Gippsland Lakes Complete Health

11/06/2026

With a range of chemicals found in both legal and illegally sold v**es, it’s clear that every v**e is a hit to your health 👊🫁

That’s why education matters.

Understanding what’s inside a v**e is a powerful step towards reducing harm and protecting your health.

For reliable information and support to quit, visit quit.org.au or call Quit on 13 7848.

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10/06/2026

We’ve been blown away by the support our Lakes Entrance Drop-In Centre has received since opening.

In just a short time, more than 50 people have come through the doors, many carrying everything they own with them.

Pictured here is the wonderful Carleigh and Richard from our Homelessness Support team, along with LeeAnn from our Intake team, who help make the centre the welcoming place it is.

As our CEO, Anne-Maree, puts it: "We are providing a safe space, a warm space, where people can come in and connect with others and experience what many of us take for granted: a warm shower, something nourishing to eat, and somewhere safe to be."

The community's generosity has been incredible, and we're so grateful for every kind word, donation and show of support.

As winter settles in, our focus is on keeping the doors open, the showers warm and the kettle on for those who need it most.

If you'd like to help, a financial contribution can make a real difference: https://www.givenow.com.au/safe-warm-and-supported

Every bit of support helps ensure people in our community are met with care, warmth and dignity.

Winter can be especially tough for people without safe housing. Cold nights, wet weather, and limited access to showers or laundry can quickly impact a persons health, safety and dignity.

08/06/2026

Thank you to the Lakes Entrance Volunteer Craft Group for supporting our Drop-In Centre.

Picture includes Di Clarke, the first full-time nurse at the Lakes Entrance Community Health Centre and a craft group member. It's a reminder of the long history of care in our community and all the ways that that care shows up.

Through the craft group's fundraising, they're helping us provide a safe, welcoming place for people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless.

We’re grateful to Di, president Rosemary Kavadis and all members for their continued compassion and support.

If you'd like to donate, you can here https://www.givenow.com.au/safe-warm-and-supported or by calling 5155 8300 and speaking with Marnie Graham.

04/06/2026

A sincere thank-you to Lakes Entrance Secondary College for their support of our Drop-In Centre.

Students, staff and the wider school community have donated essential items to help people experiencing homelessness in our region.

These contributions are helping us provide a safe, warm place where people can have a shower, a meal, and somewhere to simply be.

The centre is open Mondays and Tuesday, from 10am-3pm in Jemmeson Street.

We’re grateful to Acting Principal Daniel Clark, and to Noni Stanbury and Robyn Tanner for helping organise this effort, along with everyone involved.

If you'd like to donate you can here https://ow.ly/tnuc50Z6ttI or by calling 5155 8300 and speaking with Marnie Graham.

01/06/2026

We’ve partnered with health services across East Gippsland to develop a shared Reconciliation Action Plan.

The plan is illustrated by artwork from Bradley Brown, titled Light in the Darkness. The piece reflects unity, healing and hope, with circles representing the different services and people working together.

GLCH CEO Anne-Maree Kaser spoke at the launch, emphasising that the Reconciliation Action Plan represents more than good intentions.

“It represents a shared commitment to listening better, learning more deeply, and walking together in ways that create real change.”

Anne-Maree also acknowledged that organisations often ask too much of community representatives and Elders. Reflecting on the Reconciliation Week theme of ‘All In’, she said that this work isn’t passive or symbolic and we must show up fully, honestly and consistently.

The plan brings together Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, and the bush nursing centres of Ensay, Gelantipy, Swifts Creek, Buchan and Dargo.

You can read the Reconciliation Action Plan in detail here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w0YKoAAf6V2R8QC1eTU5bYnq59DeW-85/view?usp=sharing

Photo from the launch at GLaWAC’s Wangun Amphitheatre.

28/05/2026

"My disability is my identity."

In My Story's production of Stories from the Waiting Room, we explore the idea of how disability shapes the way people are seen by organisations and individuals.

The performers speak to how it feels to share a personal experience of disability, over and over again, as they advocate for themselves and their needs.

It's a really powerful performance, and we'd love you to share it with us.

▶️ The Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
▶️Thursday, June 11, 1:30pm.

It's free, but please register: https://events.humanitix.com/my-story-presents-stories-from-the-waiting-room

28/05/2026

Thanks to our Jemmeson Street neighbours, Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association (LEAHA), and to Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd in Bairnsdale for coming over as part of National Reconciliation Week.

This week we commit to listening better, learning more deeply and working in ways that create change, acknowledging that we can’t build a future without telling the truth and learning from each other.

National Reconciliation Week marks two significant milestones in Australia’s history: the successful 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision.

This year’s theme, All In, reminds us that reconciliation belongs to all of us, and we need to genuinely value and appreciate each other to move forward.

As Rebecca Abbey from LEAHA told us, it’s about showing up, celebrating culture, and continuing to learn from each other.

27/05/2026

Our consumer experience survey closes at the end of May, so if you’ve been thinking “I’ll do it later”… this is your reminder.

Tell us what’s working, what could be better, and help shape future services.

Oh, and complete the survey for your chance to win one of five $50 vouchers for fuel or groceries at participating East Gippsland businesses.

📝 Have your say before the survey closes : https://ow.ly/4XhX50Z4vW6

27/05/2026

Congratulations to Brylan from Lindenow South Primary School, who received one of our Screen-Free Week competition prizes 🎉

Brylan shared that during Screen-Free Week he spent time building things, playing ball games, helping in the garden, listening to music, stretching, reading books and even looking at the clouds — a wonderful reminder that fun, movement and imagination don’t have to be complicated. 🌱⚽📖

As part of the prize, Lindenow South Primary School also received a sports bag filled to the brim with equipment to support active play, including three-legged race kits, potato sack race bags, egg and spoon sets and large dice. The school also received four children’s books on screen-free time and play-based activities, including The Couch Potato, which definitely got a few giggles from the students when it was handed over! 😂📚

A special shout out also goes to Blake, who submitted a fantastic photo of himself completing the Kalimna Jetty Walk as part of Screen-Free Week, a great example of getting outdoors and taking a small break from screens. 👏🌿

Thank you to all the students, families and schools who got involved in Screen-Free Week this year and embraced the idea that even small breaks from recreational screens can have big benefits.

26/05/2026

When we shared the news about our new Drop In Centre in Lakes Entrance, our community responded with incredible generosity. Offers of support rolled in, donations arrived, and our hearts (and every available cupboard, corner and storage space) filled up very quickly.

Seriously… you’ve been amazing 🫶

Because of your kindness, we’re now at the point where we can’t accept any more donations of goods for the Drop In Centre. Not because they aren’t appreciated, but because we’ve officially reached the “where on earth do we put this?” stage.

If you’d still like to support the Centre, cash donations make the biggest difference, helping us respond flexibly to changing needs and provide support where it’s needed most.

You can donate via our website https://glch.org.au/get-involved/donations/

Thank you for backing this space, and the people who’ll walk through its doors. Community care like this makes a real difference 💛