Western District Health Service

What Western District Health Service does

Western District Health Service (WDHS) is a Victorian Government-funded public health service headquartered at Hamilton Base Hospital (20 Foster Street, Hamilton VIC 3300) and operating across the Western District of Victoria, Australia. WDHS serves rural communities in Hamilton, Coleraine, Penshurst, Merino, Dunkeld, and surrounding areas through a multi-campus network that includes a 24-hour Emergency Department, intensive care, surgical and maternity services, and the largest state-government funded aged care portfolio in the region with 176 residential aged care beds across six facilities (The Birches, Grange, Valley View, Wannon Hostel, Penshurst Nursing Home, and Kolor Lodge). The organization also operates Independent Living Units in three towns and delivers community and home-based services through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the Support at Home Program launched in November 2025.

WDHS provides acute, sub-acute, primary, and community care through a single integrated platform. The specialized Cancer and Dialysis Centre, built with $2 million in community-raised funds and staffed by three oncologists, offers local oncology and dialysis treatment, while the MRI service launched in 2020 after $3 million+ in community fundraising has served over 1,000 patients. Allied and community health spans district nursing, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes education, palliative care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, and NDIS services, supplemented by a farmer health program delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Farmer Health. Digital infrastructure consists of HealthDirect-powered telehealth clinics, Citrix-enabled remote EMR access, and the SOLLE Learning Management System.

Revenue is sourced primarily from Victorian State Government and Australian Federal Government funding agreements for public hospital, aged care, and community health programs, supplemented by aged care accommodation fees (room prices $390,000-$500,000), client contributions under CHSP and Support at Home, patient account fees, and community fundraising. WDHS partners with CQ University to deliver a local Bachelor of Nursing program, sits within the South West Local Health Service Network alongside seven regional health services, and operates under a dual CEO arrangement with Casterton Memorial Hospital established in May 2023 with Rowena Clift appointed as the first female Dual Chief Executive in February 2024.

Name

Western District Health Service

Legal name

Western District Health Service

Website

https://wdhs.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Western District Health Service is a Victorian Government-funded public health service delivering acute hospital, residential aged care, community health, and home support services across rural Western District, Australia, through a multi-campus network spanning Hamilton, Coleraine, Penshurst, Merino, and Dunkeld.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Healthcare Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Regional General Hospitals (HLAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Subacute Care Facilities (HLAFAFAE), Hospital-Based/Home Health System-Affiliated Skilled Home Health (HLADAFAB), Hospital/Facility-to-Home Caregiver Placement (HSABAMAC), Home Health Aide (HHA) Services (Medically Directed) (HSABACAB), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Public hospital services
• Residential aged care
• Community health services
• Rural healthcare
• Home care programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Funding: Primary revenue stream from Victorian State Government and Australian Federal Government for public hospital services, aged care, and community health programs under various funding agreements.
2. Aged Care Accommodation Fees: Room prices ranging from $390,000 to $500,000 for residential aged care facilities, plus daily care fees and means-tested fees as determined by Department of Health assessment.
3. Commonwealth Home Support Programme: Government-subsidized entry-level aged care services with client contribution fees based on service type and financial capacity.
4. Support at Home Program: In-home aged care services funded through government contributions and participant contributions based on income and asset assessment.
5. Community Fundraising and Donations: Community fundraising events (Cocktails for a Cause, Golf Tournament, Christmas Appeal) and donations supporting equipment purchases and facility improvements.
6. Patient Account Fees: Fees for Medicare-ineligible patients and other healthcare services, managed by Finance Department with payments via phone, mail, or in-person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Western District Health Service operates a multi-campus network providing acute hospital care (24-hour Emergency Department, surgery, cancer treatment, dialysis, maternity, intensive care), residential aged care across six facilities (176 beds), Independent Living Units, and government-subsidized home care programs (CHSP and Support at Home). Services are delivered across Hamilton, Coleraine, Penshurst, Merino, Dunkeld, and Casterton in Victoria's Western District through owned and operated facilities.

