a water wicking bed
Get scrappy – kids composting 101 + parents

This is a FREE event. Bookings are required, please book via: events.humanitix.com/get-down-to-earth

When: Tuesday 4th August, 1–3pm

Where: Djila-tjarriu Community Hub, 18 Donegal Drive, Alfredton

Enquiries: call 5320 5500 and ask for the sustainable environment team, or email [email protected]