Four-year-old kinder is changing – and for families in 12 more LGAs across Victoria, that change starts now.

After commencing the new program in six LGAs last year, it has now kicked off in an additional 12 LGAs across regional Victoria.

Children will still go to the same kinder they know and love, but with more hours – between 16-30 every week.

For some children this means double the amount of early education before they start school.

More than 130 funded kindergarten services now offer the expanded program, with more than 3,000 children set to benefit.

Families will save up to $2,700 per child – money that stays in family budgets instead of going towards kinder fees.

The 12 new areas joining the rollout in 2026 with up to 20 hours of kinder are:

• Benalla Rural City
• Buloke Shire
• Corangamite Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Horsham Rural City
• Loddon Shire
• Mansfield Shire
• Mitchell Shire
• Pyrenees Shire
• Strathbogie Shire
• Wangaratta Rural City
• Wodonga Rural City

This builds on last year’s rollout in Ararat, Gannawarra, Hindmarsh, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack – where more than 500 children are now receiving more kinder hours through Pre-Prep programs.

In addition to the expansion into 12 new LGAs, children from priority cohorts across Victoria are now eligible for the extra hours of learning.

This includes Aboriginal children, those from refugee backgrounds and children who have had contact with Child Protection.

Find out more about Free Kinder at vic.gov.au/free-kinder.

Amid soaring fuel prices which are prompting Australians to explore alternative transport options, a new study highlights the health benefits of walkable neighbourhoods.

New research published today shows that regional residents living in walkable towns and centres walk 75 minutes more each week, prompting calls for Governments to invest more in well-connected, safe footpaths to boost community health.

The new paper, led by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, was published today in the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.  It’s the first of its kind to show walkability has a bigger impact on the amount of time spent walking in regional communities.

Lead author Dr Sharon Campbell, post-doctoral research fellow in the Environmental Health Research team at the Menzies Institute for Health Research, said that the study highlights the need to enhance walkability in regional and rural towns across Australia.

“Our study assessed walkability based on how connected and convenient it is to get around an area by foot. For instance, how easily and quickly can you walk to the local shops, schools, parks or public transport,” said Dr Campbell.

“When we merged Tasmanian government health data with geospatial walkability assessments, we revealed a clear link between walkability and residents’ physical activity levels across the state, with an even stronger relationship in regional and rural areas.

“Our research found residents in high walkability regional areas walked 75 minutes more a week compared to those living in low walkability regional areas. Even those in regional areas of medium walkability walked over 60 minutes more a week compared to those in low walkability regional areas. In comparison residents in high walkability urban centres walked 38 minutes more when walkability was high.”

Senior author Professor Verity Cleland, from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said that with regional Australian towns experiencing unique health challenges including higher rates of preventable chronic disease, improving walkability could offer a simple, but effective solution to help address health inequalities.

“Imagine if all Australian towns were built with walkability in mind – everyone would be able to travel easily and conveniently on foot, boosting their health while saving money on fuel and protecting the environment,” said Professor Cleland.

“But traditionally government planning and funding has prioritised roads and driving, particularly in regional areas, leading to lack of well-connected footpaths and facilities. Our research uncovered a higher number of regional areas that had low walkability compared to urban areas.

“Walkability shouldn’t be limited to urban centres. No matter where you live you should be able to walk around your local area safety and conveniently. We need local, state and Federal Governments to do more to set up regional towns with walkable infrastructure to help boost health, particularly in our regional communities.”

Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, CEO, Public Health Association of Australia said that promoting physical activity across the nation is a public health priority.

“Being physically active has an enormous range of health benefits including reducing the risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes, dementia and heart disease, as well as improving sleep, mobility, strength, confidence and mental health,” said Adjunct Professor Slevin.

“When it comes to health benefits, nothing beats it, and if we could put the benefits of physical activity into a pill, everyone would be taking it.”

Adjunct Prof Slevin said that with less than 25 percent of Australians meeting physical activity recommendations, more needs to be done to make it easier for Australians to live healthy lifestyles.

“It is recommended adults do at least 30 minutes exercise most days of the week. Walking is a convenient, enjoyable and healthy way to get around. It’s something that families can do together, can be done in almost all stages of life and it is free.

“Improving walkability right across the country is a sensible and simple way to boost our physical activity and ultimately protect health and well-being.”

