COMMUNITY HEALTH FIRST ROUNDTABLE BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT AND SECTOR LEADERS TO LAUNCH POSITION PAPER

All 24 registered community health services in Victoria have today come together with government and sector leaders to officially launch the Community Health First position paper Strengthening Victoria’s Health System through Community Health.

The paper, developed collaboratively by all registered community health services, was launched with a powerful central message focused on the need to reimagine our health system to deliver better outcomes for all Victorians regardless of their bank balance or postcode.

Anna Robinson, Chair of the Community Health First Steering Committee, said that the recommendations put forward by the paper should be drawn on by all levels of government to support work to rebuild and reimagine provision of healthcare and deliver cost-effective solutions that focus on improving outcomes.

“We know that our registered community health services hold the solutions to many of the problems facing our health and social care systems, and are central in reimagining a system that delivers better, more ambitious outcomes not only in Victoria but across Australia.”

“Through investing in community health services governments can tackle issues surrounding access to care and disparities in health outcomes through a cost-effective and locally responsive model of service delivery.”

The position paper also highlights examples of the work of community health services across the state to provide critical services and support that are responsive to the needs of communities and address the social determinants of health.

Natalie Sullivan, CEO of EACH, spoke at the launch of EACH’s partnership with DPV Health to deliver the Right Care = Better Health pilot, which provided integrated care to Victorians with chronic and complex conditions and reduced hospital admissions. DPV Health CEO Don Tidbury said the program is “a prime example of the role our services can play in directly addressing and reducing demand on Victoria’s overcrowded emergency departments and ambulance services”.

CEO of Gateway Health in North East Victoria, Leigh Rhode, also highlighted the vital role community health services play in supporting Victorians through climate change related natural disasters. Speaking of Gateway Health’s Community Recovery and Resilience Program, which has seen the service support over 600 families through natural disaster, she said “our services are not just experts in supporting people in times of crisis, but also in delivering the ongoing outreach, case management, and capacity building measures that Victorians in these situations require over many years.”

The Community Health First position paper, Strengthening Victoria’s Health System through Community Health, can be accessed at communityhealthfirst.org.au.


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