Product overview

Western District Health Service (WDHS) is a comprehensive rural healthcare provider operating as a platform of interconnected clinical, aged care, and community health services across the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The organization operates a multi-campus network including Hamilton Base Hospital (with 24-hour Emergency Department), Casterton Memorial Hospital, and Merino Community Health Centre, delivering acute services, specialized cancer and dialysis care, maternity services, palliative care, and NDIS services. WDHS provides an extensive aged care portfolio comprising six residential facilities (The Birches, Grange, Valley View, Penshurst, Kolor Lodge, Wannon Hostel), Independent Living Units in three towns, and government-funded home care programs (Support at Home and Commonwealth Home Support Programme). Primary care and allied health services span cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes education, district nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, speech pathology, and specialized farmer health services. The organization also operates education programs including a Graduate Nurse Program and clinical skills laboratory partnership with CQ University. Digital health infrastructure includes Telehealth Clinics connecting to HealthDirect for virtual consultations. This integrated service model enables coordinated care delivery across hospital, community, and home-based settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acute Services Hospital-based acute care services at Hamilton Base Hospital including 24-hour Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Theatre, Anaesthesia, Medical Unit, Pharmacy, Blood Transfusion, Infection Prevention and Control, Pre-Admission Clinic, and Central Sterile Supply Department.
• Cancer and Dialysis Centre Oncology and dialysis treatment centre offering cancer care services with three oncologists, dialysis treatments, and portable ultrasound imaging, enabling local treatment without travel to Melbourne.
• Telehealth Clinics Virtual healthcare consultation service connecting patients with healthcare providers including ED clinic, Community Telehealth hubs, and Virtual Visiting options through the HealthDirect platform.
• Maternity Services Comprehensive maternity care including antenatal classes and new baby support programs for expecting mothers in the Western District region.
• Residential Aged Care Residential aged care across six facilities (176 beds total): The Birches (44 beds, dementia-friendly), Grange Residential Care Service (50 beds, dementia-friendly), Valley View Nursing Home (12 beds), Penshurst Nursing Home (19 beds), Kolor Lodge (10 beds), and Wannon Hostel (41 beds), offering permanent and respite accommodation with 24-hour qualified nursing.
• Support at Home Program Coordinated in-home aged care program providing clinical supports, independence services, and everyday living assistance across 8 ongoing service classifications plus 3 short-term pathways (Restorative Care, End-of-Life, AT-HM), for people with complex needs beyond CHSP scope.
• Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Entry-level government-subsidized home support services including domestic assistance, personal care, shopping assistance, respite care, social support, home maintenance and modifications, Meals on Wheels, and transport services for older people living at home.
• Independent Living Units Affordable retirement living units across Coleraine (Strathallan 14 units, St Joseph's Court 11 units), Dunkeld (6 units), and Penshurst (3 units) with three rental fee options: weekly rental only, capital contribution plus reduced rent, or entry contribution ($10,000 minimum) plus reduced rent.
• Primary Care Services Allied health and community health services including Cardiac Rehabilitation, Complex Care Community Nursing, Continence, Diabetes Education, District Nursing, Frances Hewett Centre (Dental, Men's Health, Women's Health, Needle Syringe Program), Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Respiratory Services, Social Work, Speech Pathology, and Youth Services.
• Farmer Health Specialized health services for agricultural workers including free 20-minute health checks covering blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and eyesight testing, delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Farmer Health.
• Palliative Care End-of-life care services providing comfort and support for patients and families during the final stages of life, including a dedicated Sub-Acute Palliative Care bed at The Birches.
• NDIS Services National Disability Insurance Scheme services supporting people with disabilities to access care and community participation.
• Youth Services Health and wellbeing services for young people including the Youth Board, mental health programs, youth suicide prevention initiatives through the Live 4 Life partnership, and youth events.
• Hamilton Base Hospital Main hospital campus providing 24-hour Emergency Department, acute services, and access to acute and allied health services. Located at 20 Foster Street, Hamilton VIC 3300, 3.5 hours drive from Melbourne.
• Merino Community Health Centre Community health centre offering District Nursing Service, Medical Practitioners, Pathology Services, Podiatry, Social Support Group, Chair-based Exercises, Community Car, Equipment Hire, and Business Services at 19-21 High Street, Merino VIC 3310.
• Casterton Memorial Hospital 24/7 Rural Urgent Care Centre with registered nurses providing assessment, treatment, telehealth emergency doctor link, and transfer coordination, operating under dual CEO leadership with WDHS.