The Public Health Association of Australia will host its annual Prevention Conference in Hobart/ Nipaluna on 5 – 7 May 2026.

This year’s theme is “Sustaining Prevention”, with presentations and research examining ways to ensure that prevention systems are funded for the long term, supported politically, and work effectively over the long term to help communities.

Scientists have uncovered an important new link between the brain and immune system after stroke, which could lead to potential new treatments to improve recovery and reduce long-term disability.

In new research published in international journal Frontiers in Immunology, researchers from La Trobe University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute discovered that the spleen actively produces inflammatory immune cells after stroke that can worsen brain injury.  

By blocking a key inflammatory signal called S100A8/A9 in experimental models, scientists reduced brain damage by around one-third and improved recovery. 

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long‑term disability worldwide. While current treatments focus on restoring blood flow to the brain, which is still critical, they do not address the damaging inflammation that continues after the initial blockage is cleared. 

This research suggests a completely new way to aid recovery and reduce long-term disability after stroke, by targeting inflammation.  

“Inflammation can cause ongoing injury to the brain, even after blood flow is restored,” said La Trobe University research lead Dr Helena Kim.  

“Our findings show there may be new ways to limit this damage by targeting the body’s immune response. This is an early but exciting step in better treatments for stroke patients.” 

S100A8/A9 is a protein signal released by immune cells during inflammation. After stroke, it appears to act like an alarm signal that tells the body to produce more inflammatory cells.  

While this response is meant to help fight injury, in stroke it can make things worse by increasing swelling and damaging brain tissue.  

To test whether this immune overreaction could be controlled, the researchers used a drug that blocked the activity of S100A8/A9.  

Animal models treated with the drug before and after stroke had far fewer inflammatory immune cells produced in the spleen, lower numbers of these cells circulating in the blood, about 35 per cent reduction in brain damage and better physical function within 24 hours. 

“When we blocked this signal in a pre-clinical stroke model, we saw fewer harmful immune cells being generated, smaller areas of brain damage and better neurological recovery,” said Dr Sam Lee, the senior scientist of the study from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. 

“We discovered that the majority of these inflammatory immune cells actually come from the spleen. This helps explain why inflammation becomes so widespread in the body after stroke and highlights the spleen as an important new therapeutic target.” 

The team also examined brain tissue from people who had experienced severe strokes and found the same inflammatory signal present in damaged areas, supporting the relevance of the findings to human disease. 

The results suggest that targeting inflammation – particularly signals that drive harmful immune cell production – could complement existing stroke treatments. 

“Rather than wiping out immune cells altogether, which can be dangerous, this approach aims to switch off the signals that cause excessive and damaging inflammation,” Dr Kim said.  

Further studies are needed to confirm effectiveness across different patient groups but Dr Kim said the discovery could potentially lead to improved treatments for other conditions with the same inflammatory pathway including heart attacks and other vascular diseases. 

New legislation has been extended to ban mobile phones to non-government schools.

The legislation will also cover wearable devices like smart watches and wireless earbuds.

This change will extend the ban to every student in every Victorian school, from 28 January 2027.

An independent evaluation found students were more focused in class and more social during breaks.

Schools also reported fewer critical incidents involving phones.

Expanding the ban to wearable and personal audio devices further limits distraction in classrooms and keeps students safe.

Wearable devices that capture photos, video or audio can pose risks to students and staff.

Victoria will be the first state to legislate these restrictions on wearable technology in schools.

Under the legislation:

• Mobile phones must be switched off and stored away from first to final bell
• Wearable devices must have notifications, cellular connection and recording functions switched off
• Personal audio devices must not be used during school hours.

Rolling out a state-wide policy will provide consistency and certainty for parents, students and school communities.

Exceptions apply for students that require devices to monitor health conditions.

Medication typically used to manage diabetes or obesity may help reduce the risk of worsening depression, anxiety and self-harm, new Griffith University research has shown.

Professor Mark Taylor from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry was part of an international team of researchers which investigated the risk of worsening mental illness in people already diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both who were prescribed antidiabetic medications including GLP-1 receptor agonists, which include semaglutide and liraglutide.

Research shows people with diabetes have an elevated risk of developing depression, anxiety and suicide compared with the general population, as impaired glycaemic control can be exacerbated by comfort eating and intermittent antidiabetic medication adherence, reinforcing low mood and poor self-worth.

