General News
5 December, 2025
Strong year for SWH
SOUTH West Healthcare (SWH) is looking back on another successful year, with lots to celebrate for the Camperdown facilities over 2024-2025.
This was despite SWH reporting a deficit of $2 million for the financial year, which accounts for 0.6 per cent of the operating revenue of $366,787,000.
Of this revenue, $334,107,000 was used for expenses across the year – ranging from employee wages to larger-scale projects.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Craig Fraser said Camperdown and Lismore’s campuses had a lot to celebrate this year.
“One of our Merindah Lodge residents, Josie Douglas, was recognised in the Australia Day Honours for her remarkable contributions to fundraising efforts in Camperdown for the Friends and Relatives of Merindah (FROM),” he said.
“The staff at Merindah Lodge – our Camperdown aged care facility – worked with our dietetics and speech pathology teams to develop an ice-cream product for aged care residents who have difficulty with swallowing, demonstrating the strong collaboration across our teams and our commitment to deliver person-centred care.”
Among the highlights for the year were the completion of the $39.6 million Aged Care Redevelopment in Camperdown – which is now named Leura Aged Care – the launch of the Food Insecurity in the Corangamite Shire Report at the Camperdown and District Community House, hosting a tour of the Regional Logistics Distribution Centre for the Camperdown and Lismore Men’s Social Group and supporting 427 through Lismore’s Community Health campus.
Mr Fraser said the community had also strongly supported the Camperdown Hospital and Leura Aged Care.
“It took just 10 months to reach our $562,000 appeal target to help equip and furnish our $39.6m Camperdown Residential Aged Care facility,” he said.
“Launched in March 2024, the final $9200 was donated trackside by the Camperdown Turf Club during the 2025 Sungold Milk Camperdown Cup.
“The Camperdown and District Hospital Auxiliary gifted a $15,255 theatre tourniquet and $18,400 to help equip and furnish two bedrooms in our new Camperdown Residential Aged Care facility whilst Friends and Relatives of Merindah (FROM) donated $9200 to help equip/furnish a third bedroom.”
In addition, SWH received a donation of $15,000 to go towards an online patient meal and menu system for the Camperdown Hospital and $2765 for a paediatric resuscitation cart for Camperdown’s Urgent Care Centre.
“As we reflect on another year of achievements, we are aiming to set our sights higher for the year ahead,” Mr Fraser said.