Tuesday, 2 December, 2025
Phone: (03) 5945 0666 Trades & Classifieds: 1300 666 808
starcommunity.com.au FREE
Family Violence action
Toxic dump backflip?
Treasure recovered
Boxer’s big hits
PAGE 4-5
PAGE 8
PAGE 11
SPORT
Greater Dandenong councillors Rhonda Garad, third left, and Jim Memeti, fourth right, with concerned members of the public outside Dandenong Hospital. (Stewart Chambers: 520739)
Maternity fears Greater Dandenong councillors are joining a backlash against plans to cut complex maternity services at Dandenong Hospital. Monash Health says it is relocating “underutilized” specialist care for higher-risk pregnancies and newborns to Casey Hospital or Monash Medical Centre. As a result, neonatal specialist nurses will be redeployed to Casey and Monash, with midwives left to manage the Dandenong Hospital nursery. This will ensure the higher-risk cases are
treated where the “necessary expertise and resources are concentrated to ensure the safest possible outcomes for mothers and babies”, Monash Health stated. Councillor Rhonda Garad said the removal of critical-care nurses was “outrageous”. “We want our mothers, sister and our women to have confidence that if they have to go Dandenong Hospital, they will get the care they need and not be in a stressful situation to be shipped off to somewhere else to get care.”
Monash Health say about 250 high-risk births would be diverted. However, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation estimate the cuts could impact up to 700 women a year. “Women who were planning to have their baby at Dandenong Hospital will be distressed at the thought of having to relocate further away from home for their birthing needs or to visit their unwell baby who could have been cared for close to home at Dandenong Hospital,” ANMF state
secretary Maddy Harradence said. In a unanimous decision on 24 November, councillors called for a halt to the plan, pending an impact review being made public. The council will also advocate for a locally accessible, culturally safe model of care to keep mothers and babies together without reducing the hospital service. More on the story, turn to page 3
With the current cost of living, there's never been a better time to review your home loan. We'll look at your rate, term, repayments, and equity, giving your loan a full check-up to make sure it's still right for you and your current needs. Enquire online at bendigobank.com.au/healthcheck or visit your nearest branch. Community Bank • Dingley Village • 03 9551 6111 All loans are subject to the Bank's normal lending criteria. Fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. Please consider your situation and read the Terms and Conditions, available online at www.bendigobank.com.au or upon request from any Bendigo Bank branch, before making a decision. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178 AFSL 237879 (2083101-2126290) (02/25)
12762779-KF15-25