Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Program provides treatments such as oncology massage, yoga, meditation & mindfulness, reflexology, music and arts, pet therapy and importantly a highly qualified oncology nurse as our wonderful Cancer Wellness Coordinator – Jenna Sing who connects our patients to the services that best meets their physical and emotional needs.

We continue to receive positive feedback from cancer patients about the benefits of these new wellness services.

“The Cancer Wellness Program has given me some structure as part of my week to come to the appointments. I have done the reflexology for 3 or 4 sessions now and really enjoy that. It has increased my flexibility and my mobility which has then helped my physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing.” -Danny

We would like to thank you for your support and contribution to making a positive difference in the lives of people dealing with cancer in our region.

The Music & Arts project officially launched in February 2020, coordinating volunteer musicians to come into the hospital to play the piano or other instruments in the Cancer Centre. Now the project is expanding and is bringing creative activities to Bendigo Health’s Gobbé Wellness Centre thanks to funds received through Dry July.

The project aims to provide a calming environment for patients and help reduce anxiety during their hospital visits.

Volunteer coordinator, Sue Turpie, is excited to be Coordinator of the Bendigo Health’s Volunteer Music & Arts Project. Sue enjoyed an eclectic musical upbringing, influenced by grandparents and parents who were proficient in music ranging from the classically-trained to ‘learn by ear’. While early years were spent learning the piano, it wasn’t a career choice.

Sue chose to work in media writing about the arts, rather than being directly involved. But upon becoming a parent she made the transition to music teacher, working with students of different abilities. Sue was inspired to pursue further studies, which highlighted the important role music and art play in our lives both emotionally and psychologically. Sue has found her new role at Bendigo Health to be a wonderful challenge that draws on skills built up working in these diverse fields.

The Gobbé Wellness Centre is the new home of the Cancer Wellness Program, a purposed designed space for all patients needing to take time out in a quiet nurturing environment to reflect, relax and regroup. 

Check out the virtual tour of the incredible Gobbé Wellness Centre here. 

The centre is named in honour of the Gobbé family for their significant contribution to health services in our region.

The historic building provides a place for all patients, carers and their families to take time out to reflect, relax and regroup.

Along with the space, a dedicated Cancer Wellness Coordinator oversees a timetable of activities, such as oncology massage, yoga classes, music and art therapy and mindfulness sessions. These assist in improving the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of patients, carers and their families.

In the Centre is a library of wellness resources, a sleeping pod for people attending appointments and a kitchen that people can drop in for a cuppa.

Your fundraising for Dry July will enable Bendigo Health to continue a range of wellness activities offered to cancer patients, such as in-person and tailored online yoga and meditation sessions, oncology massage, dog therapy, and fresh produce boxes delivered to vulnerable patients during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Funds raised will also help establish a new stand-alone Wellness Centre within the Bendigo hospital precinct, set to open in coming months.

The Wellness Centre and the activities offered will enable patients to feel supported with not only their physical health, but also their social and emotional health, leading to better health outcomes for the patient.