Victoria’s population was 6.5 million on 30 June 2018. It is the second largest state in Australia by population but has been growing more than any other state or territory in Australia by 2.5 percent per annum. The cities of greater Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo are projected to account for around half of all regional growth. With such strong growth forecasts in the Western districts of Victoria it just does not make sense that specialist medical care is still so heavily biased towards central Melbourne.

I am so thrilled and proud to have started working in Ballarat. It’s a comfortable drive from Melbourne. St John of God Ballarat continues the fine reputation of the St John of God organisation in providing a first class hospital staffed by health professionals who excel about what they do but also genuinely care about the entire patient experience. Together with St John of God, I aspire to develop a neurosurgery service that will allow patients in the Western districts to choose to have their spinal or cranial surgery closer to home.