Kodowlinun ward at Wonthaggi Hospital

Delivering round-the-clock professional and high-quality medical and surgical care across 32 dedicated beds

What we do

Wonthaggi Hospital's 'Kodowlinun' is a 32-bed medical and surgical ward. The name Kodowlinun is an Indigenous word meaning ‘I am better’ and was kindly gifted to the hospital by the Bunurong Land Council.

In Kodowlinun you will be cared for by a medical and surgical team 24 hours a day and supported by an extensive multidisciplinary team of health care professionals.

This collaborative approach ensures each patient's health needs are identified, resources are allocated appropriately and care is delivered effectively to achieve the best possible outcome.

The experienced and extensive care team includes:

Nurses
Social Workers
Occupational Therapists
Speech Therapists
Dietitians
Pharmacists
Physiotherapists

Other allied health, nursing and medical professionals can be referred to as required, to deliver the appropriate care to those who need it.

Bayside Health’s Aboriginal Health Clinical Nurse Consultant and Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer are also available upon request.

For those who have elective surgery at Wonthaggi Hospital and require an overnight or extended stay post-operatively are admitted to Kodowlinun, where treatment continues in collaboration with the surgical team and our ward-based multidisciplinary team.

Patients admitted to Kodowlinun receive individual patient care aimed at improving their health, wellbeing, care experience and health outcomes.

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Our focus is on collaborating with patients, families and carers to promote person focused care, ensuring patients feel safe and empowered to discuss all aspects of their health care journey.

Individualised discharge planning considers future care requirements following your discharge from hospital. In doing this we may consider referrals to at home services, residential aged care services if required and specialist outpatient clinics.

Admission to Kodowlinun may be directly from the Emergency Department or via the elective surgical pathway.

Direct referrals from external health services and GP will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Will I have to pay for services?

Bayside Health provides medical treatments to Overseas Visitors. This information including eligibility and costs is explained here, it is also referred to as Medicare Ineligible Patients.

What should I bring for a stay in hospital

Check the following for what you will need for your hospital visit:

Your Healthcare card, Pension Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card (if you have one)
Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
An up-to-date list of your medications
Any relevant test results or scans, such as x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results you have which are related to your condition
Any aids that you would usually use on a daily basis (e.g., glasses, hearing aid, walking frame)
Your general practitioner (GP) name, clinic and address (if you have one)
Your Advanced Care Directive (if you have one)
Your Transport Accident Commission (TAC) or WorkCover claim numbers (if you have one).
Your toiletries
Suitable clothing to wear during the day and overnight, including appropriate footwear to participate in rehabilitation.
Your mobile phone and charger (if you have one)

Bringing these items helps us give you the best care possible and ensures your visit goes smoothly.

(Please note Bayside Health is not responsible for items brought into hospital. We encourage you to leave valuables at home)

What can we expect from you?

Acts of violence, threats, or verbal aggression towards staff members, other patients or visitors will not be tolerated. Security or police will be immediately called to maintain safety for all.

We encourage all visitors to Wonthaggi Hospital to report any concerning behaviours to our staff immediately, so that we can continue to provide care in a safe environment.