Professor Taylor said the study assessed a cohort of more than 95,000 people with diabetes and/or obesity identified from national Swedish electronic health registers between 2009 and 2022.

“While GLP-1 medications are commonly prescribed for diabetes and obesity, their effects on mental health are unclear,” he said.

“The research found these medications were linked to fewer serious mental health outcomes including psychiatric hospitalisation, using sick leave for mental health reasons for more than 14 days, and suicide.”

Semaglutide had the strongest association with reducing the risk of worsening mental health by 42 per cent, and liraglutide was associated with an 18 per cent lower risk.

Semaglutide lowered the risk of worsening depression by 44 per cent, lowered the risk of worsening anxiety by 38 per cent, and lowered the risk of worsening substance use disorder by 47 per cent.

“These findings suggest some GLP-1 medications may offer benefits beyond diabetes and weight loss, potentially supporting mental health as well,” Professor Taylor said.

The paper ‘Association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and worsening mental illness in people with depression and anxiety in Sweden: a national cohort study’ has been published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Students are getting more creative in the classroom.

Minister Colin Brooks has announced grants to help 16 Victorian schools partner with local artists and organisations in terms 2-4.

Children will be able to tap into their creative side and learn new skills, without their parents having to find extra time and money for similar activities outside school.

The 2026 recipients will share in $360,000 through the Creative Learning Partnerships program.

They include Melbourne Indigenous Transition School, which will work with creative and social change organisation Storyscape and First Nations audio app Yalinguth. Students will take part in visual arts and storytelling workshops and create a short film showcasing their work.

Victorian College for the Deaf will partner with the Potter Museum of Art on a multilingual project.

At Seymour College, students will use second-hand materials to create costumes for a runway performance and exhibition.

Students across all year levels at Inglewood Primary School will work with drama, storytelling and filmmaking company The Storey Players to create a multimedia production about the untold story of Inglewood.

Creative Learning Partnerships is a collaboration between Creative Victoria and the Department of Education.

It is the Victorian Government’s longest running creative grants program.

Established in 1982, it’s supported residencies for more than 1,650 creative practitioners, upskilled close to 4,000 teachers and brought creativity and learning together for more than 76,000 Victorian students.

For more information on Creative Learning Partnerships, or to see the full list of 2026 recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au.

The state government is building a stronger, more inclusive health system that works for all Victorians.

This means putting Aboriginal women and their families at the centre of care – making sure it’s free, culturally safe and close to home.

Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has announced a $15.8 million boost to expand Koori Maternity Services.

The funding will support 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) right across Victoria.

It includes services in Bendigo, Ballarat, Melbourne, Lakes Entrance and Albury Wodonga.

Aboriginal mothers and their babies deserve the same health outcomes as any other mother and child in Victoria.

The goal of the services is to ensure culturally safe and high-quality pregnancy care, with the following outcomes:

• More Aboriginal women access antenatal care earlier in their pregnancy
• Fewer Aboriginal women smoke during pregnancy
• Fewer Aboriginal babies are born early
• Fewer Aboriginal babies die during pregnancy or soon after birth.

Care delivered by our ACCHOs is grounded in culture, connection and kinship.

It is also delivered by clinicians who understand their community, their needs and their experiences.

For more information, please visit health.vic.gov.au/patient-care/aboriginal-maternity-services.

The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has responded to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision today to remove card surcharging from 1 October 2026, alongside measures to reduce payment costs and improve transparency.

COSBOA Chair, Matthew Addison said removing surcharging without first ensuring lower costs are delivered to small businesses risks shifting more pressure onto already tight margins.

“If you ban surcharging without guaranteeing lower fees, small businesses have no choice but to absorb the cost and that will ultimately be reflected in prices.”

COSBOA said small businesses do not control how customers choose to pay, but they do carry the cost of those payment methods.

“Surcharging has been one of the only ways small businesses can recover these costs.

“If you remove that without fixing the underlying fees, you’re asking small businesses to wear them.”

COSBOA welcomed the Reserve Bank’s focus on reducing payment costs, but said the key issue is whether those savings are passed through in full.

“Lower fees are only meaningful if small businesses actually see the benefit in what they’re charged.

