Registered independent community health services play a unique and important role within the Victorian health and social service systems to support people at every age and stage of life. To do this, community health works at multiple levels – with individuals and families, communities and systems – to achieve improved health outcomes and lasting community impact.

Community health works within a social model that recognises that health outcomes are largely determined by social factors such as economic stability, education access, and community context. By combining robust clinical health service delivery, a wide range of social services, and population health initiatives, community health services can address these social determinants of health to achieve change.