Murrumbidgee Local Health District

12/06/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 MLHD Excellence Awards winners 🎉

We are thrilled to announce this year’s winners, whose outstanding work in health reflects the very best of the District.

Read the full list of winners here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/mlhd/news/latest-news/2026-mlhd-excellence-awards-announced

Thanks also goes to all of our finalists for your incredible contributions, and to our major sponsors, LINET, Imaging Associates and Riverina Regional Hub, The University of Notre Dame Australia for your support.

12/06/2026

Shout out to our major sponsors ✨

We’re incredibly grateful to our MLHD Excellence Awards major sponsors:

🌟 LINET
🌟 Imaging Associates
🌟 Riverina Regional Training Hub, The University of Notre Dame Australia

Your support allows us to celebrate the outstanding people and teams delivering exceptional health care across the District.

11/06/2026

Elyce Green didn’t know what to expect as a new mum.

She found herself asking “is this a normal way to feel?” and “does every mum feel like that?”.

“It's a lot about the way people talk about being a mum and I guess that expectation that you do just cope and that we don't really talk about the tough stuff,” Elyce said.

“There are very few people who said to me, ‘Oh yeah, being a mum is really hard’. Everyone just expects it to be OK.”

This week is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year focuses on the theme of attunement – the ability to tune in and connect with others on an emotional level.

Elyce has spoken about the connection she has with her two boys, and also the importance of parental mental health as a pillar of family wellbeing.

Read her story here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/mlhd/news/latest-news/tune-to-your-child-to-give-them-best-start-to-life

11/06/2026

❗️The IPTAAS system is getting an upgrade and will undergo planned maintenance tonight (11 June).

This means you won't be able to submit online applications between 5:30pm and 8:30pm.

More details below.

Do you travel long distances for treatment?

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) can provide financial assistance when you travel for treatment that is not available locally.

From Friday 12 June, the IPTAAS system is getting an upgrade, and we are incorporating the NSW Digital ID or Multi Factor Authentication to make the process simpler, and more secure.

The IPTAAS system will undergo planned maintenance on 11 June 2026 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. During this time you will not be able to submit online applications.

You may email us any applications during this period at [email protected].

For more information, visit: www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 478 227.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

09/06/2026

Well done, Maureen!

Congratulations to Maureen Simpfendorfer, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her services to nursing.

Maureen retired in 2025 after a career that spanned 62 years, all of it at Cootamundra Health Service in MLHD.

She has also served as president of the Nurses and Midwives Union and as secretary of the Zone Four Operating Theatre Association.

But Maureen’s community service doesn’t stop at nursing. She has also been chief instructor and judge for state championship level dressage events and was named Cootamundra-Gundagai Shire Council's 2026 Citizen of the Year.

09/06/2026

Doing the bowel cancer screening test is:
✅Quick
✅ Easy
✅ Potentially lifesaving.

Yet just 40.1 per recent of people in MLHD are reported to return their kit.

June is and we’re encouraging you to make your health a priority and do the test.

Free kits are sent in the mail to people aged 50-74 every 2 years. Plus, if you’re aged 45-49, you can request a kit now.

Find helpful information and learn how to get yours via the : www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/dothetest

07/06/2026

Let the oven do the work

Roasting vegetables brings out their natural flavour, making this pasta dish a comforting and easy winter recipe.

For the full recipe follow Healthy Eating Active Living NSW or visit www.nsw.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/healthy-living/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes/simple-roast-veggie-pasta

06/06/2026

Need instant health advice?
👉Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
A registered nurse is available 24/7 to help you get the care you need. The nurse can find you a nearby GP, pharmacist or urgent care service, connect you to a specialist online or call you an ambulance if it is life-threatening.
To find out more, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/callhealthdirect

05/06/2026

One week to go ✨

We’re just one week away from the 2026 MLHD Excellence Awards. We can’t wait to celebrate the individuals and teams delivering exceptional rural healthcare across the District at the awards on Friday, June 12.

Can’t attend in person? Tune in via livestream: https://www.pyrus.com.au/mlhd-excellence-awards-2026

05/06/2026

Got some old X-ray films gathering dust at your place and not sure what to do with them?

This World Environment Day (5 June), we're urging community members, staff and healthcare providers to keep their outdated radiographs out of landfill.

MLHD Sustainability Lead Kym Witney-Soanes (pictured) says the X-ray films can be recycled, but only through dedicated channels, keeping heavy metals in a circular economy and preventing environmental contamination.

Read more about how and where you can recycle your X-rays here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/mlhd/news/latest-news/call-for-community-to-keep-x-ray-films-out-of-landfill