“Without clear pass-through, this reform doesn’t deliver real relief.”

COSBOA also supported stronger transparency measures, saying they are critical to helping small businesses understand and manage their payment costs.

“Greater transparency is a positive step, but small businesses need time to see what their new costs are, understand them, and have the opportunity to shop around.”

COSBOA said removing surcharging before this happens risks getting the sequence wrong.

“Banning surcharges before businesses can see lower fees and understand their costs is putting the cart before the horse.”

To ensure the reforms work for small business, COSBOA said the package must deliver:

• Real reductions in payment costs that are passed through to small businesses
• Clear and accessible pricing so businesses can compare providers
• Wider availability of least-cost routing to keep payment costs down

“In a system without surcharging, transparency and least-cost routing become essential to keeping costs under control.”

Mr Addison said implementation timing will be critical.

“Small businesses will need time to see the impact of these changes, adjust their pricing, and update systems.

“Without a practical transition, they risk being hit with the cost before the benefits arrive.”

COSBOA is calling for the implementation timeline to allow small businesses time to realise lower costs, access clear pricing information, and make informed decisions before surcharging is removed.

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is pleased to be part of the Consultative Committee for the Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy (SWS), which met for the first time this week in Ararat.

The new Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy is funded under the Victorian Government’s drought response package.

The SWS will work with local communities on long-term water sustainability and the management of water resources in the region for the next fifty years, in response to ongoing dry conditions, particularly in south-west Victoria.

Mark Wootton AO has been appointed as the Chair of the Consultative Committee, which will guide the development of the SWS.

Mr Wootton brings extensive leadership experience to the role, including serving as Chair of the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

He owns and manages Jigsaw Farms, a carbon‑neutral grazing and agroforestry enterprise north of Hamilton.

“I’m honoured to be taking up this role and looking forward to working with the Consultative Committee members, who bring a wealth of talent and knowledge,” Mr Wootton said.

“Drought and dry conditions in recent years, particularly in south-western Victoria, has highlighted the need for a new blueprint for the region’s long-term water resources.”

The Consultative Committee also includes regional agencies with responsibilities for managing water, including urban and rural water corporations, Catchment Management Authorities, and Traditional Owners.

The Consultative Committee will be supported by working groups made up of community representatives from sectors with water interests including agriculture and environment.

The strategy will cover the western third of Victoria, extending from the south-west coast, across the Wimmera and to the southern Mallee. This includes the towns of Ballarat, Colac, Warrnambool, Portland, Port Campbell, Cobden, Timboon, Camperdown, Hamilton, Ouyen, Horsham, Avoca, Stawell, Ararat and Edenhope.

The SWS will address challenges such as changing climate and water availability to plan for how our local waterways can continue to support the community’s economic, cultural, environmental, and social values.

Corangamite CMA CEO, Dr. Amber Clarke said “Corangamite CMA is excited to contribute to the development of this important strategy, which will support our region’s waterways and communities to be more resilient and adapt to a changing climate.

“Working collaboratively across agencies, Traditional Owners and with local communities will be essential given increasing pressure on the shared water resources that we all depend on.”

Learn more about the Strategy: Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy

The state government is intervening early to support kids at risk and keep Victorians safe.

Twenty-three schools across Victoria have been selected to receive Early Intervention Officers.

The officers are part of government’s $5.6 million investment in the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), to provide support for kids who need it most.

The officers will work within schools, supporting our teachers, principals and wellbeing teams to:

• Identify students who are most in need of support
• Provide a case management approach for continuity of care
• Improve school attendance, sense of belonging, and their relationships with peers
• Connect schools, teachers and families to resolve issues and achieve positive outcomes.

Organisations partnering with schools include the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Foundation House, Jesuit Social Services and the Les Twentyman Foundation.

The officers will be placed in the below schools:
Roxburgh College

• Melton Secondary College
• Weeroona College
• Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College
• Manor Lakes P-12 College
• Greater Shepparton Secondary College
• Charles La Trobe P-12 College
• Maryborough Education Centre
• Fountain Gate Secondary College
• Staughton College
• Kambrya College
• Chaffey Secondary College
• Kurnai College
• Yarra Hills Secondary College
• Melba College
• Lowanna College
• Copperfield College
• Springside West Secondary College
• Keysborough Secondary College
• Tarneit Senior College
• Tarneit P-9 College
• Pakenham Secondary College
• Newcomb Secondary College

This builds on the VRU’s Early Intervention Sports and Activities Menu – keeping kids engaged in positive activities to stop them heading down the wrong path.

