Albury Wodonga Health Media Guidelines

The AWH Communications Department manages all media enquiries and requests relating to all AWH locations.

We are the first point of contact for any media enquiries, including patient condition updates, interview requests with AWH staff acting as medical experts, escorting film crews and photographers and permission to film on hospital grounds.

Media opportunities are subject to approval and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Media enquiries:

Weekdays - 8:30am-5:00pm - journalists can email awh.communications@awh.org.au or call 02 6048 1160 

Requests to film

  • All interviews, photography and filming on AWH premises must be approved prior to the media entering an AWH healthcare facility.
  • A Communications staff member will escort media during approved visits, including for interviews, filming, and photography.
  • All AWH staff directly approached by media outlets will, in the first instance, redirect enquiries to the Communications team.

Patient conditions

  • When enquiring about a patient condition update, we are guided by the Health Services Act 1988. This legislation, limits the amount of information that can be released without written consent from the patient, or where appropriate their next of kin.
  • When categorising the condition, we use the following descriptions: stable, serious and critical. Due to patient privacy, we cannot provide any patient details, such as name, age or injuries.

Patient interview requests

Interview requests to individuals on AWH property must be done through the Communications Team. Our team will not approach a patient on the day of admission. It is important to us as a health service to ensure our patients and their families feel safe and supported when in hospital. 

awh.communications@awh.org.au or call 02 6048 1160 

Live or Simulated Live crosses

Media are permitted to film AWH facilities from public walkways and footpaths, however, we ask to be notified via the AWH Communications Department prior to arrival so that security on location can be advised.

Additional media resources

Reporting on Mental Health

Reporting on People with a Disability

Reporting on Violence against Women and Children

10 September 2024 

Access and Flow Status

Albury Wodonga Health (AWH), like many other healthcare facilities, experiences fluctuations in demand. However, the information provided earlier today regarding a bed shortfall at Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) was inaccurate. Currently, AWH has a number of unoccupied beds, with additional discharges expected this afternoon. This positive status is a testament to the success of our ‘Progression of Care Hub,’ which has significantly improved our capacity to manage patient flow.

Since its launch, the hub has enabled us to optimise resource allocation and ensure patients are receiving the right care in the right setting. These efforts have greatly alleviated system pressures, allowing us to continue planned surgeries with minimal disruption and better manage our acute admissions.

Given our current position, we are actively reviewing our ability to flex down our overflow beds, ensuring we continue to match resources with demand efficiently. The Acute Admitted Overflow Unit remains a flexible asset that we scale up or down based on need, and today’s status reflects the effectiveness of our coordination efforts.

Looking ahead, further enhancements to our digital capabilities across the Hume region, set for November, will further strengthen our ability to respond dynamically. Additionally, AWH’s recent invitation to join the Victorian Department of Health’s ‘Timely Emergency Care’ program highlights our leadership in improving patient care access and flow across the state.

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