Community Health First Campaign

Bellarine Community Health is proud to be supporting the Community Health First campaign which is advocating for the elevation of the role of registered independent community health services in Victoria’s healthcare system.

Community Health First is a campaign being led by all 24 registered independent community health services in Victoria. The Community Health First campaign seeks to start a dialogue with Government decision makers to promote the central role of registered independent community health services in the wider Victorian health system, and to increase the capacity of services to alleviate system-wide demand.

As the community health sector enters its 50th year of delivering services in Victoria, it is timely for us to reflect on how we can build a strong foundation for another 50 years of keeping Victorians healthy and well-supported in their communities.

Community health services deliver primary healthcare across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria, working across the social determinants of health, addressing health inequity and rapidly responding to local needs to keep clients healthy and out of Victoria’s tertiary healthcare system. Community health services provide holistic wraparound care close to home, with services spanning health promotion and prevention, chronic disease management, mental health care, general practice and allied health services, along with a wide range of other health and
community programs.

Community health services work across the healthcare spectrum, from targeted wide-reaching health promotion and prevention programs to specialised clinical care. The adaptive, responsive nature of services paired with their community connections and stewardship reinforce community health services as the trusted providers for community-based care, particularly during periods of increased and sustained demand where agile public health responses and community recovery efforts are required.

While community health services are available to all Victorian residents, priority access is given to vulnerable populations with the poorest health and the greatest economic and social needs. Our services are the experts in provision of person-centred, culturally safe and coordinated care, with flexible and comprehensive service delivery that responds to the specific requirements of individuals and local communities.

There will be a formal launching the Community Health First campaign at an event next month. More details will be announced in the coming weeks, so make sure to keep an eye out for further information.

You can find out more about the Community Health First campaign at https://www.communityhealthfirst.org.au/

Community Health First Campaign