Good health is the foundation of a good life. It’s what lets Victorians work, care for the people they love, and stay connected and active in their communities.
But right now, families across Victoria are weighing up rent, groceries and power bills against a physio appointment, a mental health session, or a check-up they know they need. Every Victorian should be able to access care and support close to home, whatever their income, but as the cost of living rises, too many are going without.
Community health is here at exactly this moment, providing low-cost, trusted care close to home. But demand is growing faster than funding, and waiting lists are growing with it. This election, Community Health First is calling on all parties and candidates to invest in the care that keeps Victorians well.
Our Election Asks
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$1 in every $100.
We're asking for one dollar in every hundred spent on health, so the other 99 can go further. Lifting the Community Health Program from 42 cents to $1 in every $100 would double the hours of care available, pay what it takes to deliver that care, and make sure funding keeps pace with rising costs.
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Room to grow.
No community should miss out on care because their local facility can't keep up. Increasing infrastructure funding from 0.3% to 3% of Victoria's health infrastructure spend would build modern, fit-for-purpose facilities in the growth suburbs and rural communities that need them most.
Why this matters now
A postponed appointment might save money this week. But a chest infection left too long, or blood pressure that goes unchecked, can become a hospital admission, a far greater cost to a person's health, and to the health system. Healthy communities are connected communities. When people can get help close to home, they stay well, stay working, and stay part of the life of their town or suburb.
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Cost of living is putting care out of reach. As everyday costs keep rising, for many Victorians, community health is the only affordable care left.
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Demand is outpacing available care. Victoria's population has grown 44% over two decades, but the hours of community health care available have grown by just 16%. That means less care per person, every year.
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More Victorians are living with chronic conditions. Nearly half of us live with a condition like diabetes or heart disease, and the number of Victorians over 60 will grow by around 60% by 2046. These conditions are far better managed early and close to home, than late and in hospital.
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Community health is already at capacity. One in five community health buildings is in poor condition, in need of repair just to keep supporting the people who rely on them.
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Every health dollar is a choice. Preventable emergency department visits cost Victoria's health system more than $500 million a year, from over 550,000 presentations. Governments can keep funding expensive hospital beds, or invest in the affordable care close to home that stops people needing them in the first place.