Our Victorian community should be very proud of the state’s Bush Nursing services. These vibrant and robust services reach back over almost a century and form a vital part of Victoria’s framework of small rural health services. There are fourteen Bush Nursing Centres and fifteen Bush Nursing Hospital organisations in remote and rural Victoria which operate as non-profit, community governed services meeting the health needs of people from the new born to older adults.

Background

The current Bush Nursing Centres and Hospitals date back to the pre WW II era. In the years from 1911 to the present day there have been 156 Bush Nursing organizations.

There are currently 14 Bush Nursing centres. They generally operate with 1 to 2 full time nurses. Bush Nursing Centres have evolved to reflect the changing needs of their communities. They provide nursing assessment and treatment, emergency response and stabilisation at the centre and out in the community, a range of visiting consultative care services, home nursing and personal care delivery, health promotion initiatives, post acute care and, primary health care across a broad range of social and health issues.