Southwest Ultrasound

01/11/2026

This month is Movember.

Movember raises awareness and funds for men's health by encouraging men to grow moustaches in November to start conversations about the health issues that affect them. The global movement focuses on four main areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and su***de prevention.

More information can be found at: https://au.movember.com/

27/10/2026

26/10/2026

Today is Australasian Sonographers Day.

Our Sonographer, Julie has over 17 years of sonography experience with her masters in medical sonography. She has experience working in rural, remote and metro areas around Australia covering all general ultrasound studies.

Julie is the heart behind Southwest Ultrasound and prides herself in providing high-quality diagnostic ultrasound services to our local community with care and compassion - all whilst running the small business.

Happy Sonographers Day Julie!

21/10/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Did you know:
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women
- 58 Australians will be diagnosed with breast cancer today
- 9 Australians will lose their battle with breast cancer today
- Awareness saves lives: if detected early, survival rates are close to 100%

It is important to regularly check your breast for any changes and chat to your GP about any concerns.

Your doctor may request a breast ultrasound - a non-invasive, painless test that uses sound waves to form an image of structures in the breast. It can help your healthcare provider determine whether any breast changes are caused by a non-cancerous or benign lump of tissue or a breast cancer based on the shape, location and other characteristics visible on ultrasound.

More information can be found at: https://australianbreastcancer.org.au/

20/10/2026

Osteoporosis is a global health challenge — but too many people remain undiagnosed and untreated.

Worldwide, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime. Yet osteoporosis often goes undetected until a fracture occurs, and many people who sustain a fragility fracture are not diagnosed or treated for the underlying disease.

This World Osteoporosis Day, we must turn awareness into action:

🦴 Build strong bones throughout life.
🛡️ Protect bone health through risk awareness and prevention.
💪 Strengthen bones through timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment and ongoing care.

Explore the facts and the global burden of osteoporosis with this infographic:
👉 https://bit.ly/3z1hSoX

17/10/2026

Today is World Menopause Day.

Menopause is the point in time when a woman hasn't had a period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause in Australia is 51.

While this change usually happens naturally as hormone levels decline, it can also occur earlier because of surgery that removes the ovaries, or due to certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy.

There are three stages in this transition:
1. Perimenopause – the time leading up to menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate and many women begin to experience symptoms. This phase can last from one to 10 years.
2. Menopause – confirmed when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period.
3. Post-menopause – the years after menopause, when symptoms may ease but the long-term effects of lower oestrogen, such as changes to bone and heart health, become more important.

Menopause is driven by changes in key hormones, leading to various symptoms, including:
- Hot flushes
- Mood swings
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Reduced libido
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair
- Brain fog
- Dry skin
- Aches and pains

Talk to you doctor about the ways to manage menopause, as well as menopause treatments.

More information can be found at:
https://www.worldmenopauseday.com.au/
https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/

14/10/2026

Today is Global Handwashing Day.

Our hands hold a superpower! This Global Handwashing Day (October 15th), join us in unleashing the superpower within all of us. Wash your hands! Protect your community! Save lives! Be a

Did you know?
- Handwashing with soap can reduce diarrheal diseases by 30%.
- Handwashing with soap can reduce acute respiratory infections by up to 20%.
- Handwashing with soap plays an important role in reducing the transmission of outbreak-related pathogens such as cholera, Ebola, shigellosis, SARS, hepatitis E, COVID-19, and monkeypox.
- Hand hygiene is protective against healthcare-associated infections and contributes to reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
- Hand hygiene can contribute to the reduction of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
- Proper hand hygiene has also been linked to benefits beyond disease reduction, such as reduced rates of school absenteeism and improvements in wellbeing, dignity, and productivity.

More information can be found at: https://globalhandwashing.org/global-handwashing-day/

13/10/2026

11/10/2026

This week is National Nutrition Week.

This year we’re joining the National Nutrition Foundation to celebrate ‘Love what you eat’.
Food is about so much more than what’s on our plate. It
can connect us to culture and place, bring communities
together, support our wellbeing and help tell the stories of
who we are.

This National Nutrition Week, we’re celebrating the many
ways people across Australia love what they eat and
encouraging everyone to join the conversation.

You can explore National Nutrition Week resources and
inspiration at: https://nationalnutritionfoundation.org.au/healthy-eatinghub/campaigns/national-nutrition-week-2026/

11/10/2026

This week is National Carers Week.

Did you know:
- There are more than 3 million carers across Australia
- 7 out of 10 primary carers are women
- There is at least one young carer in every Australian classroom
- Carers are twice as likely to experience higher psychological distress than the general population

Recognise the carer in your life – drop in a coffee, go for a walk, offer a listening ear. Carers need to be cared for too. Show unpaid carers you care this

Visit: carersweek.com.au

Carers Australia Carers Victoria