Offending among boys aged 10-17 years old is down. Programs like these will maintain the positive momentum to further drive down youth offending.

The state government has helped half a million families with the cost of living by making school uniforms cheaper.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas has announced 500,000 uniform or essential school items have been delivered to students who need them.
This means a total of $19 million is back in the pockets of hardworking Victorian families.
The Affordable School Uniform program has received more than 200,000 applications since the start of 2024.
The program is delivered by State Schools’ Relief – providing free uniforms and other essential school items to students in public schools who need them.
The government also changed the Student Dress Code Policy to ban school logos on shorts, pants, skirts and socks in Victorian public schools.
This change means a family with two children in public school could save up to $167 on uniform costs compared to last year.
Arrangements are in place to make sure that uniforms already purchased can continue to be worn.

Registered political parties and prospective candidates for the 2026 state election are being urged to familiarise themselves with the regulatory requirements and avoid costly mistakes by registering for a series of new information sessions hosted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). 

The VEC will deliver a comprehensive program of online sessions designed to prepare both party-endorsed and independent candidates for the November state election.

The sessions will cover key topics, including political finance, nomination procedures, how-to-vote card registration, campaign obligations and election operations.

The program will be delivered in 3 rounds across the year, with 6 targeted sessions in each round. Sessions are offered at a range of times, including weekdays and weekends.

Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel is encouraging candidates to take advantage of this opportunity.

‘Prospective candidates will be provided with practical guidance, learn how election processes work on the ground, and have the chance to speak directly with our experts about the election processes that involve them,’ Mr Bluemmel said.

‘Having a clear understanding of the rules well before the election timeline can help candidates avoid unnecessary errors and compliance issues.’

Candidates can register for any sessions across the 3 rounds and may choose to attend multiple sessions on the same topic or focus on those most relevant to their needs.

Recordings will be made available to registered participants who attend following each session. Registered participants may also be contacted later if changes to the law affect what candidates are required to do.

Further details, including session dates, times and topics covered are available on the registration page at vec.vic.gov.au/se26-info-sessions

By Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer
Anthrax has been a cause of sudden death of livestock in Australia for the past 150 years. Once an animal has died from Anthrax, the Anthrax spores can survive in the soil for decades, waiting for the right set of environmental conditions to infect another animal.
Most districts in Victoria have experienced livestock deaths due to Anthrax.
Anthrax-related livestock deaths mostly occur in the warmer months, although history has shown that they can occur at any time of year.
Therefore, Anthrax should be considered whenever there is any sudden death of livestock, particularly if blood is seen around the animal’s nose, mouth, and anus.
At one time, veterinarians had to carry a microscope and examine a smear of specially stained blood to rapidly diagnose Anthrax.
This all changed with the development of pen-side ICT (immunochromatographic test) kits, which provide a quick, safe, and accurate means of diagnosing or excluding Anthrax when investigating cases of sudden death of livestock.
All private veterinarians who deal with livestock have free access to ICT kits and can investigate sudden deaths through subsidised disease investigations.
There are several reasons why it is advantageous to know whether an animal has died from Anthrax.
First, the best way of stopping further losses due to Anthrax is through early diagnosis, and the subsidised vaccination of everyone who has come into contact with the affected livestock.
Secondly, the carcass of an animal that has died of Anthrax will remain a source of infection for future outbreaks if it isn’t disposed of correctly through incineration and the decontamination of its death site.
And finally, Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can potentially infect humans. The exclusion of Anthrax will bring peace of mind both for yourself and your veterinarian when trying to find the real cause of the animal’s death.
Exclusion testing should be carried out within 48 hours of an animal’s death.
If you suspect a case of Anthrax, please contact your local veterinarian, or Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer, or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

The state government is delivering more school options close to home, making life easier for families. Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle has announced school zoning information for Daylesford Secondary College in 2027.
The updated Find My School website gives families the certainty they need to enrol in a great local public school.
It includes the updated school zone for Daylesford Secondary College, which now includes Ballan.
This change makes great education at a local public school even more accessible for local families.
As enrolment begins in early Term 2, the updated website will give families the most up to date information.
The 2026 school zones are still online and can be used for any further enrolment decisions for the 2026 school year.
Victoria has the largest school building program in the country.
More information can be found on the Find My School website www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au

The Victorian school holidays are fast approaching, and Ambulance Victoria (AV) is urging everyone to be well prepared before enjoying all the adventures our state has to offer.

