The calendar of activities that the Gobbe’ Wellness Centre is able to offer has increased 100% in 2022.

We now offer 2 yoga classes per week (previously only 1) and have added a new Tai Chi class each week, along with the existing Mindfulness class.

This has resulted in 16 more cancer participants being able to participate in classes each week. We have also added a weekly walking group and added an extra day of specialised oncology massage per month. Reflexology and Aromatherapy is also available.

The Gobbe’ Wellness Centre increased its opening hours from 3 days in 2021 to 5 days per week in 2022.

It is now open for participants to access classes and services Monday to Friday 9-4 pm. The increased opening hours allows us to offer more classes, increased patient and carer enrolments and patient walk-ins who can also use the general facilities, access to Kitchen and lounge areas and reading resources and relaxation pod.

More capacity in relation to access to services has resulted in increased options and offerings for patient wellbeing and relief from side effects and symptoms.

The Sleep Pod is one of the more popular options for centre users, with users popping in to access the sleep pod, as well as it being an adjunct to massage and reflexology treatments.

A Kitchen and dining area is available at the centre, where participants can access cooking, reheating, coffee/tea facilities, snacks and beverages, in a welcoming space. This helps participants who are on a specialised diet, and provides an alternative to the food court at the hospital.

A Music and Arts program provides a relaxing ambiance to complement the existing programs, and can be extended with more funding to include on a regular basis. We would love to offer a Music and Arts Therapist to participants in the future.

Our Cancer Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sing, established a dog therapy program to support cancer participants, personally adopting a black Labrador named Sharlee and achieving her public access license for an assistance dog. Sharlee has been incredibly well received by participants and carers and is very happy to be back in the Gobbé Wellness Centre after her time away on maternity leave. https://www.bendigohealthfoundation.org.au/money/our-impact/pet-therapy 

The Gobbe’ Wellness Centre Cancer Wellness Program Newsletter is distributed quarterly to past and current participants and is packed full of information such as Wellness recipes, Cancer research information, Wellness Centre updates, book reviews and other interesting articles.