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About Us

At Bendigo Health we aim to treat patients closer to their homes and loved ones – from birth, continuing throughout their lifetime. Providing Excellent Care, Every Person, Every Time.

Fundraising has been an integral part of our history since the first Bendigo hospital in the 1800s, with our community as our biggest advocates. More recently , Dry July has become a significant initiative on our annual fundraising calendar, raising close to $800,000 to support Bendigo Health’s cancer patients since 2014.

Funds from our 2024 Dry July campaign will support upgrades to Bendigo Health’s Palliative Care unit, providing patients and their families with a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Latest Updates


A message from Bendigo Health Cancer Centre

Cancer Care Coordinator at Bendigo Health, Jenna Sing, has established a pet therapy program, personally adopting a black Labrador named Sharlee and achieving her public access license for an assistance dog! Jenna explained, “Pet therapy within cancer setting is extremely beneficial for oncology patients as it has the ability reduce stress and anxiety often associated with medical appointments and cancer treatment. Sharlee our pet therapy dog provides a calming presence within the Cancer Centre waiting room and it’s a valued member of the Cancer Centre team”

Sharlee has been in the Cancer Centre a total of 4 times and on Friday a patients didn’t even say hello to me, he just straight away said “Where is Sharlee?” This made me so happy as I wasn’t sure how well received she would be with the pandemic situation but patients are very receptive of her presence within the Cancer Centre.  

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Jenna, has also sent a lovely video to introduce Bendigo Health supporters to the new Cancer Wellness Centre. You can see the video HERE and can find more information about the Wellness Program HERE  

By supporting Bendigo Health this Dry July, you're helping people like Kate.

Kate Walsh’s breast cancer diagnosis came 16 years ago in 2004, when she was just 29. Following intensive treatment, Kate describes herself as “free and clear” of the disease. That changed 11 years later when she was devastatingly re-diagnosed in 2015. This time her breast cancer has metastasized.

Together with her husband, Darren and two young children – Lexie, a nine year old daughter and seven year old Archie – Kate has been navigating COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic has on their daily lives.

Her breast cancer continues to be treated through regular oncology appointments and chemotherapy treatments at Bendigo Health, and Darren takes care of the shopping and other errands so that Kate can avoid public places and the increased risk of infection.

A Cancer Wellness program, funded by Dry July, has run yoga therapy sessions which Kate describes as “Awesome” and as something she can’t wait to return to once restrictions are eased “I am desperate to get back there, it is just so good for my mind and managing anxiety. Every day I wake up knowing that I have cancer. Yoga just helps to be able to manage that, especially in this current environment.” Kate said.

Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sing, - a position also funded through Dry July – has developed innovative ways to provide additional support to vulnerable cancer patients during the coronavirus pandemic. “In these unprecedented times we are looking at how we best support our patients,” Jenna said.

“Many have been able to mentally cope with their cancer diagnosis, but now face added stressors. One initiative we are implementing is delivering boxes of locally sourced fresh fruit and veggies to ease the stress of going to grocery store. I have received really lovely feedback from patients, like Kate, who have greatly appreciated this gesture.” added Jenna.

For Kate’s family the timing was perfect, “It was unbelievable. It was just what we needed at the time.” Said Kate.

Fresh fruit boxes to support our most vulnerable cancer patients

Thanks to funding received from Dry July, Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sing, together with the Fundraising & Foundation team have developed innovative ways to support the most vulnerable cancer patients amid the current pandemic.

Boxes of locally sourced fresh fruit and vegies are being delivered to the homes of cancer patients who are not able to access supermarkets, don’t have readily available local support networks or no longer have the financial means to afford fresh produce.

“In these unpreceded times we are looking at how we best support our patients. Many have been able to mentally cope with their cancer diagnosis, but now face added stressors when the primary breadwinner has lost their job and all or most of their income. Often there is also the extra pressure of having kids at home.” Jenna said.

Jenna is also providing a phone calling system to check on cancer patients. This provide an extension to the service already being undertaken by Bendigo Health’s social workers, who are struggling to keep up with the increased demand at this time.

In addition, Jenna’s recent focus has been on establishing online cancer wellness programs to support patients; including self-massage video tutorials, yoga classes and online mindfulness resources. Proudly, she has also recently adopted a black Labrador named Sharlee who Jenna describes as “an absolute legend in preparation for on-site pet therapy session in Bendigo Health’s Cancer Centre when things return to normal and the regular Cancer Wellness Program is ready to recommence.

Introducing Jenna Sing - Cancer Centre Wellness Coordinator

We are so excited announce that our newly appointed Cancer Centre Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sing, began with Bendigo Health this week (w/c 19 January, 2020). Jenna is such a beautiful person, whose enthusiasm for supporting people dealing with cancer and her extensive experience in oncology are without doubt going to make her perfect for the role. Jenna has already developed a calendar of activities for patients and is looking at a range of new programs to implement. She has expressed her thanks to the Dry July participants for raising the funds to support her role and has offered some words below;

‘It is with great excitement that I begin my new role as the Cancer Wellness Co-Ordinator at Bendigo Health. After working within the oncology setting for many years, it’s a lovely transition to now be able to offer holistic care to cancer patients through funds raised by Dry July participants. The funding will go a long way in creating positive outcomes for our patients though the use of complementary therapies such as oncology massage, yoga classes, pet therapy and mindfulness sessions. I can’t thank Dry July Foundation enough for contributing enormously to the success of Bendigo Health’s Cancer Wellness Program and investing in its future‘. 


Additional funding for Wellness Program at Bendigo Health

We're pleased to announce that Bendigo Health has received an additional grant from the Dry July Foundation October grant round. to go towards the Wellness Program.

Wellness programs are paramount in cancer care to support both the physical and emotional and spiritual wellbeing of our patients. This additional grant will help expand the Wellness Program to incorporate a coordinator to act as a central point of contact to connect patients and determine the best therapies to support their care based on individual requirements. 

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