While activities like camping, hiking and trail riding can be great fun, they can also result in medical emergencies, something experienced rider Gary, 69, became familiar with last November.

Gary and his stepson Drew were adventure biking along a fire trail in Buckland when a wrong turn saw them end up on a steep gravel trail not designed for their motorcycles.

Unfortunately, Gary lost control of his bike and fell over the top of the handlebars, sustaining fractures to his pelvis and spine, as well as broken ribs and whiplash.

After realising what had happened, Drew called Triple Zero (000) as the remote location, steep landscape and extent of Gary’s injuries meant he was unable to be carried out of the park.

A specialist Air Ambulance Victoria (AAV) helicopter crew and an Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic attended the scene and worked with VICSES and Victoria Police to navigate the dense tree canopy and steep loose terrain to reach Gary.

A Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Flight paramedic was winched into the location and provided Gary with pain relief, oxygen therapy and splints to reduce his movement, before they were both winched 38 metres in the air to the waiting helicopter.

Due to the weather, Gary was airlifted to an airfield where he was then transported by road ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for further treatment. After spending 10 days in hospital, he made the 400km journey back home.

Gary said his crash shows that no matter how experienced you are, serious accidents can happen to anyone.

“My message for others would be to stick to your plan and don’t attempt trails you haven’t prepared for,” he said.

“It’s also important to carry an emergency beacon and know the coordinates of where you are, so emergency services can find you easily.

“I’ve been an Ambulance Victoria member since I was 18 years old, and this is the first time I’ve ever needed to use it. I’m very grateful to the paramedics who came to my aid when I needed them most.”

AV Acting Hume Area Manager Adrian Pace said it’s crucial Victorians know how to get help in case something goes wrong in rural areas.

“It can be hard to know your exact location when heading out on rural or remote trails, such as the ones Gary was on, which is why we recommend everyone download the EmergencyPlus app,” he said.

“The app uses your phone’s GPS function to identify your address, latitude and longitude coordinates, as well as your ‘What3Words’ location – three words that emergency services can use to narrow your exact location down to three square metres, even in remote or unfamiliar environments.

“You may also consider taking a personal locator beacon (PLB) which, when activated, sends an emergency signal via satellite to emergency services.”

Regardless of the activity you have planned, Adrian said it’s important you’re well prepared as emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time.

“Make sure you’re dressed appropriately for the conditions and bring enough supplies, including water, food, sunscreen, a torch, basic first aid equipment and warmer layers in case you’re out for longer than expected,” he said.

“Research where you’re going and make sure your planned trip is suitable for your level of fitness and experience.

“Most importantly, always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return.

“You should also regularly check the VicEmergency app or website for incidents and warnings in the area you’re visiting.”

Top tips from Ambulance Victoria before you begin your outdoor adventures:

• Plan your journey – Before you set off, take time to check trail maps and difficulty ratings. Stick to those that match your skill level.
• Download the EmergencyPlus app -This free app has a built-in GPS function to pinpoint your exact location in an emergency, even if you don’t know where you are. The What3Words location function works offline so it can be used in remote areas with poor data connections as well.
• Tell someone your plans – Let a friend or family member know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
• Carry the basics – Pack a mobile phone, a small first-aid kit, enough water, and wear appropriate gear. Consider carrying a personal location beacon (PLB).

About Ambulance Victoria’s Air Ambulance service

• Ambulance Victoria’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and highly-skilled MICA Flight Paramedics can reach the most remote places, and with winching capabilities, can perform retrievals in the most remote and hard to reach locations across the state.
• Air Ambulance Victoria (AAV) helicopters and fixed wing planes can transport patients requiring life-saving treatment as quickly as possible to the nearest hospital.
• AAV retrieve and treat around 6000 patients per year.
• Babcock Australasia provide AV with pilots, aircrew officers and engineers, to help ensure 24/7 coverage of Victoria and surrounding waters