• Graduate Nurse Program Program for newly graduated Enrolled and Registered Nurses offering mentorship, hands-on experience, and rotations across clinical settings; 2024 cohort included 16 graduate nurses.
• Health Library Services Library at Hamilton Base Hospital providing clinical resources including textbooks, journals, online full-text articles, Clinician's Health Channel, MD Consult, Nurse Consult, Internurse, UpToDate, Australian Standards, and computer stations with internet access.
• Health Information Services Medical records management including creation, retrieval, storage, and archiving of health records in secure environment, with paper and electronic records management via Citrix remote access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% increase in cancer services patients over 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Casterton Memorial HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Dual CEO leadership established in May 2023 with Rohan Fitzgerald appointed as interim CEO of both WDHS and Casterton Memorial Hospital. Partnership building on long-existing collaborative relationships to create more connected, coordinated, and sustainable regional healthcare.
• CQ UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to establish Bachelor of Nursing program in Hamilton, enabling local nursing education and increasing locally-based nursing graduates. Clinical skills laboratory established to support the program.
• National Centre for Farmer HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014WDHS revitalized the National Centre for Farmer Health which had been reduced to skeleton staff due to funding cuts. Partnership addresses high rates of cancer, obesity, and occupational health issues specific to the farming community.
• Quit VictoriasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide smoking cessation support for patients, including referral to Quitline coaching and nicotine replacement therapy. Partnership includes model of care for clients who smoke.
• South West Local Health Service NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWDHS is one of 8 health services in the South West Local Health Service Network (SWLHSN), working together to make healthcare more connected, coordinated, and sustainable. Partners include Heywood Rural Health, Moyne Health Services, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare, Terang and Mortlake Health Service, and Timboon and District Healthcare Service.
• Winda-MarasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAboriginal community organization collaborating on NAIDOC Week celebrations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health initiatives. Flag raising events held jointly in Heywood and Hamilton.
• Live 4 LifesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to destigmatize mental health and youth suicide through youth mental health programs. WDHS introduced Youth Board and leads program in Hamilton region.
• HealthDirect AustraliacoreTechnology or IntegrationTelehealth platform provider enabling WDHS virtual consultations, ED clinic access, and staff health channel login. Critical infrastructure for rural healthcare delivery.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Timboon and District Healthcare Service: Small rural health service in South West Victoria providing acute, aged care, and community health. SWLHSN member with similar integrated service profile.
• Portland District Health: Small rural Victorian health service operating acute, aged care, and community services on the South West coast. Direct peer as a fellow SWLHSN member and similarly sized rural regional health service.
• Terang and Mortlake Health Service: Rural Victorian health service operating across two campuses with acute, aged care, and community services. Direct peer within SWLHSN and comparable operating scale.
• South West Healthcare: Regional public health service based in Warrnambool, Victoria, operating acute hospital, aged care, and community health services across the South West region. Direct comparable to WDHS as a fellow SWLHSN member providing integrated regional healthcare.
• Stawell Regional Health: Small rural Victorian health service in the Wimmera region providing acute, aged care, and community services. Comparable scale and service mix to WDHS, and former employer of WDHS's prior CEO.
• Casterton Memorial Hospital: 24/7 Rural Urgent Care Centre in Western Victoria, currently sharing a dual CEO with WDHS. Closest operating peer given direct organizational integration and overlapping catchment.
• Heywood Rural Health: Small rural health service in Western Victoria providing acute, aged care, and primary care. Fellow SWLHSN member and directly comparable rural service model.
• Moyne Health Services: Small rural Victorian health service in Port Fairy operating acute, residential aged care, and community services. SWLHSN member with similar integrated rural service profile.

Regional players

• Echuca Regional Health: Sub-regional health service in Northern Victoria providing acute, aged care, and community services to a rural catchment. Comparable rural regional service model outside WDHS's primary Western District geography.

Broad incumbents

• Ballarat Health Services (Grampians Health): Large regional Victorian health service operating multiple campuses including acute, sub-acute, aged care, and community services across the Grampians region. Broader incumbent with overlapping catchment and similar service lines at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WesternDistrictHealthService
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-district-health-service
• Instagraminstagram.com/western_district_health

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western District Health Service