The hospital’s annual reported revealed the 2017-18 financial year finished $399,000 in the black.

In a statement from AWH board chair Nicki Melville and chief executive Leigh McJames, they said addressing the organisation’s financial position had been a major priority.

They said the minor surplus “exceeded the board performance indicator of a balanced result”.

It comes after a $2.5 million loss in the 2016-17 financial year and is only the second time the organisation has achieved surplus in its history.

The most significant project for AWH in 2017-18 was the new cardiac catheter laboratory at Albury hospital, partly funded by a $90,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Albury.

The annual report also revealed there were 182 reported incidents of occupational violence against staff at Albury and Wodonga hospitals.

This was a big decrease from the 305 incidents the year before.

AWH has credited funding for three safety projects with helping to prevent violence.

They included swipe access readers at two doors in the emergency departments, 40 new duress alarms and a 24-7 security presence at the Wodonga hospital.

AWH also established an occupational violence and aggression working committee and provided staff with a hotline to call in the event of an incident.

There were 63,470 emergency presentations to the AWH emergency departments, 527 more than last year.

Northeast Health Wangaratta’s annual report was also released this week, revealing a $2.496 million deficit.

Its 116 reported occupational violence incidents was an increase from just 62 the year before.

Chief executive Margaret Bennett and board chair Jonathan Green stated the highlight of the year was the announcement of $6,997,990 in Victorian government funding the upgrade the hospital.