As part of our ongoing partnership with Latrobe Regional Health's Graduate Nurse Program, we are excited to share some staff movements between Yallambee and LRH.

After spending the past six months at Yallambee, Graduate Nurse Sydney will commence a placement in the Orthopaedics Department at Latrobe Regional Health. Sydney successfully applied for the collaborative graduate program and will begin her next rotation this week.

Reflecting on her time at Yallambee, Sydney shared some advice for future graduate nurses: "No question is too silly, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Most importantly, enjoy the time you have with the residents."

Sydney hopes to pursue a career in Paediatric Oncology in the future. While she will be leaving her graduate placement with us, we're pleased to share that she will remain part of the Yallambee team as a casual employee and plans to return in a part-time capacity once her graduate year is complete.

Taking over at Grevillea is fellow Graduate Nurse Lexi, who has most recently been working in the General Medicine Department at LRH. In a sense, Sydney and Lexi are swapping places as part of the collaborative program.

Lexi admits she has "big boots to fill" but is looking forward to getting to know residents and becoming part of the Yallambee community. Her long-term career goals include working in Theatre or Intensive Care.

Outside of work, Lexi enjoys spending time with friends and studying to further her future career prospects. She describes herself as always being up for a chat and is excited to learn more about the residents she will be caring for.

We thank Sydney for her contribution over the past six months and wish her all the best in Orthopaedics, while also extending a warm Yallambee welcome to Lexi as she begins her journey with us.

Yallambee has officially become one of Gippsland’s growing network of electric vehicle charging locations, with the installation of a new 30kW EV destination charger at our Traralgon site.

The charger, installed by RACV, is powered by the solar panels on the roof of the Margery Cole building and forms part of the Gippsland Climate Change Network’s (GCCN) regional charging network, funded by AGL.

Although only recently launched, the charger has already attracted visitors from across Victoria, including Melbourne, Bendigo, Canberra, Wollongong and Lakes Entrance—highlighting Traralgon’s growing role as a convenient stop for EV drivers travelling through Gippsland.

During its trial period alone, the charger:

• Powered 33 charging sessions

• Delivered 21 hours of charging

• Helped prevent 286kg of CO₂ emissions

Yallambee is currently the only aged care provider in Gippsland to host a public EV charger of this kind, making our site a unique part of the region’s sustainable transport network. The project is another example of our ongoing commitment to sustainability. By combining solar energy with EV charging infrastructure, we’re helping support cleaner transport while making better use of renewable energy generated on site.

Residents and staff stepped into the Wild West as Yallambee came alive with a fun-filled Cowboy Day, transforming the home into a lively frontier of music, movement and laughter.

The celebration saw residents and staff embracing the theme in true western style, dressing in cowboy hats, boots and vests. A few staff members took things one step further by arriving in inflatable horse costumes, drawing plenty of laughs and creating smiles throughout the day.

The afternoon featured a range of activities designed to encourage movement, coordination and social connection. A visiting line dancing instructor led everyone through a series of easy-to-follow routines, adapting the steps so residents of all mobility levels could join in and enjoy the experience.

As the dancing wrapped up, the celebrations continued with classic country favourites filling the room. Residents and staff sang along to familiar tunes, creating a wonderful atmosphere of joy, nostalgia and togetherness.

The day concluded with a relaxed social hour where residents enjoyed fresh fruit and cold refreshments while sharing stories and reflecting on the afternoon’s highlights.

Cowboy Day was a wonderful reminder of the positive impact that themed activities can have, bringing people together, encouraging physical activity and creating meaningful moments of fun and connection